Kelvin Choi, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Senior Investigator
Tobacco Related Disparities and Control Lab
Scientific Expertise
Psychosocial factors, commercial tobacco use disparities, and public health policy
Research and Programmatic Interests
Commercial tobacco use remains the number one cause of preventable death in the United States. While the prevalence of cigarette smoking has declined in the past few decades, such decline is not equal across social determinants of health; the prevalence of cigarette smoking varies greatly by race and ethnicity, sex, socioeconomic status, geographical region, and other psychosocial factors.
TRDC Lab aims to examine the interrelationships between psychosocial factors and commercial tobacco use from a life course perspective, the influence of tobacco marketing on disparities in commercial tobacco use, and the impact of public health policies on these disparities.
Research Projects
Understand Tobacco Product Use Disparities
We examine how combinations of sociodemographic factors and circumstances lead to a high prevalence of tobacco product use using advanced statistical models and machine learning.
Using Population-Based Studies to Examine the Interplay Between Tobacco Product Marketing and Use Behaviors
TRDC Lab examines how exposure to tobacco marketing (e.g., tobacco product price discounting) differs by social identity and circumstances. TRDC Lab also assesses how such disparities in exposure are related to disparities in tobacco product use behaviors.
Investigating the Psychosocial Mechanisms Underlying the Relationships Between Psychosocial Factors and Tobacco Product Use
TRDC Lab uses online and laboratory-based experiments (e.g., eye tracking, emotional coding, electroencephalography) to understand how tobacco marketing strategies influence perceptions and beliefs about—and intentions to engage in—commercial tobacco use.
Forecasting and Evaluating Tobacco Control Interventions and Policies
Tobacco control interventions and policies at the local, state, and federal levels are effective tools to reduce tobacco product use. However, conducting field experiments to assess the potential impact of these interventions and policies before implementation is difficult. The TRDC Lab uses computational simulation models to forecast the effect of tobacco control interventions and policies on tobacco product use behaviors and related disparities. Sometimes, these interventions and policies are adopted by different localities, states, and countries. This presents natural experiments that we leverage to understand how these interventions and policies may reduce disparities in commercial tobacco use.
Kristen Hamilton-Moseley, Ph.D.
Staff Scientist
Dr. Kristen Hamilton-Moseley staff profile
Research and Programmatic Interests
Dr. Hamilton-Moseley investigates mechanisms by which psychological, biological, and environmental factors influence alcohol and tobacco use and how these contribute to health disparities.