Dr. Nancy Jao Recognized as 2026 Researcher to Know

Associate Professor of Psychology Nancy Jao, PhD, was named to the Illinois Science & Technology Coalition’s (ISTC) 2026 Researchers to Know list. She is one of only 15 scientists from across the state selected for this honor.

This year’s list, themed “Still Building: People, Persistence and Progress in Illinois Research,” spotlights scientists who are distinguishing themselves with impact-driven work that reaches far beyond the lab. In her role as director of the Health, Behaviors and Tobacco Use (HaBiT) Research Lab at RFU, Dr. Jao studies how tobacco product characteristics such as flavoring, additives and nicotine content affect dependence and health outcomes, particularly in vulnerable and minority populations. She is principal investigator on a five-year grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute focused on the health effects of menthol cigarettes on inflammation and cardiovascular health. She also serves as advisor to clinical psychology graduate students in the HaBiT lab.

Since joining RFU in 2022, Dr. Jao has been recognized with honors including the College of Health Professions’ Scholarship Award for Clinical and Basic Science Research and a RFU/DePaul University Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Discovery and Healthcare grant, which awards competitive funding grants to research teams that must include at least one principal investigator from each university.

The researchers selected for this year’s ISTC list have demonstrated a strong commitment to mentorship, community partnerships and applying knowledge to real-world problems. This perseverance is crucial to advancing innovation that improves human health.

“One of the best things you can do is build your community. Finding people who genuinely care about the work, and about you, makes an enormous difference in staying motivated,” said Dr. Jao.

Each year, ISTC curates the Researchers to Know list to spotlight faculty whose work stands out not only for its academic merit, but for its relevance, collaboration and reach. Developed through a statewide nomination process that invites universities and research institutions to highlight exceptional talent, the list reflects a collective effort to showcase Illinois' most impactful scholars.