Eric C. Jones, PhD
Associate Professor
eric.c.jones@uth.tmc.edu
Department
Primary: Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston) School of Public Health, El Paso Campus
Adjunct: Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences
Research Interests
Behavioral/Mental Health
Social Determinants of Health
Global Health
Border Health
Health Equity
Cancer
Epidemiology
Biography
As a social epidemiologist, I conduct research on social aspects of wellbeing. A major focus of my studies is on human behavior and wellbeing in extreme circumstances (like disasters, warfare. Migration, cancer), focusing on the role of relationships in stress, depression, anxiety, and functioning. My broad interest in collective action and social support, often using social network analysis, has also led me recently to study health care coordination, drug and violence prevention coalitions, informal and formal science education, and interorganizational dynamics. I continue to be involved in creating and maintaining online and desktop social network analysis software Most of my research takes place in Mexico, Ecuador, and the United States. Major Research Programs * Comparative Disaster Recovery - Variation in how individuals and families recover from disasters (Ecuador, Mexico, US, involving over 10 disasters). * Hazards and Cultural Transformations - Variation in how leaders and their subjects have dealt with disasters in 98 societies around the world in the past 200 years, including sharing, land tenure, ideology, economics, politics, rules/restrictions, etc. * Cultural Models of Nature – Variation in the way different cultural groups understand their relationships to the biophysical environment and changes in weather affecting their food production (Ecuador, with colleague sites in 12+ other countries).
Contact
eric.c.jones@uth.tmc.edu
(915) 747-8503