J. Michael Oakes, PhD
Professor, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health
PhD, Sociology (Methodology), University of Massachusetts-Amherst
BBA, Management Economics, University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Summary
My research has been highly collaborative, interdisciplinary, and focused on three main areas: applied methodology, social epidemiology, and research ethics. I am interested in research leadership, community-engaged research, and improving the public's health. I co-founded and direct the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Interdisciplinary Research Leaders program. As of January 2019, I spend 50 percent of my time serving as an Associate Vice President for Research.
Expertise
Research methods, social epidemiology, research ethics, research leadership
Awards & Recognition
Research
Research Summary/Interests
I'm currently working on several studies:
- Establishing and leading the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s new Interdisciplinary Research Leaders (IRL) and working with the RWJF Change Leadership Programs.
- Working with Dr. Cari Clark (PI) to evaluate the impact of a domestic violence prevention program in Nepal. This is a community-randomized trial.
- Working with Dr. Lisa Harnack (PI) to evaluate the impact of incentive changes to a model SNAP (i.e., food stamps) program on food purchasing behavior. This is a randomized controlled experiment.
- Evaluating the magnitude of panel conditioning in an internet-based study to reduce HIV risk in men who have sex with men. This is a randomized controlled experiment embedded in a rather typical internet RCT to assess an intervention.
- Establishing an easy to use, publicly available, geo-spatial contextual data resource for multilevel health and social science research.
Research Funding Grants
- 2016–2026, RWJF Change Leaders Programs, "Interdisciplinary Research Leaders," Principal Investigator
- 2016–2020, NIH, "HealthPop: A Geocoding, Spatial Workflow and Context," Principal Investigator
- 2015–2017, UK Dept for International Development, "Change Starts at Home: Preventing Violence Against Woman and Girls in Nepal," Co-Investigator
- 2013–2018, NIH/NICHD, "Experimental Incentives in the SNAP Program," Co-Investigator
- 2013–2017, NIH, "Designing a Food Benefit Program to Optimize Diet Quality for Obesity Prevention," Co-Investigator
- 2012–2017, NIH/NICHD, "Integrated Demographic and Health Series Study," Co-Investigator
- 2010–2017, NIH, "Men's INTernet Study III (MINTS-III) for HIV Prevention," Co-Investigator
Publications
See a full list of my publications on Google Scholar
Books
- Oakes, JM, Kaufman, J., "Methods in Social Epidemiology," 2nd Ed., 2017
Selected Publications
- Oakes JM, Naimi Al. "Mediation, Interaction, Interference for Social Epidemiology," International Journal of Epidemiology, 2016
- L Harnack, JM Oakes, B Elbel, T Beatty, S Rydell, S French. "Effects of Subsidies and Prohibitions on Nutrition in a Food Benefit Program: A Randomized Clinical Trial," JAMA Internal Medicine, 2016
Teaching
Academic Interests and Focus
Teaching Areas
Given administrative duties, as of January 2019 I am no longer teaching classes.
Media
In The News
SPH News
- Joining Forces for Community Well-being
- Oakes Named to University Institutional Review Board Post
- Oakes Named Associate Vice President for Research (Read More)
In The Media
- UTSA researcher selected for National Leadership Program to build a culture of health in South Texas (UTSA Today)