Education

• B.S. Cognitive Science | University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
• M.H.S. Mental Health | Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
• Ph.D. Epidemiology | Virginia Commonwealth University School of Public Health, Richmond, VA

Research Interests

• Comorbidity and Pleiotropy Psychiatric and Substance Use Disorders
• Genetic Epidemiology & Quantitative Genetics
• Polygenic Scores
• Machine Learning

Research Description

My work focuses on investigating shared and distinct genetic and environmental factors of comorbid psychiatric and substance use disorders. I utilize rigorous epidemiological methodology and complex modelling to further understanding of the etiology of the single and comorbid disorders. Through further contextualization of the etiologies I hope to inform clinical and public health initiatives to improve treatment and prevention.

Mentor/Lab

Awards

• Postdoctoral T32 Appointment, 32MH020030 Training Grant: Psychiatric and Statistical Genetics. 06/2026 – Present
• Pre-Doctoral T32 Appointment, 32MH020030 Training Grant: Psychiatric and Statistical Genetics, 02/2024 – 05/2026
• Dr. Saba W. Masho Endowed Scholarship in Epidemiology; 2023/2024

Selected Publications

Wells, J.L., Rabinowitz, J.A., Maher, B.S., Gentry, A.E., Burch, J.B., Prom-Wormley E.C. (2026) The Contributions of Multiple Polygenic Scores in Predicting Liability for Major Depressive Disorder and its Comorbidity with Alcohol Use Disorder. Publication in Behavior Genetics, doi: 10.1007/s10519-026-10263-3

Rabinowitz, J.A., Wells, J.L., Kahn, G., Ellis, J.D., Strickland, J.C., Hochheimer, M., Huhn, A.S. (2025) Predictors of Treatment Attrition among Individuals in Substance Use Disorder Treatment: A Machine Learning Approach. Publication in Addictive Behaviors, doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108265

Prom-Wormley, E. C., Wells, J.L., Landes, L., Edmondson, A., Sankoh, M., Jamieson, B., Delk, K., Surya, S., Bhati, S., & Clifford, J. (2023). Pharmacogenetics of Smoking Cessation A Scoping Review of Smoking Cessation Pharmacogenetics in Racial/Ethnic Populations. Publication in Frontiers in Genetics, 14, 754. https://doi.org/10.3389/FGENE.2023.1103966

Ellis, J.D, Rabinowitz, J.A., Ware, O.D., Wells, J.L., Dunn, K.E., Huhn, A.S. (2023) Patterns of polysubstance use and clinical comorbidity among persons seeking substance use treatment: An observational study. Publication in the Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment, doi: 10.1016/j.josat.2022.208932

Rabinowitz, J.A., Ellis, J.D, Wells, J.L., Strickland, J.C., Maher B.S., Hobelmann J.G., Huhn A.S. (2022) Correlates and consequences of anxiety and depressive symptom trajectories during early treatment for alcohol use. Publication in Alcohol, doi: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2022.11.005