Marjan Javanbakht, PhD, MPH

Marjan Javanbakht, MPH, PhD, is a Professor of Epidemiology with more than 20 years of experience in infectious disease epidemiology, specializing in HIV and sexually transmitted infections, substance use, and behavioral health. Her research examines the behavioral and structural drivers of reproductive and sexual health outcomes, with particular attention to the intersections of HIV/STIs, mental health, substance use, and social determinants of health across diverse populations. Dr. Javanbakht has led and contributed to numerous federally funded studies, published extensively, and presented her work at national and international conferences. Her scholarship spans both observational and intervention-based research and has direct relevance to improving sexual and reproductive health outcomes, including STI prevention, access to care, and health equity. She is deeply committed to mentorship and education, fostering critical thinking and evidence-based practice, and has trained many students who have gone on to leadership roles in public health and academia. She holds a BA in Biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, an MPH from Yale University, and a PhD from the University of California, Los Angeles. Prior to joining UCLA in 2006, Dr. Javanbakht served as an epidemiologist with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, where she worked on sexually transmitted disease prevention and control.