Staff: Samantha N. Cwalina, PhD
Samantha N. Cwalina, PhD
Cancer Research Training Award Fellow
Samantha (Sam) Cwalina, Ph.D., was a Cancer Research Training Award fellow in the Tobacco Control Research Branch (TCRB) of the Behavioral Research Program from June 2022 to January 2024.
Dr. Cwalina earned her Ph.D. in Preventive Medicine from the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine. Her dissertation work utilized population-based cohort data to investigate associations of anxiety symptoms with e-cigarette and combustible cigarette use among youth and young adults. Prior to graduate school, Dr. Cwalina earned her B.S. in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh, where she assisted with in-lab experiments that examined bio-behavioral responses to varying doses of nicotine among animal subjects and adult cigarette smokers. She also serves as a Co-Chair within the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT) Health Equity Network.
"Where are they now?": Following up with past BRP fellows
Updated January 2024
How has your BRP fellowship influenced your career?
This fellowship introduced me to potential career paths in the federal government and exposed me to lots of interesting and accomplished professionals who were very generous with advice!
Describe a favorite memory or two from your fellowship experience.
My favorite memory was the 2023 Fellows Symposium – I enjoyed spending time with other fellows and hearing about their research, helping summer interns prepare their presentations, and helping plan a celebratory brunch for fellows and mentors.
Publications from Fellowship Work
- Cwalina SN, McConnell R, Benowitz NL, Barrington-Trimis JL. Tobacco-free Nicotine - New Name, Same Scheme? N Engl J Med. 2021 Dec 23;385(26):2406-2408. doi: 10.1056/NEJMp2111159. Epub 2021 Dec 18. PMID: 34919358; PMCID: PMC9153389.
- Cwalina SN, Ihenacho U, Barker J, Smiley SL, Pentz MA, Wipfli H. Advancing racial equity and social justice for Black communities in US tobacco control policy. Tob Control. 2023 May;32(3):381-384. doi: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2021-056704. Epub 2021 Sep 15. PMID: 34526408; PMCID: PMC8920941.
- Cwalina SN, Pacek LR, Barrington-Trimis JL, Tackett AP, Pentz MA. Cross-Sectional Associations of Multiple Tobacco Product Use with Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms among Young Adult E-Cigarette Users. Subst Use Misuse. 2021;56(12):1807-1814. doi: 10.1080/10826084.2021.1954026. Epub 2021 Jul 29. PMID: 34320919; PMCID: PMC9153521.
- Cwalina SN, Braymiller JL, Leventhal AM, Unger JB, McConnell R, Barrington-Trimis JL. Prevalence of Young Adult Vaping, Substance Vaped, and Purchase Location Across Five Categories of Vaping Devices. Nicotine Tob Res. 2021 May 4;23(5):829-835. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntaa232. PMID: 33196838; PMCID: PMC8095234.
- Cwalina SN, Majmundar A, Unger JB, Barrington-Trimis JL, Pentz MA. Adolescent menthol cigarette use and risk of nicotine dependence: Findings from the national Population Assessment on Tobacco and Health (PATH) study. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2020 Jan 1;206:107715. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.107715. Epub 2019 Nov 15. PMID: 31760252; PMCID: PMC6980659.
Current and/or past BRP mentors include Carolyn Reyes-Guzman and Margaret Mayer.
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