Associate Professor Janni Leung

Principal Research Fellow

National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research
Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences
j.leung1@uq.edu.au
+61 7 344 32526

Overview

A/Prof Janni Leung (PhD) is an NHMRC Development Fellow at National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research (NCYSUR) at The University of Queensland. Their program of research includes investigating the epidemiology of substance use and mental health because they are both major public health issues that commonly occur together. This research program had made paradigm-changing development through 100+ articles, which have recognised impact (15,000+ cites, 30% output in the top 1% citation percentile). Many of their work involves conducting systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and applying statistical models to epidemiological data on addiction and mental health issues to better understand their impacts on populations. Her work is used to inform policies on how to reduce the disease burden caused by addiction and mental health problems in Australia and overseas. Janni is committed to conducting high-quality rigorous research to generate empirical epidemiological evidence to inform decisions to prevent addiction-related harms in the population.

Teaching and supervision: They have qualifications and training in public health, sociology, and psychology. In addition, they have strong research and teaching experience in epidemiology and biostatistics. Janni has worked with a range of students from diverse demographic and cultural backgrounds, including mature-aged students and students with family responsibilities. She currently has a topic available for a self-motivated student interested in addiction research. Janni’s current research focus is on the epidemiology and disease burden associated with mental and substance use disorders across the globe.

Consultation: Janni is available for private consultation and workshop presentations on request for various research methodological and statistical topics, e.g. systematic reviews and meta-analysis, questionnaire and survey designs, cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses.

Where can you find Janni: Janni is based at the UQ St Lucia campus with regular visits to the Long Pocket and Herston campuses. You may also catch Janni at the APSAD conference.

Research Interests

  • Substance use, substance abuse, and substance dependence
  • Mental health and mental disorders
  • Epidemiology, public health
  • Burden of disease
  • Higher education

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
  • Bachelor of Health Sciences, The University of Queensland
  • Bachelor of Arts, The University of Queensland

Publications

View all Publications

Available Projects

  • How to apply – Send your CV, academic transcript, and cover letter to <j.leung1@uq.edu.au>

    1. Epidemiology of mental and substance use disorders
    2. Harmful alcohol use and alcohol use disorders
    3. Video gaming addiction in youth and across different population groups
    4. Smoking in South-East Asia
    5. Substance use treatment service use
    6. Cost-effectiveness of addiction interventions

    *Propose your own topics. Research projects would be suitable to those:

    • Highly motivated, proactive, and self-directed
    • Strong written and oral communication skills
    • Has completed or is enrolled to complete the UQ library workshop on systematic reviews and database searching
    • Able to travel to St Lucia, The University of Queensland
    • Psychiatry epidemiology
    • Alcohol use disorders
    • Alcohol drinking behavior
    • Tobacco smoking
    • Gaming addiction
    • Video game play behaviours
    • Injecting drug use
    • Person who inject drugs
    • Substance use
    • Substance dependence
    • Substance abuse
    • Drug use disorders
    • Amphetamine / methamphetamine
    • Cocaine / Heroin
    • Marijuana / Cannabis
    • Psycho-stimulants
    • Mental health and mental disorders
    • Depression & anxiety
    • Public attitudes
    • Burden of disease
    • Treatment rates and treatment gaps
    • Risk factors and outcomes of substance use
    • Systematic reviews and meta-analyses

View all Available Projects

Publications

Book Chapter

  • Stepjanović, Daniel, Hall, Wayne and Leung, Janni (2023). Illicit drug use and violence. Handbook of clinical neurology. (pp. 121-145) Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-821375-9.00010-4

Journal Article

Conference Publication

Other Outputs

PhD and MPhil Supervision

Current Supervision

Completed Supervision

Possible Research Projects

Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.

  • How to apply – Send your CV, academic transcript, and cover letter to <j.leung1@uq.edu.au>

    1. Epidemiology of mental and substance use disorders
    2. Harmful alcohol use and alcohol use disorders
    3. Video gaming addiction in youth and across different population groups
    4. Smoking in South-East Asia
    5. Substance use treatment service use
    6. Cost-effectiveness of addiction interventions

    *Propose your own topics. Research projects would be suitable to those:

    • Highly motivated, proactive, and self-directed
    • Strong written and oral communication skills
    • Has completed or is enrolled to complete the UQ library workshop on systematic reviews and database searching
    • Able to travel to St Lucia, The University of Queensland
    • Psychiatry epidemiology
    • Alcohol use disorders
    • Alcohol drinking behavior
    • Tobacco smoking
    • Gaming addiction
    • Video game play behaviours
    • Injecting drug use
    • Person who inject drugs
    • Substance use
    • Substance dependence
    • Substance abuse
    • Drug use disorders
    • Amphetamine / methamphetamine
    • Cocaine / Heroin
    • Marijuana / Cannabis
    • Psycho-stimulants
    • Mental health and mental disorders
    • Depression & anxiety
    • Public attitudes
    • Burden of disease
    • Treatment rates and treatment gaps
    • Risk factors and outcomes of substance use
    • Systematic reviews and meta-analyses