Jason Connor

Jason Connor is a Professor of Clinical and Health Psychology in the School of Psychology and Founding Director of the National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research (2008 - 2014, 2017+) at The University of Queensland.

Professor Connor is ranked in the Top 1% of researchers in the field of Psychiatry/Psychology [1].

He is a clinical psychologist by training and a Fellow of the Australian Psychological Society (APS). He has specialist membership in the APS Health and Clinical Colleges. Since moving from full-time clinical practice to academia, he has successfully combined teaching responsibilities with research.

He has published over 350 peer-reviewed journal papers, books and book chapters. Professor Connor has received $25 million in research funding as Chief Investigator and currently leads $4.6 million in Category 1 external research grants.

Professor Connor's main area of research is Substance Use Disorders (SUDs). SUDs are the number #1 risk factor for death in young people. In Australia, collectively, they represent 15% of the total disease burden.

Professor Connor's research program commenced because there were few effective approaches to prevent and treat substance use. His research program has resulted in global, transformational impacts by changing how assessment, treatment and prevention occurs.

A unique aspect of Professor Connor's research is the integration of disciplines including neurobiology, genetics, psychology, psychometrics, pharmacotherapy, epidemiology and advanced statistics. This interdisciplinary approach is essential in addressing the complexity of addiction as a multifaceted disease.

Over half of his program of research directly solves real-world problems and contributes to global prosperity, as determined by the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, applied in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings [2].

The impact of his work can be reflected in 52 international and national clinical guidelines and policies that have used Professor Connor's work to develop new international standards in the management and prevention of SUDs [1].

Professor Connor has received awards for his research (NH&MRC Career Development Fellow; Australian Psychological Society Early Career Research Award) and service to the profession of psychology (Australian Psychological Society Health College Award of Distinction).

Professor Connor has also won an Australian award for excellence in university teaching.

In addition to his academic roles, he has an appointment with Queensland Health and continues to offer clinical services.

1 Altmetric, Scopus, ESI 2025

2. SciVal 2025

Examples of recent publications:

Connor, J.P., Stjepanović, D., Le Foll, B., Hoch, E., Budney A., Hall, W.D. (2021) Cannabis use and cannabis use disorders. NATURE REVIEWS: DISEASE PRIMERS, 25;7(1) 16.

Ahmed, F., Boogaerts, T., Bowes, D.A., van Nuijs, A.L.N., Covaci, A., Hall, W., Connor, J.P., Thomas, K.V. (2024). Enhanced estimation of the prevalence of treated mental health disorders by wastewater-based epidemiology, NATURE MENTAL HEALTH 2, 345–347.

Connor, J.P., Stjepanović, D., Budney A., Le Foll, B., Hall, W.D. (2022) Clinical Management of Cannabis Withdrawal. ADDICTION,117(7):2075-2095.

Symons, M., Feeney, G.F.X., Gallagher, M.R., Young, R.M., Connor, J.P. (2020). Predicting alcohol dependence treatment outcomes: a prospective comparative study of clinical psychologists versus 'trained' machine learning models. ADDICTION, 115(11) 2164-2175

Connor, J.P., Hall, W.D. (2018). Thresholds for safer alcohol use might need lowering. LANCET, 391(10129), 1460-1461.

Connor, J.P., Haber, P.S., Hall, W.D. (2016). Alcohol Use Disorders. LANCET, 387(10022), 988-98.

Connor, J. P. Hall, W.D. (2015). Alcohol burden in low-income and middle-income countries. LANCET, 386(10007), 1922-4.