LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 22, 2026) — Aubrey Jones, Ph.D., an associate professor in the University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW), has been selected to receive a Health Disparities Research Loan Repayment Program award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, part of the National Institutes of Health.
The NIH Loan Repayment Programs are designed to recruit and retain highly qualified health professionals in biomedical and biobehavioral research careers. The Health Disparities Research program specifically supports researchers whose work focuses on reducing disparities in health outcomes and access to care.
“I am grateful to receive this award and for the opportunity it gives me to continue pursuing research I care deeply about,” Jones said. “This support will allow me to further examine the barriers that affect women and families and to advance community-informed solutions that make meaningful care and support more accessible.”
Jones’ selection reflects both the national significance of her research and the strength of the research environment at the CoSW. The award will help support her continued development as a scholar while allowing her to dedicate sustained time to her research in behavioral health, maternal health, substance use and expanding access to care in rural communities.
By investing in researchers like Jones, the program helps institutions such as UK retain faculty whose work is positioned to produce meaningful benefits for communities in Kentucky and beyond.
Since joining UK in 2021, Jones has pursued community-engaged research examining maternal and postpartum health, substance use recovery, access to mental and physical health care and has emphasized the perspectives of those living in predominately rural communities.
In June, Jones was promoted to associate professor with tenure in recognition of her contributions to research, teaching, mentorship and service. She has also served as acting director of the college’s doctoral program, supporting curriculum planning, student development and faculty mentorship.
Her recent maternal health research includes the Gestational Diabetes Aftercare and Postpartum Screening Study. Supported by a UL1 Pilot Award, the interdisciplinary study brings together researchers across social work and healthcare. The team is reviewing postpartum care trends, interviewing patients about barriers to care and gathering health care providers’ perspectives on improving screening and long-term support.
Jones has also examined how social media and virtual spaces can extend postpartum care to mothers who may otherwise face isolation, particularly in rural communities where distance and transportation can limit access to traditional support groups. Her study, “Creating, Connecting, and Communicating: A Look at Social Support for Postpartum Women,” examines the development, use and impact of an online support group for mothers within three months postpartum.
Jones’ research has been recognized and supported by several University of Kentucky programs, including UK’s Research Scholars Program.
She also served as a 2024-25 Community Engaged Research Fellow. In 2025, the Community Action Council recognized Jones as a nominee for its “Unapologetically Woman” series, which honors women whose leadership and service contribute to stronger Kentucky communities.
Across these projects, Jones’ scholarship centers on a consistent question: How can research help health and behavioral health systems respond more effectively to the people and communities they serve?
The NIDA Health Disparities Research Loan Repayment Program award will support Jones as she continues advancing that work and building research partnerships designed to improve health outcomes in Kentucky and beyond.