Jennifer A. Minnix, Ph.D.
Department of Behavioral Science, Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences
About Dr. Minnix
Jennifer A. Minnix, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Behavioral Science at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center and a member of the Tobacco Treatment Program. As a clinical psychologist, Dr. Minnix is particularly interested in furthering the understanding of the affective processes of nicotine addiction and believes that the psychophysiological study of individual differences resulting from and/or leading to chronic nicotine use offers a promising line of inquiry. Moreover, this line of research can be integrated into future treatment strategies that may be able to target individual differences in smokers attempting to quit. Dr. Minnix is also interested in continuing to develop a multidisciplinary approach to the study of cigarette smoking, including expanding her knowledge of neuro-imaging and co-morbid mood disorders in a smoking population. Her expertise in psychophysiology in general and interest in neurobiological indices of high-level cognitive and affective processing in particular provides a unique potential for collaboration in the department’s Tobacco Research and Treatment Program. Dr. Minnix worked closely with a variety of mentors to increase her breadth and depth of knowledge related to nicotine dependence, cognitive and affective neuroscience, EEG and fMRI technology, and project administration through her awarded R-25 and K99 training grants. As an independent researcher funded by an R00 grant, Dr. Minnix mentors graduate students and post-docs in clinical research areas related to behavioral therapy for nicotine dependence as well as psychophysiological research design, methodology, and implementation. In addition to her own studies, Dr. Minnix has been an integral collaborator/ co-investigator on 10 NIH and industry-sponsored clinical trials for smoking cessation with a variety of populations including pregnant women and individuals with co-morbid psychiatric disorders. She is also heavily involved in the lung cancer prevention Moon Shot initiative for adult smoking cessation. Dr. Minnix received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Florida State University in 2005 and completed her clinical internship at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas.
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Associate Professor, Department of Behavioral Science, Division of OVP, Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Research Interests
smoking prevention and cessation
neurobiological indices of affect and cue reactivity
genetic predictors of treatment response
co-morbid psychiatric disorders in smokers
individual differences in cessation and tailored treatment development
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2005 | Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA, PHD, Clinical Psychology |
| 2002 | Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA, MS, Clinical Psychology |
| 2000 | The University of Texas, Austin, Austin, TX, USA, BA, Psychology |
Postgraduate Training
| 2005-2008 | Postdoctoral Fellowship, Department of Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX |
| 2004-2005 | Clinical Internship, Psychology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TN |
Experience & Service
Academic Appointments
Assistant Professor, Department of Behavioral Science, Division of OVP, Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2010 - 2020
Instructor, Department of Behavioral Science, Division of OVP, Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2008 - 2010
Honors & Awards
| 2002 | Student Research Award, American Psychological Society |
| 2002 | Student Research Award, Society for Psychophysiological Research |
| 2000 | College Teaching Fellowship, Florida State University |
| 1997 | Golden Key Honor Society, The University of Texas |
| 1996 | National Dean's List, The University of Texas |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Parrott CE, Rathnayaka N, Blalock JA, Minnix JA, Cinciripini PM, Vincent JP, Wetter DW, Green C. Examination of the Wisconsin Inventory of Smoking Dependence Motives (WISDM-68) factor structure in a sample of pregnant smokers. Nicotine Tob Res 17(6):653-60, 2015. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 25475086.
- Cui Y, Robinson JD, Engelmann JM, Lam CY, Minnix JA, Karam-Hage M, Wetter DW, Dani JA, Kosten TR, Cinciripini PM. Reinforcement sensitivity underlying treatment-seeking smokers' affect, smoking reinforcement motives and affective responses. Psychol Addict Behav 29(2):300-11, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 25621416.
- Stotts AL, Northrup TF, Cinciripini PM, Minnix JA, Blalock JA, Mullen PD, Pedroza C, Blackwell S. Randomized, controlled pilot trial of bupropion for pregnant smokers: challenges and future directions. Am J Perinatol 32(4):351-6, 2015. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 25111040.
- Buckner JD, Farris SG, Zvolensky MJ, Shah SM, Leventhal AM, Minnix JA, Schmidt NB. Dysphoria and smoking among treatment seeking smokers: the role of smoking-related inflexibility/avoidance. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 41(1):45-51, 2015. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 25396705.
- Versace F, Engelmann JM, Robinson JD, Jackson EF, Green CE, Lam CY, Minnix JM, Karam-Hage M, Brown VL, Wetter DW, Cinciripini PM. Pre-quit fMRI Responses to Pleasant and Cigarette Cues Predict Smoking Cessation Outcome. Nicotine Tob Res 16(6):697-708, 2014. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 24376278.
- Blalock JA, Minnix JA, Mathew AR, Wetter DW, McCullough JP, Cinciripini PM. Relationship of childhood trauma to depression and smoking outcomes in pregnant smokers. J Consult Clin Psychol 81(5):821-30, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23750463.
- Minnix JA, Versace F, Robinson JD, Lam CY, Engelmann JM, Cui Y, Brown VL, Cinciripini PM. The Late Positive Potential (LPP) in Response to Varying Types of Emotional and Cigarette Stimuli in Smokers: A Content Comparison. Int J Psychophysiol 89(1):18-25, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23643564.
- Cinciripini PM, Robinson JD, Karam-Hage M, Minnix JA, Lam C, Versace F, Brown VL, Engelmann JM, Wetter DW. Effects of varenicline and bupropion sustained-release use plus intensive smoking cessation counseling on prolonged abstinence from smoking and on depression, negative affect, and other symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. JAMA Psychiatry 70(5):522-533, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23536105.
- Cui Y, Versace F, Engelmann JM, Minnix JA, Robinson JD, Lam CY, Karam-Hage M, Brown VL, Wetter DW, Dani JA, Kosten TR, Cinciripini PM. Alpha Oscillations in Response to Affective and Cigarette-Related Stimuli in Smokers. Nicotine Tob Res 15(5):917-24, 2013. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 23060019.
- Robinson JD, Versace F, Lam CY, Minnix JA, Engelmann JM, Cui Y, Karam-Hage M, Shete SS, Tomlinson GE, Chen TT, Wetter DW, Green CE, Cinciripini PM. The CHRNA3 rs578776 variant is associated with an intrinsic reward sensitivity deficit in smokers. Front Psychiatry 4:114, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 24065931.
- Cui Y, Robinson JD, Engelmann JM, Lam CY, Minnix JA, Karam-Hage M, Wetter DW, Dani JA, Kosten TR, Cinciripini PM. A randomized placebo-controlled trial to test a genetically-informed biomarker for personalizing treatment for tobacco dependence. Lancet Respir Med pii: S2213-2600(14):70294-2. e-Pub 2015.
Book Chapters
- Karam-Hage M, Minnix J, Cinciripini P, Gritz E. Alcohol and smoking cessation for cancer survivors. In: UpToDate, 2020.
Grant & Contract Support
| Title: | Effectiveness of varenicline plus bupropion for smoking cessation |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NIDA |
| Role: | Collaborator |
| Title: | Suppression of negative affect indexed by the late positive potential in smokers attempting to quit |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NIDA |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | A Phase 4, randomized, double-blind, active and placebo-controlled, multicenter study evaluating the neuropsychiatric safety and efficacy of 12 weeks varenicline tartrate 1mg BID for smoking cessation in subjects with and without a history of psychiatric disorders |
| Funding Source: | Pfizer Inc |
| Role: | Collaborator |
| Title: | Pharmacogenetics of nicotine addiction treatment |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Collaborator |
| Title: | Personalized Smoking Cessation and Reduction in Adult Smokers: A Double-Blind, Randomized Clinical Trial |
| Funding Source: | MDACC Moon Shot Donor Funds |
| Role: | Co-Investigator |
| Title: | New pharmacotherapy for alcohol and co-morbid disorders |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NIAAA |
| Role: | Collaborator |
| Title: | Low reward sensitivity and behavioral activation therapy for smoking cessation |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Intrinsic reward sensitivity & smoking cessation with varenicline or patch NRT |
| Funding Source: | Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) |
| Role: | Co-Investigator |
| Title: | Varenicline and Combined NRT for Initial Smoking Cessation and Rescue Treatment in Smokers: A Randomized Pilot Trial |
| Funding Source: | Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) |
| Role: | Co-Investigator |
| Title: | Improving Service Delivery for Cancer Survivors in Primary Care Settings |
| Funding Source: | Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) |
| Role: | Co-Investigator |
| Title: | Expanding the reach of University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Tobacco Treatment Program |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-Investigator |