Dr. Leslie Leve
About Us
The Basic and Applied Prevention Science lab, under the direction of Leslie Leve, PhD, focuses on the translation of basic research to inform preventive interventions using a variety of developmental designs, such as a longitudinal parent-child adoption design, randomized control trials, and sibling studies.
Dr. Leve has led research grants from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health’s Office of the Director, and Institute of Education Sciences that focus on developmental pathways and intervention outcomes to identify risk and protective factors for youth and families. This includes preventive intervention studies with youth in foster care and with adolescents in the juvenile justice system aimed at preventing risk behaviors and improving public health outcomes, as well as adoption studies that examine the interplay between biological (genetic, hormonal), psychological, and social influences on development. Her published work in the area of gene-environment interplay emphasizes the translation of basic research findings to help refine the selection of malleable environmental targets in the context of prevention and intervention studies. She is also interested in issues specific to adjustment and outcomes for girls and women. Major areas of study include parenting, foster care, gene-environment interplay, and peer relationships.
Professor Leve is the Lorry Lokey Chair in the College of Education and a “double duck,” receiving her masters and doctorate at the University of Oregon in the ‘90s in the College of Arts and Sciences and returning to the university in 2013 as a professor in the College of Education.
Lorry Lokey Chair in Education, Professor, and Department Head, Counseling Psychology and Human Services, College of Education; Scientist, Prevention Science Institute.
Professor Leve typically takes one new doctoral student, three masters students, and three undergraduate students each year and strongly encourages applications from students from diverse backgrounds.
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News
September 30, 2025
Two UO faculty honored with medical research awards
Leslie Leve, professor and the Lorry Lokey Chair in education in the College of Education, along with Professor Karen Guillemin have each been recognized by the Medical Research Foundation of Oregon of OHSU. Professor Leve is recognized for her efforts to provide exceptional mentorship in support of education, health research, and advancing health care.
April 9, 2025
Coffee N Conversation: Leslie Leve
In Episode 6 of Coffee N Conversation, COE Dean Laura Lee McIntyre sits down with Lorry Lokey Chair in Education and Department Head Leslie Leve. Leve’s research focuses on child and adolescent development, gene-environment interplay, and interventions for children, families, and communities.
March 14, 2025
Professor Leslie Leve, PhD, visiting lecturer at the University of Cambridge
Professor Leslie Leve, PhD from the University of Oregon, was a visiting lecturer at the University of Cambridge and is currently an affiliate of their Rudd Research Centre. Leslie discussed her unique academic career, what inspires her and what advice she can offer to mark International Women's Day.
October 25, 2024
UO touts $7 million increase in research expenditures
UO’s research enterprise grew in fiscal year 2023-24 across all disciplines with $178 million in new awards. 35% of federal funding came from the Department of Education, and faculty in the COE received high-impact awards including $24.5 million in funding renewals. Leslie Leve, received an additional $3.5 million funding renewal from NIH for the longitudinal Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program.
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Prevention Science Institute
Leslie Leve, PhD, associate director of the Prevention Science Institute, focuses her research on interventions to prevent risk behaviors and improve well-being for youths in foster care and youths in the juvenile justice system, and adoption studies that examine the interplay between biological (genetic, hormonal), family, and contextual influences on development.
The Prevention Science Institute at the University of Oregon is a multidisciplinary research institute focused on improving the lives of children, families, and adults through science, outreach, and program delivery.
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