Her research focuses on the interdisciplinary study of substance use across the life course, with an emphasis on nicotine, vaping, and co-use with other drugs. She combines approaches from public health, genomics, bioinformatics, and social sciences to understand the biological, behavioral, and structural factors associated with substance use and its mental health implications. Additionally, she investigates the ethical and social dimensions of biomedical research in Indigenous contexts, promoting responsible scientific practices. Her work aims to generate evidence that advances scientific knowledge while informing the development of public policies grounded in health equity and social justice.

Constanza Silva Gallardo is an Assistant Professor at Universidad San Sebastián, an early career researcher at the Millennium Nucleus for the Evaluation and Analysis of Drug Policies (nDP), and an academic affiliate at the Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center at Penn State. Her interdisciplinary trajectory combines biobehavioral, genomic, and social science approaches to study substance use across the life course, with a focus on nicotine and co-use. She has led nationally and internationally funded research, integrating longitudinal data analysis, bioinformatics, and community engagement with Indigenous groups in Chile and the U.S., contributing to both scientific knowledge and public policy.

At Universidad San Sebastián, she teaches undergraduate courses in psychobiology, neuroscience, and project design in psychology. Her research experience in substance use, genomics, and public health strengthens interdisciplinary training by incorporating up-to-date evidence and innovative methodologies into the classroom. Her teaching approach combines biological foundations of behavior with tools for critically analyzing public health policies related to mental health and addiction. This integration of research and teaching fosters in students a deeper understanding of the psychosocial and biological factors that shape human well-being across the life course, preparing them to address complex challenges in health and behavioral sciences.