Ni Gao, Ph.D., LCSW, is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions at Rutgers University. She has served as Principal Investigator on three field-initiated research grants funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), totaling more than $1.8 million, and has contributed as co-investigator on numerous additional federally funded research projects.
Dr. Gao’s research focuses on improving employment participation among individuals with mental health conditions, advancing vocational rehabilitation interventions, and promoting the integration of mental and physical healthcare services. She has authored more than 60 peer-reviewed publications and has presented her work at national and international conferences.
In addition to her research, Dr. Gao directs the Integrated Employment Institute within Rutgers University’s Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions. The Institute provides training, technical assistance, and implementation support in New Jersey and several other states, strengthening practitioner capacity in delivering evidence-based employment and educational rehabilitation services. Prior to joining Rutgers, Dr. Gao accumulated more than 15 years of clinical and managerial experience in behavioral health systems in New York and New Jersey.