Contact Information
Bio-Technology Research Park, Building One
800 E. Leigh Street, Suite 100
Box 980126
Richmond, VA 23298-0126
Education
- Arizona State University, 2015, PhD
- Arizona State University, 2010, MA
- University of Virginia, 2006, BA
Research Interests
- Substance Use Disorders
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
- Developmental Psychopathology
- Psychiatric Genetics
- Longitudinal Modeling
Research Description
My program of research applies a developmental psychopathology approach to genetic and environmental influences on substance use disorders (SUD) and co-occurring conditions (e.g., Posttraumatic Stress Disorder/PTSD). I am especially interested in the role of genetic influences in moderating early environmental stressors (e.g., traumatic events), as well as the role of environmental influences in mediating genetic effects on substance misuse, PTSD, and their comorbidity. I also examine whether and how these gene-environment effects change across development, primarily focusing on these influences during adolescence and the transition from adolescence to emerging adulthood. I aim to utilize a variety of sophisticated longitudinal modeling approaches (e.g., longitudinal growth curve models, structural equation models, latent change scores) in answering these questions.
Awards
- T32 post-doctoral training fellowship (Institutional NRSA, National Institute of Mental Health, Medical University of South Carolina), August 2015-July 2017
- National Research Service Award (F31) Recipient, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), August 2012-July 2014
- T32 pre-doctoral training fellowship (Institutional NRSA, National Institute of Mental Health, Arizona State University), July 2011-June 2012
- Research Excellence Fellowship, Arizona State University, August 2008-August 2009
