Early Career Psychologist Spotlight

Where do you work and in what capacity?
I am a clinical psychologist and substance use researcher. I am currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Syracuse University.

Where did you do your training?
I received my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Syracuse University. I then completed a predoctoral clinical internship at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, specializing in outpatient substance use treatment and clinical research. Most recently, I completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University at Buffalo in the Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions and Department of Psychology.

What are your research interests?
My research aims to identify sources of vulnerability or resiliency to environments that promote alcohol use and problems. I hope to characterize who is most susceptible to these alcohol-promoting environments and how individual– and environmental–level risks come together to influence problem drinking. My current work focuses on affective cognitions that might contribute to drinking in response to stress and trauma. Ultimately, I hope these factors could be targeted in clinical efforts to reduce the harms of problem drinking.

What are your clinical interests?
My clinical interests are in providing evidence-based assessment and treatment of substance use disorders and frequently co-occurring conditions, such as depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In my clinical work, I often focus on the interconnections between thoughts, behaviors, and emotions in mental health through a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) framework.

What are your policy/advocacy interests?
I strongly believe in the importance of communicating clear, transparent, and rigorous science to help broad audiences understand the development of substance use problems and opportunities for treatment/recovery. I also am committed to identifying sources of disparities in substance use and its consequences within specific groups. Finally, I am passionate about promoting equitable access to careers in substance use treatment and research. I strive to support initiatives that welcome and retain all early career clinicians and researchers.

How did you become interested in addictive behaviors?
Substance use problems are so prevalent that their impacts touch virtually all of us. This is especially so for alcohol problems, the focus of my research. And, yet, substance use problems remain some of the most stigmatized human experiences. This duality motivated my early interests in substance use research. In particular, I became interested in the role of the environment in shaping substance use patterns, which could provide an opportunity for prevention/intervention efforts and policy/societal shifts to reduce substance problems.

What motivated you to join the Society of Addiction Psychology (Division 50)?
I joined the Division during graduate school to learn more about the latest research on substance use and network with substance use researchers. In my experiences, I was pleased to find the Division very welcoming to and supportive of early career trainees.

Any other information that you would like to share about yourself with other SoAP members?
During the pandemic, I began acquiring a few indoor plants. In the years since, my plant “collection” has grown considerably. Though I have quite a bit to water and fertilize now, I have found that I really enjoy taking in all the fresh air from this ever-growing indoor garden!