Where do you work and in what capacity?
I’m currently a fourth-year undergraduate student at the University of South Carolina majoring in Psychology and Music. I’m a research assistant in the CHARM Lab in the Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, as well as the CAUSE Lab in the Department of Psychology. I also look forward to being the latest student editor for the SoAP Box!
What are your research interests?
My research focuses on the statistical methods utilized in intensive longitudinal data, particularly in experience sampling data and their applications to clinical outcomes. My current projects in this vein focus on causal mediation analysis, missing data, and optimal sampling frequency. In my applied research, I focus on the interpersonal mechanisms driving mental health and substance use outcomes in romantic relationships with ongoing projects in depression contagion and smoking cessation.
How did you become interested in addictive behaviors?
I arrived at my interest in addictive behaviors through my experiences as a research assistant working on just-in-time-adaptive-interventions (JITAI) for smoking cessation. I found the scalable and personalized nature of these mobile health interventions highly interesting, allowing clinicians to intervene at the optimal moment. The combination of JITAIs’ potential for impact along with the active research in the field drove much of my motivation in pursuing this area.
What motivated you to join the Society of Addiction Psychology (Division 50)?
I was recommended to join the Society of Addiction Psychology by my mentor, Dr. Jennifer Fillo. As I begin applying for Ph.D. programs this upcoming fall semester, membership in a professional organization such as SoAP can provide an avenue to connect with other researchers and potential PIs with similar interests in substance abuse research. I’ve heard many great things about the CPA conference and hope to attend in the near future!
Any other information that you would like to share about yourself with other SoAP members?
Aside from my life as a researcher, I’m also a classical percussionist. In fact, this upcoming November, I’ll be performing at the Percussive Arts Society International Conference with the University of South Carolina percussion ensemble!
Resources are available for those struggling with addiction and numerous effective treatments exist. Whether you are looking for help for yourself or a loved one, we encourage you to seek out help.