Who We Are

Personal Statement

My program of research focuses on understanding how psychological, social, and situational factors influence young adult substance use and also the development of brief interventions for young adults. In particular, my research investigates processes influencing substance use behaviors from day-to-day or moment-to-moment. I use different types of daily-level or ecological momentary assessment (EMA) designs to elucidate why and how substance use varies across different occasions for a given individual in relation to changes in cognitions and contextual characteristics. My program of research enhances our knowledge of the etiology of substance misuse to inform the refinement and development of brief personalized feedback interventions as well as real-time interventions.

I am currently Multiple Principal Investigator (MPI Fairlie/Ramirez) of a NIAAA-funded grant (R34AA027302) developing two versions of an online personalized feedback intervention that focuses on alcohol cue reactivity among young adult drinkers; the study includes a lab component with an alcohol cue reactivity session as well as an EMA component (daily surveys up to 4x/day over 17 days). In addition, I am the PI of a NIDA-funded grant (R21DA050131) that investigates marijuana-specific self-regulation processes in relation to marijuana use and consequences both across days and throughout the day to identify how psychological states and contextual factors influence these self-regulation processes using an EMA design (daily surveys 4x/day over 2 weeks). As PI, I completed data collection for a grant that examines unplanned heavy drinking, protective behavioral strategies, and alcohol-related consequences using daily surveys administered over eight consecutive weekends (NIAAA; R21AA024156).

Education

PhD Psychology Behavioral Science, University of Rhode Island, 2012
MA Psychology Behavioral Science, University of Rhode Island, 2009
BA Psychology, Connecticut College, 2000

Department Affiliations