Find Academic Supervisors

Holly J. Benjamin, MD is a distinguished sports medicine specialist at the University of Chicago, serving as the inaugural Director of the Primary Care Sports Medicine Program at UChicago Medicine Student Wellness Center. She holds leadership positions including Chair of the Committee on Sports Medicine & Fitness for the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and serves as Head Medical Team Physician for the WNBA Chicago Sky and medical officer for major events including the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, US Soccer, and USA Triathlon. Her educational background includes: B.S. in Integrated Life Sciences, Kent State University (1994) Combined BS/MD, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine (1994) MD, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine (1994) Residency in Pediatrics, The University of Chicago Children's Hospital (1997) Fellowship in Primary Care Sports Medicine, Lutheran General Hospital (1998) Dr. Benjamin specializes in sports medicine with particular expertise in youth, adolescent, and collegiate athletes. Her research spans acute and overuse sports injuries, concussion management, sport biomechanics, and musculoskeletal ultrasound. She has made significant contributions to understanding injury prevention strategies, safe return-to-play protocols, and the psychological aspects of sports injuries. Her work frequently addresses female athletes and elite/professional athletes, with emphasis on evidence-based approaches to optimize performance while minimizing injury risk. Recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on concussion research, with multiple studies examining diagnostic approaches, recovery trajectories, and factors influencing outcomes. Her work spans biomechanics, mental health considerations in sports injuries, and innovative approaches to injury prevention across various athletic populations. Her scientific recognition includes: Election as Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine (2003), becoming the second female pediatrician ever elected Election as Fellow of the American Medical Society of Sports Medicine Distinguished Alumni Award from The New Aurora High School Alumni (1999) Invitation to serve as volunteer physician for the Olympic Training Center (2008) Multiple expert contributions to national media including Runner's World and the Naperville Sun Dr. Benjamin actively mentors through her coaching roles at high school and collegiate levels, emphasizing safe return-to-play post-injury and injury prevention. She has developed educational content through video productions for the American Academy of Pediatrics and serves as head team physician for the University of Chicago Lab School and the NCAA Division III UChicago Maroons. Notably, she is one of only a few sports medicine specialists in the country offering diagnostic and procedural musculoskeletal ultrasound in her office, demonstrating her commitment to advanced diagnostic capabilities for patient care.

• Sports Medicine
• Concussion Management
• Pediatric Sports Injuries
• +5 more

Dr. Ariel Lang is a Professor In Residence in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) and holds an Adjunct Professor position in the Department of Family Medicine and Public Health. She serves as Co-Director of the Experimental Psychopathology Track in the SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, and directs the VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS) Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health (CESAMH). She co-leads the VASDHS Advanced Fellowship in Women's Health and specializes in evidence-based psychotherapeutic approaches for anxiety and trauma-related disorders in military populations. Education: Bachelor of Arts (BA), Psychology, Stanford University (1991) Master of Arts (MA), Clinical Psychology, UCLA (1994) Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Clinical Psychology, UCLA (1998) Master of Public Health (MPH), Public Health (Biometry), SDSU (2007) Research Interests: Dr. Lang's work centers on assessing and treating PTSD, anxiety disorders, and trauma-related conditions with a focus on complementary and integrative approaches. Her studies frequently intersect with military/veteran populations, women's health, and public health issues such as systemic racism and environmental exposures. She has pioneered interventions like Compassion Meditation , Adaptive Disclosure , and Mantram Repetition Program , often using randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate efficacy. Her research also addresses co-occurring disorders (e.g., PTSD and substance use), pregnancy/postpartum mental health, and intergenerational trauma effects. Publications Trends: Her recent articles emphasize trauma-focused treatments, integrative health modalities, and veteran-specific healthcare challenges. Over 50% of her recent work involves clinical trial methodologies, particularly RCTs evaluating novel interventions. She consistently explores interdisciplinary topics like the intersection of mindfulness and clinical psychology, and the impact of systemic stressors on mental health outcomes. Awards: In 2022, she was honored as the UCSD Dept of Psychiatry Faculty Champion of Diversity . Grants/Advising: She is Principal Investigator on NIH grants exploring compassion meditation and yoga interventions for veterans, and has led projects funded by the VA and DoD. Her role in the 2023 VA/DoD PTSD Clinical Practice Guideline underscores her influence in shaping national healthcare policies. Labs/Teams: Her work is anchored in the VASDHS CESAMH, a multidisciplinary research center focused on stress-related mental health conditions. She collaborates extensively with researchers in public health, neurology, and military medicine, evidenced by frequent co-authorships in these domains.

• PTSD
• Complementary and Integrative Health
• Anxiety Disorders
• +3 more

Tania Fernández Villa is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of León. Her primary academic affiliation centers on preventive medicine and public health research within the GIIGAS (Interactions Gene-Environment-Health) research group. Her research spans nutritional epidemiology, gender studies in food systems, substance use disorders, and chronic disease prevention. Key focus areas include alcohol consumption patterns among university students (via the UniHcos cohort), sarcopenia in metabolic syndrome, breast cancer risk factors, and pandemic impacts on health behaviors. Her work integrates longitudinal cohort analysis, systematic reviews, and psychometric validation studies. Recent publications demonstrate strong trends in gender-disaggregated health research, pandemic-related behavioral shifts, and methodological innovations in dietary assessment. Her 2024-2025 output shows increasing emphasis on environmental sustainability of diets and multi-cancer risk prediction models. She serves on the editorial board of the Spanish Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, contributing to strategic planning (2020-2026) and open science initiatives. Her PhD from Universidad de Granada focused on ICT usage patterns among university students. Current projects include the UniHcos longitudinal study tracking health behaviors in Spanish university students, with particular attention to alcohol use, sleep patterns, and nutritional status. Her research group actively investigates gene-environment interactions in public health contexts.

• Preventive Medicine
• Public Health
• Nutritional Epidemiology
• +5 more

Jack Peltz, PhD, serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology, Philosophy, and Neuroscience Programs at the State University of New York at Brockport. His academic career focuses on the intersection of developmental psychopathology, sleep science, and family systems dynamics, with particular emphasis on adolescent and college-age populations. His educational background includes: PhD in Clinical Psychology (Concentration: Developmental Psychopathology; Certificate: Quantitative Methods), University of Rochester, 2013 MA in Clinical Psychology, University of Rochester, 2010 MA in Child Development (Concentration: Clinical and Developmental Psychology), Tufts University, 2007 BA in Japanese, Middlebury College, 1996 Dr. Peltz's research program centers on developmental psychopathology and sleep regulation , investigating bidirectional relationships between sleep disturbances and family functioning. As a clinical psychologist specializing in behavioral sleep health for children and families, he develops community-based interventions to promote sleep hygiene. His work uniquely bridges quantitative methodology with clinical applications, examining how economic stressors, social media influences, and developmental transitions impact sleep-wake patterns. Analysis of his recent publications (2023-2025) reveals three dominant research trajectories: (1) sleep as a mediator between adverse childhood experiences and psychological outcomes, (2) technology-mediated sleep disruptions (including wearable devices and social media), and (3) developmental transitions (puberty, college entry) affecting sleep-family dynamics. His methodological approach combines longitudinal designs, ambulatory EEG, and mixed-methods analysis to capture real-time sleep-family interactions across diverse populations including youth with visual impairments.

• Developmental Psychopathology
• Sleep Research
• Family Systems
• +2 more

Anne-Sofie Helvik is a Professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) within the Department of Public Health and Nursing . Her research focuses on quality of life, coping mechanisms, aging, impairment, and disabilities, with a particular emphasis on older adults. Email: anne-sofie.helvik@ntnu.no Location: Øya Helsehus, 153.03.001, Øya, Håkon Jarls gate 11 Her work spans multiple domains: Health Promotion: Central to her research is improving health outcomes in older populations. Substance Misuse: Investigates alcohol and drug use among older adults and its impact on health. Mental Health: Studies depression, pain, and dementia in aging populations. Sensory Function: Explores olfactory and hearing impairments in older adults. Healthcare Systems: Evaluates treatment, care, and postoperative follow-up in both pediatric and geriatric contexts. Her methodological approach combines both quantitative and qualitative research , with a strong emphasis on longitudinal studies and population-based analyses. Currently, she supervises two doctoral students: Heidi Sivertsen – Researching depression among older community residents. Ingrid Torvik Heian – Investigating olfactory functioning. Her research unit, Allmennmedisinsk Forsknings Enhet (AFE) , focuses on aging and health in older adults, accessible via NTNU’s aging and health page.

• Quality of Life
• Coping Mechanisms
• Aging and Health
• +12 more

Laura E. Martin, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Population Health at the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC) and serves as the Executive Associate Director at Hoglund Biomedical Imaging Center. Her academic journey began with undergraduate training in psychology and dance at the University of Kansas, followed by a Ph.D. in psychology with an emphasis in cognitive neuroscience from Rice University, and a postdoctoral fellowship at KUMC. Dr. Martin is a cognitive neuroscientist whose research focuses on applying neuroimaging methods to understand health behaviors, particularly addictive behaviors such as smoking and eating. Her work examines self-regulation, impulsivity, reward processing, and decision making through functional neuroimaging techniques. As Executive Associate Director at Hoglund Biomedical Imaging Center, she provides technical expertise to investigators and trainees interested in incorporating neuroimaging into their research programs. Her collaborations span diverse areas including aging, depression, obesity, gambling, social neuroscience, decision-making, resting state fMRI, and neuroeconomics. Her research is currently funded by the National Institutes of Health, with a recent focus on using guided episodic future thinking to increase physical activity adherence and promote healthy brain aging among mid-life adults. Dr. Martin is passionate about mentoring students at all levels and sharing her enthusiasm for research methodology, critical evaluation of research, and appropriate method selection for specific research questions. Current research emphasizes health neuroscience examining how health behaviors change the brain and how the brain can be changed to change health behaviors Leads and contributes to team science approaches addressing complex research questions Helps conceptualize research projects and brings specialized data collection and analytic tools to interdisciplinary teams Dr. Martin has published extensively in high-impact journals, with recent work focusing on dementia prevention, neuroimaging methodology, eating disorders, addiction research, and physical activity interventions. Her approach combines cognitive neuroscience with practical applications for improving health behaviors across the lifespan. As an educator and mentor, Dr. Martin works with trainees from high school to faculty level, emphasizing the integration of neuroimaging research with broader research questions and training students in research methodology and critical thinking.

• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Neuroimaging
• Health Behaviors
• +7 more

Andreas Fink serves as a University Professor at the Institute of Psychology within the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Karl-Franzens-University Graz, Austria. His research bridges cognitive neuroscience, psychology, and sports science with a particular emphasis on understanding the neurobiological foundations of creative thinking and emotional processing. As a leading figure in creativity neuroscience, Professor Fink employs advanced methodologies including EEG, fMRI, and ambulatory monitoring to investigate how physical activity influences brain function and cognitive performance. His work has significant implications for mental health interventions and cognitive enhancement strategies across various populations. Professor Fink's research interests center on three interconnected domains: biological mechanisms of cognitive and affective functions, creativity neuroscience, and the relationship between physical activity and brain health. His laboratory investigates how physical exercise influences neural processes related to creativity, emotion regulation, and cognitive performance through both basic neuroscience research and applied interventions. A hallmark of his approach is examining EEG alpha power during creative ideation tasks while simultaneously exploring how running, dance, and other physical activities can improve mental health outcomes and cognitive functioning. His work spans from laboratory-based experimental designs to real-world interventions with ecological validity. Analysis of Professor Fink's recent publication trajectory reveals a sophisticated evolution in his research focus, with increasing emphasis on the intersection of physical movement, brain function, and creative cognition. His work has progressively incorporated more ecologically valid approaches using ambulatory monitoring to study creativity in natural contexts, while maintaining rigorous neuroscience methodology. A consistent theme across his publications is neuroplasticity, particularly how physical exercise interventions induce structural and functional brain changes, with special attention to hippocampal volume and white matter integrity. His research has expanded to explore specialized forms of creativity including malevolent creativity and the nuanced relationship between everyday movement patterns and creative cognition. 2009 Psychology Prize for innovative scientific or practical work for his habilitation thesis 'The neuroscientific study of creative thinking' from the Professional Association of Austrian Psychologists (BÖP) and the Austrian Psychological Society (ÖGP) Professor Fink currently leads multiple significant research initiatives funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF), including 'Neuronal mechanisms underlying the generation of creative solutions in complex environments' (2016-2018), 'Running Away From Depression with Your Brain and Your Heart' (2022-2025), and 'Dance and Brain' (2024-2026). These projects demonstrate his commitment to translating basic neuroscience findings into practical interventions for mental health. While specific doctoral students aren't listed in the provided materials, his position as a full professor and principal investigator on multiple grants indicates active mentorship of junior researchers and graduate students. His collaborative approach is evident through interdisciplinary partnerships spanning psychology, neuroscience, sports science, and clinical practice. Professor Fink is an active member of the 'Complexity of Life' profile area at the University of Graz and participates in the 'Brain and Behavior' research network. His laboratory environment fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, bringing together researchers from diverse backgrounds to tackle complex questions about the brain-mind-body connection. Current projects suggest his team employs a multimodal approach combining neuroimaging, physiological monitoring, behavioral assessments, and intervention studies to comprehensively investigate how physical activity influences brain function and creative cognition. His 'Running Away From Depression' project exemplifies his translational research focus, directly connecting basic neuroscience findings to clinical applications for mental health improvement.

• Creativity Neuroscience
• Biological Mechanisms of Cognitive Functions
• Affective Neuroscience
• +3 more

Dr. Natalie Connor is a post-doctoral research associate affiliated with Durham University. She holds a PhD in Public Health from Durham University, completed while working with Groundwork North East. Her primary roles include embedded research positions at Durham County Council and Tees Valley Sport, focusing on evaluating public health interventions and informing policy. Key areas include mental health and employment, physical activity during the pandemic, and lifestyle interventions for high BMI populations. Education: BSc Psychology (Northumbria University), MSc Sport and Exercise Psychology (Northumbria University), PhD Public Health (Durham University). Research interests emphasize public health interventions, coproduction methods, physical inactivity reduction, and health/wellbeing promotion. She leads projects like the LIFT intervention for fertility-focused health improvements and the EPIC report on coastal physical inactivity. Current projects include evaluations of mental health employment services, Healthy Places initiatives, and vaccine uptake barriers. Collaborative networks include Fuse Physical Activity Network and North East Obesity Forum.

• Public Health
• Coproduction
• Physical Inactivity
• +4 more

Prof. Dr. Ansgar Thiel is a Professor in the Department of Social Sciences at Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen. His work focuses on gerontology, public health, and sociological aspects of aging. He leads research in the HELP (Helping the Elderly to enjoy Long Complete lives) group, addressing stereotypes of elderly populations, physical activity promotion, and health behavior in aging societies. His interdisciplinary projects include the BaSAlt study on physical activity in nursing homes and studies on elite athletes’ health challenges. He collaborates with the Institute of Political Science and Policy Analysis, exploring social conflicts and institutional dynamics. Key research areas include: 1) Aging populations and social policies, 2) Physical activity interventions for elderly and marginalized groups, 3) Mental health in high-performance domains (sports, music), and 4) Sociological analysis of e-sports and digital culture. His work emphasizes participatory approaches and transdisciplinary collaboration with healthcare institutions and long-term care facilities. Publications span topics from analgesic use in elite sports to pandemic impacts on older adults’ social networks. He co-developed the GEKOS educational program to enhance youth health literacy and contributed to guidelines for occupational health management (BGM). His research bridges social sciences with practical health promotion strategies in diverse settings.

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Social Policy
• +4 more

Marissa A. Ehringer is Professor and Chair of the Department of Integrative Physiology at the University of Colorado Boulder, with a joint appointment at the Institute for Behavioral Genetics. Her research focuses on identifying genetic mechanisms underlying substance use disorders using genomics and bioinformatics approaches. She directs the Genetics of Substance Use Disorders Laboratory and mentors graduate trainees. Education: B.S. Biology & B.A. French, Indiana University (1995) Ph.D. Human Medical Genetics, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center (2001) Research Interests: Her work integrates behavioral genetics with genomic technologies to study alcohol, tobacco, and opioid use disorders. Key areas include: genetic epidemiology of addiction, neuropharmacology of substance responses, microbiome-gene interactions in opioid use disorder, and translational models of anxiety-related behaviors. Publications: Recent articles demonstrate strong focus on opioid genetics (33%), anxiety mechanisms (25%), diversity/inclusion in genomics (17%), and translational rodent models (25%). Methodological emphasis includes GWAS, transcriptomics, and microbiome analyses. Honors: NIH Training Fellowships (NIMH, NIDA) Leadership positions: RSA Board Member, IBNGS President Faculty Leadership Institute Fellow UROP Outstanding Mentor Award Training & Grants: Currently advises 6 graduate students. Active NIH grants include: U01 DA051937 (genetic networks in opioid disorder), R21 DA05781 (glial role in nicotine behaviors), and AB Nexus award (GCKR variant effects).

• Behavioral Genetics
• Substance Use Disorders
• Genomics
• +3 more

Prof. Dr. Holger Schulz is a Research Fellow and Project Coordinator at the Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Department of Medical Psychology at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE). His work focuses on psychosocial aspects of oncology, mental health in palliative care, healthcare systems research, and digital health interventions. He actively contributes to clinical research and policy analysis, with expertise in mental disorders, healthcare disparities, and patient-centered care. Key research areas include psychosocial oncology, palliative care practices, mental health service utilization, and healthcare provider perspectives on end-of-life care. His work integrates epidemiological methods with clinical practice, emphasizing translational research to improve patient outcomes. He has led studies on smoking cessation in cancer patients, barriers to healthcare access for autistic adults, and the implementation of e-learning tools to enhance digital health literacy. Prof. Schulz collaborates with interdisciplinary teams on randomized controlled trials (e.g., BENITA trial for ovarian cancer patients) and contributes to national health policy initiatives (e.g., Versorgungsforschung im letzten Lebensjahr). His publications span journals in oncology, psychiatry, and health services research, reflecting his commitment to advancing evidence-based mental and physical healthcare integration.

• Psychosocial Medicine
• Oncology
• Psychiatry
• +3 more

Dean Cruess is a Professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences at the University of Connecticut. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Miami (1998) and conducts research at the intersection of clinical, health, and personality psychology. His work examines how psychosocial factors like stress, depression, anxiety, and personality traits influence mental and physical health outcomes across diverse populations including psychiatric inpatients, people with HIV/AIDS, cancer patients, and cardiovascular disease patients. Dr. Cruess's research program focuses on: Psychophysiological mechanisms linking psychological states to health outcomes Development of behavioral interventions for chronic illness populations Personality factors in treatment adherence and health behaviors Stress-disease pathways in vulnerable clinical groups He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses including Abnormal Psychology (PSYC 2300), Adult Psychopathology (PSYC 5301), and Adult Psychotherapy Practicum (PSYC 6301). His publication trends (2020-2025) show consistent focus on: Mental-physical health comorbidities in clinical populations Personality predictors of psychiatric outcomes Behavioral interventions for chronic conditions Methodologically rigorous approaches including randomized trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews Specialized work in HIV psychology, cardiac health, and inpatient psychiatry

• Clinical Psychology
• Health Psychology
• Personality Psychology
• +5 more

Dr Garcia Ashdown-Franks is a University Research Fellow at York St John University's Institute for Health and Care Improvement (IHCI) within the School of Science, Technology and Health. Their research focuses on the complex relationships between physical activity, mental health, body image, and weight stigma, with a commitment to fostering inclusive physical activity spaces for individuals of all body shapes, sizes, and weights. Dr Ashdown-Franks earned a BSc in Kinesiology in 2015 and an MSc in Exercise Sciences in 2018 from the University of Toronto, followed by a PhD in Exercise Sciences in 2022 from the same institution. They also spent time as a Visiting Researcher at King's College London, where their research focused on parkrun, mental health, and social inclusion. Prior to joining York St John University in 2024, they held an externally funded postdoctoral research position at Brunel University London. Dr Ashdown-Franks employs both qualitative (interviews, ethnography) and quantitative research methods, drawing from critical health studies, fat studies, exercise science, psychology, and sociology. Their work takes a critical stance toward health and weight studies, challenging traditional paradigms and advocating for more inclusive approaches to physical activity and mental health. Their research often explores how community-based physical activities like parkrun can serve as therapeutic landscapes for mental health recovery while acknowledging that these spaces may not be equally accessible or beneficial for all individuals. Analysis of Dr Ashdown-Franks' recent publications reveals a strong focus on community-based physical activity interventions, particularly parkrun, as mechanisms for improving mental health and fostering social inclusion. Their work spans multiple disciplines including sports sociology, mental health research, critical weight studies, and health geography. A notable trend is their examination of how physical activity spaces can be both therapeutic and exclusionary, with particular attention to marginalized populations including individuals with mental health conditions, fat individuals, and Black women. Dr Ashdown-Franks contributes to teaching in the areas of Sport and Exercise Psychology, Psychology of Body Image, and Research Methods. They also provide research-specific training and CPD sessions for staff and postgraduate students, helping to develop research capacity within the university community.

• Physical Activity
• Mental Health
• Body Image
• +6 more

Dr. Tom E. Nightingale is a Lecturer in Exercise Physiology at the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK. He holds a PhD from the University of Bath and has held postdoctoral positions at Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of British Columbia. His research focuses on improving health outcomes in individuals with neurological conditions, particularly spinal cord injury, through exercise and neuromodulation. Education: PhD in Exercise Physiology, University of Bath, UK (2016) BSc in Sport and Exercise Science, University of Bath, UK (2010) Dr. Nightingale's research lies at the intersection of exercise physiology and neurorehabilitation. He investigates how therapeutic interventions like neuromodulation and structured exercise can mitigate cardiometabolic and cerebrovascular risks in individuals with spinal cord injury. His work emphasizes autonomic regulation, cerebrovascular health, and the use of neuroprosthetics to enhance exercise capacity. He has published extensively on wearable technologies, clinical trial protocols, and consensus guidelines for SCI research. His recent publications highlight trends in transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation, autonomic dysreflexia prevention, and the integration of wearable devices in monitoring health outcomes. These works reflect a strong focus on translating physiological research into clinical rehabilitation strategies. Scientific Awards: Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health Innovation Fund Postdoctoral Trainee Award Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research/ICORD Trainee Award Poster Presentation Winner, 4th International Conference on Ambulatory Monitoring Shortlisted for Ede & Ravenscroft Prize Dr. Nightingale supervises PhD and Master’s students on topics related to SCI and exercise physiology. He has received research support from the Wellcome Trust and the International Spinal Research Trust. He is actively involved in editorial boards for Spinal Cord and Spinal Cord Series and Cases , and serves on the National Rehabilitation Centre Research Board. He maintains ongoing collaborations with ICORD in Vancouver and is involved in multi-center clinical trials such as E-STAND. Labs and Teams: He collaborates with the International Collaboration On Repair Discoveries (ICORD) and contributes to research at the Centre for Human Brain Health at the University of Birmingham. His work often involves interdisciplinary teams focusing on spinal cord injury, neuromodulation, and rehabilitation science.

• Exercise Physiology
• Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation
• Neuromodulation
• +7 more

Larissa J Mooney is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Medicine. Her research and clinical work focuses on substance use disorders, with particular expertise in opioid use disorder, methamphetamine use disorder, and cannabis use disorder. She has received multiple NIH grants as a Co-Principal Investigator for studies related to addiction treatment and behavioral interventions. Dr. Mooney's research interests center on developing and evaluating interventions for substance use disorders, with a strong emphasis on medication-assisted treatment, telemedicine applications in rural settings, and understanding the impact of social determinants of health on treatment outcomes. Her work explores how exercise interventions might affect neural function in methamphetamine users, how decision aids can improve medication treatment for opioid use disorder, and how functional outcomes change with reductions in cannabis use. She has made significant contributions to understanding the relationship between co-occurring mental health conditions and substance use disorders, and how these comorbidities affect treatment outcomes. Analysis of Dr. Mooney's recent publications reveals a strong focus on rural healthcare disparities in substance use treatment, telemedicine applications during and after the pandemic, and the impact of social determinants of health on treatment outcomes. Her work increasingly examines how to expand access to medication for opioid use disorder in primary care settings, particularly in underserved rural communities. There's also a clear emphasis on understanding demographic disparities in treatment outcomes and developing tailored interventions for special populations including youth and those with co-occurring disorders. Dr. Mooney has served as Co-Principal Investigator on multiple NIH-funded research projects including: Greater Southern California Node of the Clinical Trials Network (NIH UG1DA049435) Exercise in Methamphetamine Use Disorder: Dopamine Receptor Upregulation and Neural Function (NIH R01DA045162) Patient Decision Aid for Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder (NIH R33DA045844 and R21DA045844) Assessing Functional Outcomes Associated with Reductions in Cannabis Use (NIH R33DA042280 and R21DA042280) Her work has been widely disseminated through numerous publications in high-impact journals, and she collaborates extensively with researchers across multiple institutions including USC, UC Davis, and other UC campuses. Dr. Mooney is particularly active in translating research findings into clinical practice, with a focus on improving access to evidence-based treatments for substance use disorders in community settings.

• Substance Use Disorders
• Opioid Use Disorder
• Methamphetamine Use Disorder
• +4 more