Alice V. Ely

Alice V. Ely is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology at Widener University, specializing in addiction and health psychology. She holds affiliations with multiple programs, including the Clinical Psychology (PsyD) and dual-degree tracks in Clinical Psychology & Criminal Justice, Clinical Psychology/Business, and Clinical Psychology/Health Care Management. Her research focuses on neurocognitive function in substance use disorders, healthcare service utilization for addiction, behavioral/mindfulness-based treatments, and comorbid conditions like obesity and chronic illness. She emphasizes clinical-practice integration and is licensed as a psychologist.

Education: While specific degrees aren’t listed, her title and publications indicate advanced training in clinical psychology and neuroscience. Her work often intersects clinical practice with neurobiological research.

Research Interests:

• Neurocognitive mechanisms underlying addiction and obesity
• Behavioral interventions for substance use disorders
• Healthcare protocols for hospitalized patients with addiction
• Cognitive outcomes in heart failure patients with comorbidities

Her work frequently explores how neurobiological factors (e.g., reward pathways, inhibitory control) interact with clinical outcomes in marginalized populations.

Publications Trends: Recent work emphasizes comorbidities (e.g., obesity and smoking) and neurobiological underpinnings of addiction. 2023–2025 articles highlight hospital-based protocols, methadone treatment access, and BMI’s role in withdrawal outcomes.

Awards:

• NIDA Director’s Travel Award (2021)
• Outstanding Young Investigator in Eating Disorders (2017)
• Multiple New Investigator Travel Awards (2012)

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams on integrated care models, particularly in hospital addiction medicine and substance use protocols. Active in the College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD) and Society of Behavioral Medicine.