Jennifer Wang – Medical Student, USC Keck School of Medicine
Jennifer is a medical student at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. She graduated from the University of Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology, and her research interests include psychology, mental health, and substance use disorders. She also enjoys cooking and baking.
Shaddy Saba – Ph.D. Student, USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work
Shaddy Saba is a Ph.D. student in the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work. He primarily focuses on understanding and addressing substance use disorders in individuals with psychiatric and medical comorbidities (e.g., Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, chronic pain conditions). He is particularly interested in mindfulness-based interventions, and in the role technology might play in improving behavioral health outcomes. He holds an MA in social work from the University of Chicago. His primary mentor is Jordan Davis, Ph.D.
Aidan Scanlan – Undergraduate Research Assistant, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Aidan is a third-year undergraduate student studying Creative Writing at USC. He is deeply interested in the social and psychological forces that can cause or exacerbate substance abuse, and is invested in creating systems and communities that can effectively support those suffering from addiction. In the future, he hopes to advocate for a holistic approach to eliminating homelessness, one that is built on affordable housing, effective mental health services, and fostering social connectedness. View Aidan’s CV here.
Devin Ayala – Undergraduate Research Assistant, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Devin is a fourth-year undergraduate student studying Environmental Science and Health at USC, and pursuing a progressive degree in Global Medicine through USC Keck School of Medicine. He works with student health to organize and execute educational programming events throughout the school year. Devin aims to highlight the intersectionalities of our environment and health through research, volunteering, and coursework. He plans to take a gap year to finish his progressive degree then apply to medical school. View Devin’s CV here.
Michael Bernardo – Undergraduate Research Assistant, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Michael is a third-year undergraduate student studying Human Biology with a focus in Biomedical Sciences at USC, and is also pursuing a minor in Healthcare Studies and Health Administration. He also enjoys playing soccer, dancing, and exploring L.A. with friends. View Michael’s CV here.
Seth Houghton – Undergraduate Research Assistant, University of California Santa Cruz
Seth is a second-year undergraduate student studying Intensive Psychology at UC Santa Cruz and plays volleyball for the Banana Slugs. He has worked on several projects addressing substance use, including creating educational videos for adolescent drivers for an online intervention program run by AAA. His research interests include how increased cannabis levels affect brain development on today’s adolescents and how to help those who have experienced trauma. He also enjoys statistical analysis.
Olivia Newell – Undergraduate Research Assistant, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Olivia is a third-year undergraduate student studying Health and Human Sciences with a minor in East Asian Languages and Culture. With a passion for delving into the human mind through psychology, she hopes to pursue a career in which she can help improve people’s lives through the understanding and treatment of psychological disorders and addiction. She also enjoys the Great British Baking Show, going to the beach, and trying new restaurants in LA. View Olivia’s CV here.