Student and Trainee Spotlight

IAS Pilot Grant Program

IAS launched an inaugural Pilot Grant Program in 2021, providing support for postdoctoral and predoctoral scholars as well as assistant and early associate faculty members. IAS also houses the Student Association for Addiction Science (SAAS), which provides professional development and research and practice opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students at USC.

 


IAS Early Career Addiction Science Showcase (ECASS)

Annually, IAS hosts the Early Career Addiction Science Showcase.  This event showcases early career researchers’ (Undergraduate, Post Baccalaureate, Master’s, PhD or other graduate students, Postdoctoral scholars, or Junior Faculty) cutting-edge research in addiction science.  Empirical findings that have not been previously published are showcased at an annual event with podium presentations by each researcher.  Topics include, but are not limited to:  Clinical research, epidemiology, health policy/regulatory science, pharmacology, pre-clinical research, social and behavioral sciences, prevention/treatment research, and concepts in etiology.

Below are presenters and winners of our showcases. 

* Denotes “Best Abstract Award Winner

ECASS Presentations

Interactive Effects of Financial Strain and Distress Tolerance on Pre-Quit Tobacco Withdrawal Symptoms in Smokers Preparing to Initiate a Quit Attempt
Mariel S. Belo, MA, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences

Pain Trajectories and Alcohol Use Disorder Outcomes Among Veterans During COVID-19 *
Shaddy K. Saba, MA, PhD (c), Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work

A Systematic Review of Endpoints Used in Clinical Trials of Drugs to Treat Opioid Use Disorder
Christine Van, Pharm. D (c), Kaylene Okada, Pharm. D (c), School of Pharmacy

Youth Nicotine Addiction:  Strategic Defiance of Regulatory Oversight by the Disposable Electronic Nicotine Delivery System Industry
Griffin Riggs, BS (c), MS (c), Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, School of Pharmacy

Medicaid expansions and smoking cessation among low-income smokers
Sam Melville, BS, Keck School of Medicine

Revisiting trait resilience in the context of harm reduction:  An exploration of cannabis-related protective behavioral strategies and consequences
Reagan E. Fitzke, BS, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Keck School of Medicine

Cigarette Smoking and Depression:  Examining a Parallel Process Growth Model in Veterans
Denise Tran, PhD, Keck School of Medicine

Addictive Interaction of E-cigarette Use and Mental Health Symptoms with Risk of Cigarette Smoking Initiation Among Young Adults in the United States
Alyssa F. Harlow, PhD, MPH, Keck School of Medicine

Cannabis Legalization and Taxation:  Effects of the Black-Market Growth and Sale of Cannabis in California *
Harlan Tsui, BS (c), School of Pharmacy

Social Connection Subtance Use, and Society *
Nina C. Christie, MPH, PhD (c), Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, Keck School of Medicine

Youth Susceptibility to “Tobacco-Free” Oral Nicotine Products in Comparison to Cigarettes and E-Cigarettes *
Erin A. Vogel, PhD, Keck School of Medicine

Click here to view videos of any of the above presentations
PRESENTATIONS

Factors Associated with Utilization of In-school and Outside Therapy Services *
Gisselle Soto Rivas, Dana and David Dornsife School of Letters, Arts, and Sciences

Waiting for Rock Bottom: Healthcare Engagement Before and After Initiation of Medication Assisted Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder *
Emily Johnson, MD, MPH, Keck School of Medicine

An Examination of Pregaming Behavior and Motives Among Sexual and Gender Minority College Students *
Keegan Buch, BA, Keck School of Medicine

Moral Injury in Medicine: A Structural Approach to Physician Burnout *
Siddhi Ganesh, AB, BS, Population and Public Health Sciences, KSOM

Investigating The Enduring Impact of The COVID-19 Pandemic on Physical Activity and Health Behaviors in High School Students *
Ariana Coba Clementel, Dana and David Dornsife School of Letters, Arts & Sciences

Coping and Health-Related Cannabis Motives Mediate the Relationship Between Childhood Trauma and Problematic Cannabis Use Over Time Among Emerging Adult Cannabis Users *
Brigid Conn, PhD, ABPP, Keck School of Medicine

Disposable Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) and Underage Nicotine Addiction - A Survey of College Students *
Griffin Riggs, BA/MS (c), Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy

The Negative Impact of Targeted Encampment Sweeps on the Ontological Security of Unhoused People Who Use Drugs *
Jesse Goldshear, PhD, MPH, Population and Public Health Sciences, KSOM

POSTERS

Are E-Cigarette Home Bans Associated with Reduced Frequency of E-Cigarette Use? A Pilot Study Among Young Adults in Southern California During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Rohan Minocha, Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine

College Student Food Restriction on Alcohol and Marijuana Use Days: Exploring Motivations and Consequences Across Singular and Co-Use Groups
Ireland Shute, Dana and David Dornsife School of Letters, Arts, and Sciences

Trends in Adolescent Mental Health through the COVID-19 Pandemic by Sociodemographic Characteristics and History of Substance Use
Lilia Margaryan, Population and Public Health Sciences, KSOM

Oral Dihydromyricetin (DHM) Ameliorates Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease Lipid Dyshomeostasis
Srija Ponna, Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy

Polypharmacy and Medication Use Patterns Associated with Unintentional Drug Overdose in the U.S.
Shyam Krishnan Ondanat Veetil, BS, Viterbi School of Engineering

Dihydromyricetin Ameliorates Inflammatory Markers in Mice with Alcohol-Associated Fatty Liver Disease
Alina Idrissova, BS, Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy

Mistrust and Miscommunication; A Qualitative Study of the Experiences of Black and Latina Patients Using Cannabis During Pregnancy and their Healthcare Providers
Erin Gould, MPH, CHES, Population and Public Health Sciences, KSOM

Preclinical Evaluation of Sodium Butyrate's Potential to Reduce Alcohol Consumption: A Dose Escalation Study in C57BL Mice in Antibiotic - Enhanced Binge-Like Drinking Model
Greg Havton, BS, Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy

A Laboratory Protocol for Obtaining Transdermal and Breath Alcohol Biosensor Data: Next Steps Toward Collecting Data in the Field
Georgia Wong, BA, Dana and David Dornsife School of Letters, Arts, and Sciences

Combating Nicotine Addiction Using Poly-ADP-Ribose Based Carrier
Jiawei Li, PhD (c), Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy

Relationships Between Binge Drinking and Alcohol Expectancies By ALDH2*2 in Asian American College Students
Emily Saldich, BA, Dana and David Dornsife School of Letters, Arts, and Sciences

Perceived Risk of Relapse in Emotionally Significant Situations: The Role of Social Relationships
Nina Christie, MA, MPH, Dana and David Dornsife School of Letters, Arts, and Sciences

Exploring Participant Feedback on Using a Smartphone Web-App to Self-Calibrate Models that Estimate BrAC from Transdermal Alcohol Biosensor Data
Kyla-Rose Walden, BA, Dana and David Dornsife School of Letters, Arts, and Sciences