Director

Michael Zvolensky, Ph.D.

Dr. Zvolensky is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Psychology at University of Houston and Director of the Research on Emotion, Substance Use Treatment Outcomes, and Racial Equity (RESTORE) Laboratory and Substance Use Treatment Clinic. He has published over 800 peer-reviewed articles and books/book chapters on the co-occurrence of anxiety and stress-related psychopathology with substance use disorders, health behavior problems, and physical illness (e.g., chronic pain). His work is globally aimed at eliminating inequalities in psychopathology, addictive, and other health risk behaviors through translational research. He has utilized a variety of methodological tactics in his research program, including community-based participatory research (CBPR), laboratory studies, epidemiologic-field (cross-national and prospective), Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA), and randomized clinical trials. He has been involved in over 70 NIH grants as PI, Co-PI, or co-investigator. His research program has received awards from numerous organizations, including the American Psychological Association, Anxiety and Depression Association of America, College on Problems of Drug Dependence, Association for Advancement of Cognitive and Behavior Therapy, and Association of Academic Health Centers.

A major contribution of Dr. Zvolensky’s laboratory has been to elucidate why people who experience anxiety/depressive-related vulnerabilities are more prone to substance use disorders; and why people with substance use disorders are more prone to anxiety/depressive-related disturbances. His team has led efforts to develop integrative theoretical models of anxiety-substance use disorder comorbidity that identify (malleable) cognitive-affective mechanisms underlying their association. This work is important for designing targeted assessment batteries that can be used to identify high-risk individuals most in need of (specialized) intervention; elucidating mechanisms underlying anxiety/depressive-substance use disorder comorbidity; and developing 'next generation' treatments for these conditions that target the most etiologically potent facets. Within this context, Dr. Zvolensky’s work collectively falls in three, interrelated streams that deal with (a) transdiagnostic processes underlying emotional disorder-substance use disorder comorbidity; (b) mediating and moderating factors involved in the expression, onset, and maintenance of anxiety/depression psychopathology for groups subject to health inequalities; and (c) theoretically-driven and process-based treatment development work that is community-friendly. (Google Scholar)

Co-Directors

Lorra Garey, Ph.D.

Dr. Lorra Garey is a Research Associate Professor at the University of Houston. She earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Houston. Her primary research interests focus on elucidating and attenuating health disparities among underserved and vulnerable populations by examining the interplay between substance use and psychological vulnerabilities and addressing malleable risk factors, including tobacco use, in the context of transdiagnostic interventions. Within this model, Lorra is particularly interested in the efficacy of brief, personalized feedback interventions to reduce tobacco use, alcohol use, and symptoms related to anxiety and depression among smokers with co-occurring psychopathology and tobacco dependence. (Google Scholar)

Brooke Redmond, Ph.D.

Dr. Brooke Redmond is a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Houston. She earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Houston. Her research interests focus on innovative and integrative treatment methodologies aimed at improving health behaviors (e.g., emotional eating, physical inactivity). Specifically, she is interested in transdiagnostic vulnerabilities (e.g., anxiety sensitivity, distress intolerance) that may underlie these problematic health behaviors. (Google Scholar)

Justin Shepherd, Ph.D.

Dr. Justin Shepherd is a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Houston. He earned his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Houston. He has charted a line of work focused on risk and protective factors of addictive behavior in relation to clinically relevant treatment and health-related outcomes. His work aims to elucidate malleable mechanistic factors (e.g., anxiety sensitivity, pain-related anxiety) that underlie relations between nicotine/tobacco use and mental and physical health outcomes, with a particular emphasis on underserved and vulnerable populations. (Google Scholar)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Luke Heggeness, Ph.D.

Dr. Luke Heggeness is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Houston. He earned his doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Kent State University. Dr. Heggeness' research broadly focuses on mental health difficulties related to substance misuse, depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress. His research predominantly examines drug and alcohol use, and modifiable transdiagnostic vulnerabilities (e.g., rumination, distress tolerance), within an emotion regulation framework. In particular, Dr. Heggeness aims to elucidate clinically relevant correlates, consequences, and explanatory mechanisms of affect-driven substance use behaviors to help address mental and physical health disparities often observed among underserved populations. (Google Scholar)

Pre-Doctoral Graduate Students

Tanya Smit, M.A.

Ms. Tanya Smit is a fifth-year doctoral student in the clinical psychology program at the University of Houston. She completed her B.S. in Psychology in 2018, and her M.A. in Psychology in 2020, both at the University of Houston. Her line of research is broadly focused on identifying factors that contribute to substance misuse and dependence (including alcohol, opioids, and tobacco) among chronic pain populations. Within this area, she is particularly interested in addressing health-related disparities among underserved subsets of the chronic pain population. Tanya is the recipient of a pre-doctoral National Research Service Award from the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (Google Scholar)

Brienna Fogle, M.A.

Ms. Brienna (Meffert) Fogle is a fourth-year doctoral student in the clinical psychology program at the University of Houston. She graduated with honors from the University of Kentucky in May 2016 with a B.S. in Psychology, a B.A. in English, and a minor in Biology. She completed her M.A. in Psychology in May 2023. Her research interests primarily focus on the comorbidity of trauma and substance use. She is also interested in understanding the impact of transdiagnostic risk and maintenance factors on the development and maintenance of co-occurring posttraumatic stress disorder, substance use, and related disorders. (Google Scholar)

Neha Pathak, M.A.

Ms. Neha Pathak is a fourth-year doctoral student in the clinical psychology program at the University of Houston. She graduated from the University of South Florida with a B.A in psychology in 2018 and received her M.A in psychology from the University of Houston in 2024. Her research interests focus on the etiology and predictive factors of aggression towards women, specifically psychopathy and externalizing psychopathology. Within this area, she is interested in understanding how psychopathic traits, transdiagnostic factors, and social norms maintain violent behavior. She is also passionate about examining these relationships in and working with incarcerated populations as well as cross-cultural populations, especially South Asian Americans.

Pamella Nizio, B.S.

Ms. Pam Nizio is a third-year doctoral student in the clinical psychology program at the University of Houston. She completed her B.S. in Psychology from the University of Houston with a minor in Human Resource Management. Her research interests focus on transdiagnostic mechanisms relevant to the onset, persistence, and resolution of substance use and mental illness, and the development of integrated treatment methods for addiction and psychopathology that are both highly accessible and use methodology that allows for personalization (e.g., mobile phone-based, computer-based, ecological momentary assessment [EMA]). (Google Scholar)

Jillian Robison, B. A.

Jillian Robison is a second-year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology program at the University of Houston. She earned her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Oklahoma in 2019. Her research focuses on the interplay between social determinants and overall health outcomes, with an emphasis on identifying transdiagnostic vulnerability factors that may contribute to adverse mental and physical health outcomes, especially in underserved populations. She is also interested in developing innovative interventions that target malleable risk factors. (Google Scholar)

Laboratory Coordinator

Jessica Thai, B.S.

Jessica graduated from the University of Houston with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Health. She is interested in investigating transdiagnostic vulnerabilities, comorbidities, predictive factors, and maintenance factors surrounding substance use among minortized populations. She is also interested in developing accessible and culturally tailored smoking cessation and mental health interventions for such populations. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in the future. (Google Scholar)

Study Coordinators

Rodrigo Castillo Avilés, B.S.

Rodrigo graduated from the University of Houston with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Spanish. His research interests include exploring how psychological distress related to minority status, chronic diseases (e.g., HIV), and substance use affects the brain and contributes to addiction. He is currently focused on the intersection of mental health and social factors, specifically developing culturally tailored interventions for addiction and mental disorders.

Jacqueline Charles, M.A.

Jacqueline J. Charles graduated from Sam Houston State University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a Minor in Criminal Justice. Then went on to get her Master of Arts in General Psychology at Stephen F. Austin State University. Her research focus centers on creating and refining culturally tailored interventions for populations disproportionately affected by health disparities, particularly minority communities. Additionally, she is interested in examining the cognitive links between psychopathology and substance use disorders. Jacqueline plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology.

Linh Dinh, B.S.

Linh graduated from the University of Houston with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Human Development and Family Studies. His primary research interest focuses on developing culturally tailored interventions for addiction and mental disorders that are easily accessible and personalized (e.g., ecological momentary assessment [EMA], mobile phone-based app, etc.). Additionally, he is also keen on investigating the intersection between psychological vulnerabilities and substance use disorders, particularly how stress, anxiety, and depression influence substance misuse behaviors and vice versa. Linh plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in the future.

Angelica Duran, B.S.

Ava Jones, B.A.

Ava graduated from Northwestern University with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Global Health. Her research interests include studying the effect of psychological stress related to minority status on addiction, mental health, and physical health. Within this area, she is interested in exploring the systemic and individual risk factors that contribute to health inequalities in psychopathology and addiction. In the future, she plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. (Google Scholar) 

Andrea Rodriguez, B.S.

Andrea graduated from the University of Houston with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Biology. Her research interests include developing and refining culturally tailored interventions for minority communities affected by health disparities, particularly the Hispanic and Latino communities. Additionally, she is interested in exploring trauma responses with a particular focus on substance use, through a cultural lens. In the future, she plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology.

Ashley Ruiz, B.S.

Ashley graduated from Arizona State University with a B.S. in Psychological Sciences and a minor in Organizational Leadership. During her undergraduate studies, she served as a research assistant for the Arizona Twin Project, which investigated the genetic and environmental contributions to child and adolescent physical and mental health. Her research interests include trauma exposure, PTSD, substance use, maladaptive coping behaviors and their associated comorbidities. Additionally, she is interested in how cultural factors may influence these variables within trauma therapy, addiction therapy, and other treatment modalities. Ashley plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in the future. 

Weixi Wang, B.A.

Weixi graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a BA in Sociology and a minor in Educational Psychology. Broadly, his research focuses on the intersection of trauma, identity, and maladaptive behaviors, particularly addiction. He is interested in 1) understanding how personal and social identities influence the trajectory of maladaptive behaviors following trauma exposure, 2) identifying mechanisms (e.g., social support, identity change, normative feedback) that foster adaptive behavior changes, and 3) using mixed-method approach (e.g., surveys, experiments, daily diaries, language analysis) to explore factors that support addiction recovery and posttraumatic growth among underserved populations. He plans to pursue a career as a trauma researcher to promote long-term recovery among trauma survivors with addiction. (Google Scholar)

Perel Wein, B.A.

Perel "Perri" Wein graduated with a B.A. in Psychology and Judiac studies from Gratz College-WITS campus in 2019. Upon graduating, she completed a year-long research fellowship at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) studying neuro-HIV. Since then, she has worked with and researched older adults a the Penn Memory Center, adolescents at the ABCD study at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and, most recently, studied both severe psychopathology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai and smoking and nicotine dependance at Yeshiva University. Her primary research interests include the intersection between substance use and chronic health conditions, with an emphasis on minoritized and/or underserved populations. She plans to pursure a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in the future.

Undergraduate Research Assistants

Asmita Ahuja

Asmita Ahuja is a junior at Rice University pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a Health Sciences double major. Her research interests include anxiety, racial equity, PTSD, and the connections between health behavior & psychological well-being. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology.

Oriana Barriga

Oriana Barriga is a junior at the University of Houston, pursuring a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Biology. Her research interests include anxiety, emotion, PTSD, substance use disorders, and personality disorders. After graduation, she plans to pursue a medical degree and become a neurosurgeon.

Michell Bernardo

Michell Bernardo is a freshman at the University of Houston pursuing a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Biology. Her research interests iclude the effects of trauma on brain development, the impact of language on mental health services, and racial equity. Upon graduation, she wants to further her education by pursuing a Master's in Public Health.

Lindsay Bevers

Sahar Dhukka

Sahar Dhukka is currently a student at the University of Houston pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Biology. Her research interests include anxiety, depression, personality disorders, and substance use disorders. 

Carolyn Garcia

Carolyn Garcia is a senior at the University of Houston pursuing a B.S. in Health on the Public Health track and a minor in Psychology. Her research interests include health disparities among underrepresented populations, psychological disorders, and environmental health. Upon graduation, she hopes to receive her Master’s in Public Health.

Iraima Lara

Iraima Lara is a Junior at the University of Houston pursuing a B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Spanish. Her research interest includes how cultures/ethnicities impact their cognitive thinking, and how that intertwines with development of mental disorders. After graduation, she plans on pursuing a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology.

Rebekah Loriga-Oliveira

Rebekah is a senior at the University of Houston pursing a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Human Development and Family Sciences. Her research interests revolve around music cognition and auditory perception, as well as their impact on human behavior. Upon graduation, she plans to pursue a PhD in Cognitive Psychology.

Edwin Marquez

Edwin Marquez is a Junior at the University of Houston pursuing a B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Medicine and Society. He is interested in researching interventions for individuals with addiction and mental health disorders, with a focus on public health. Upon Graduation, Edwin plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology or Counseling Psychology. 

Mia Mercado

Mia Mercado is a junior at the University of Houston pursuing a Bachelor of Science double major in Psychology and Health on the Health Promotion track. Her research interests include psychological disorders, health disparities in minority populations, and models of behavior change. After graduating, she plans to attend graduate school to become a clinical psychologist.

Kayleigh Weldon

Kayleigh Weldon is a junior at the University of Houston pursuing a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Human Resources. Her research interests include the impact of mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression, and ADHD. Upon graduation, she hopes to attend graduate school for counseling.