ALCOHOL RESEARCH LAB
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
Principal Investigator
Dr. Fairbairn is a Helen Corley Petit Associate Professor in the department of psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her doctoral training in clinical-health psychology spanned multiple disciplines ranging from social psychology to biostatistics, a transdisciplinary perspective that has expanded through her years as an independent investigator to encompass fields ranging from machine learning to social neuroscience. In recognition of her alcohol research, she was named a Rising Star by the Association for Psychological Science, a Lincoln Excellence Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois, and was the 2020 recipient of the Early Career Investigator award from the Research Society on Alcoholism. Her work focuses on basic social and emotional processes driving alcohol use as well as the application of novel methods and measures within addiction science more broadly
Catharine Fairbairn, Ph.D.
Graduate Students
Walter James Venerable, III
Ph.D. Student
Walter received his B.S. in Psychology from Arizona State University. His research interests are focused on alcohol’s role in human sexual interactions. Specifically, alcohol’s role in the perception of sexual cues or romantic interest that may lead to the initiation of sexual behaviors. Walter is interested in using this research to make informed improvements to sexual assault awareness and prevention efforts. Outside of lab Walter enjoys hiking through nature, watching educational documentaries, and participating in massively multiplayer online video game communities.
Jiaxu Han
Ph.D. Student
Jiaxu received her B.S. in Mathematics from Lanzhou University, China. Jiaxu is interested in the emotional benefits of alcohol that contribute to its abuse potential using neuroimaging and computational methods. Outside of work, Jiaxu enjoys hanging out with family and friends and playing Dota2.
Yang Lu
Ph.D. Student
Yang received his B.S. in Psychology with a specialization in Clinical Psychology from the University of California, San Diego. He strives to understand and contribute to substance use research utilizing tools from both clinical and social psychology. Having a better grasp of the motivating and reinforcing mechanisms of alcohol use could help produce effective interventions that properly target social contexts. Outside of academic settings, Yang enjoys spending time with friends while taking photos or playing video games.
Eddie Caumiant
Ph.D. Student
Eddie received his B.S. in Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His research interests involve exploring the relationships between social anxiety, social context, and alcohol consumption. Specifically, he is interested in using experience-sampling methodologies alongside transdermal alcohol sensor technology to capture real-world drinking behaviors and affective experiences, as well as to examine how different social environments shape patterns of drinking. Outside of the lab, Eddie enjoys going to movies and playing board games with his friends.
Jay Park
Master's Student
Jay received his B.S. in Psychology from the University of Utah. He is interested in exploring how social contexts and interpersonal relationships influence alcohol consumption. Specifically, he aims to understand real-world drinking behaviors using ecological momentary assessment, transdermal alcohol sensors, and machine learning. Outside of lab, Jay enjoys going on a road trip, playing an acoustic guitar, and taking pictures.
Staff
Rosalie Ruhlmann
Post-bacc Research Coordinator
Rosalie received her Bachelor’s degree from University of Illinois in Interdisciplinary Psychology in 2021. After graduating, Rosalie served as a post-bacc researcher at PRISM Lab, which investigates the impact of intergenerational stress on early development. She joined the ARL in the Fall of 2022, and now works with a team to validate transdermal monitors for the measurement of alcohol consumption. In her free time, Rosie loves to read, draw on her iPad, and experiment in the kitchen.
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Hieu Nguyen
Post-bacc Research Coordinator
Hieu received his Bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Clinicial/Community Psychology. He is interested in exploring how underserved communities develope substance abuse disorders. More specifically, he would like to investigate the relationship between the LGBTQIA+ community and alcohol use disorder. In his free time, Hieu enjoys playing D&D with friends, reading poetry, drawing, and working out.
Alexa Boland
Post-bacc Research Coordinator
Alexa received her B.S. in Psychology from Bradley University in spring of 2023. Her research interests include examining individual differences in social cognition at a neurological level. More specifically, she is interested in how alcohol consumption affects people’s perception of social interactions. In her free time, Alexa enjoys going to coffee shops, reading, working out, and playing the Sims.
Jaime Shields
Post-bacc Research Coordinator
Jaime received her Bachelor’s degree from University of Illinois in Intradisciplinary Psychology in spring of 2023. Her research interests involve people’s interpersonal relationships and how these relationships affect their alcohol consumption and overall well-being. In her free time, Jaime enjoys horseback riding, reading, and going to coffee shops.
Undergraduate Assistants
Hannah Baines
Laith Smeir
Jasmin Chamberlain
Veronica Siewierski
Eleonora Benedetti
Lina Assaf
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Yanjia Geng
Megan Pochyly
Yoobeen Choi
Za'Nya Smith
Hridini Dave
Yujung Son
Jasede Masson
Samara Kelly
Divya Rajagopal
Brian Guan
Chris Martin
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Brielle Ross
Annie Byram
Alumni
Konard Bresin
Konrad Bresin was a graduate student in the Alcohol Research Lab for three years (2015 to 2018). He received his PhD in Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2018. Konrad is currently an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Louisville.
Kaleigh Wilkins
Kaleigh Wilkins was an honors student and undergraduate lab manager in the Alcohol Research Lab for three years (2016-2018). She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2017. Kaleigh is now a doctoral student in Clinical Psychology at Loyola University, Chicago.
Daniel Garcy
Daniel Garcy was an undergraduate student and then a project manager in the Alcohol Research Lab for three years (2015-2018). He received his BS in Psychology with a concentration in Behavioral Neuroscience from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in May 2017. He is currently a doctoral student in behavioral neuroscience at Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis.
Brynne Velia
After receiving her B.S. in Psychology from Stony Brook University in 2017, Brynne was a post-bacc in the Alcohol Research Lab for three years (2017 to 2020). She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Georgia State University.
Sara Mei
Sara Mei was an honors student in the Alcohol Research Lab for two years (2018-2020). She received her Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology with a clinical concentration from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2020. She is currently a doctoral student in counseling psychology at Colorado State.
Zoe Lee
Zoe Lee was an honors student and undergraduate lab manager in the Alcohol Research Lab for two years (2018-2020). She received her B.S. in Psychology with a concentration in Clinical Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2020. Zoe is currently a research assistant in the Clinical Addictions Research Laboratory at the University of Chicago.
Coco Yu
Coco Yu was an honors student in the Alcohol Research Lab for two and a half years (2018-2021). She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with a concentration in Clinical/Community Psychology and a minor in Business from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2021. Coco is currently enrolled in the doctoral program in clinical psychology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Liz Garrity
Liz Garrity was a research coordinator in the Alcohol Research Lab for one year (Fall 2021-Spring 2022). She received her B.S. in Psychology and English at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She is currently earning her masters degree in psychology at DePaul University.
Rashmi Ghonasgi
Rashmi Ghonasgi was an honors student and undergraduate lab manager in the Alcohol Research Lab for one year (2021-2022). She received her B.S. in Psychology with a concentration in Clinical Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2022. She is currently a post-bacc research coordinator at the University of Missouri St Louis.
Anna Garrison
Anna received her B.A. in Psychology and Theater from Oberlin College. She is interested in exploring the psychophysiological underpinnings of alcohol use in different social contexts. More specifically, she would like to further understand the mechanisms of AUD development in the LGBTQ+ community. In her free time, Anna enjoys reading with a cup of tea, spending time outside with family and friends, and discovering new music. Anna is currently getting her Ph.D. at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis.
James Morris
James received his B.S. in Criminology and Psychology from Florida State University. His research background and interests are at the cross-section of emotion regulation and risk-taking behaviors, including how emotional response to one’s environment relates to heavy substance use. He also is interested in unique statistical methods for analyzing both individual and community-level health behavior data. Outside of research, James enjoys playing soccer, chess, and speedrunning video games. James is currently getting his master's degree in Public Health at Johns Hopkins.
Laura Gurrieri
Laura received her B.S in Psychology from Truman State University in the spring of 2020. She was a research coordinator in the Alcohol Research Lab for one year (Fall 2020-Spring 2021), then worked as a post-bacc researcher at Georgia State University. She has returned to the Alcohol Research Lab in the Summer of 2022. She is currently getting her Ph.D. at the University of Illinois Chicago.
Talia Ariss
Talia received her B.A. in psychology from the American University of Beirut and an MA in Psychology in Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Her research interests focus on investigating the interplay between one’s emotions, cognition, and social interactions as they relate to substance misuse. Specifically, she is interested in looking at the factors that increase one’s likelihood of developing of a substance use disorder. Outside the lab, Talia enjoys drawing and reading about nineteenth century European art. Talia is now a post-doc at Puget Sound VA.
Dani Kang
Dani received her B.S. and M.S. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is broadly interested in identifying socio-contextual and emotional factors that might contribute to understanding the underlying mechanisms of AUD development. Specifically, she is interested in employing electroencephalogram technique into the lab’s alcohol administration paradigm to investigate the effects of alcohol on individuals’ cognitive processing of social contexts. In addition, she is interested in applying machine learning algorithms to social science data. In her spare time, Dani enjoys traveling, swimming, baking desserts, and spending quality time with the lab members! Dani is now a post-doc at the University of Washington School of Medicine.