Student Representatives and Social Media Committee
Kathleen (Katie) R. McNealy, M.A.
Kathleen (Katie) R. McNealy, M.A.
Position: Student Representative & Social Media Committee Member
Program/Lab/Advisor: 5th year graduate student in Dr. Rick Bevins’ Behavioral Neuropharmacology Lab at University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Research Interests: My research interests involve using rat behavior models to understand the effects of contraceptive hormones on behavioral, environmental, and biological factors involved in enhanced nicotine use vulnerability amongst women.
Fun Fact: I am from Alaska, and have over 30 houseplants that monopolize my free time.
Professional Development Tip: Always seek support when you need it! Nothing in science happens in isolation, and everyone can benefit from seeking or providing support.
Position: Student Representative & Social Media Committee Member
Program/Lab/Advisor: I’m a doctoral candidate in the Department of Applied Behavioral Science at the University of Kansas. I earned my master’s degree in Applied Behavioral Science under the direction of Dr. David Jarmolowicz and currently work with Dr. Derek Reed.
Research Interests: I’m interested in studying animal and human models of substance use and how behavioral economic processes can describe addiction and other maladaptive behavior.
Fun Fact: I enjoy cooking, baking, and have recently made some attempts at home brewing.
Professional Development Tip: Don’t be afraid to seek opportunities via cold email.
Program/Lab/Advisor: 4th year graduate student in the Human Behavioral Pharmacology and Decision-Making Laboratory at the University of Florida. Advised by Dr. Meredith Berry.
Research Interests: I’m interested in how the color green may potentially help reduce pain and substance use. My other interests include understanding potential relations between adverse childhood traumas and behavioral economic indices of drug demand.
Fun fact: I am from Spain, but I came to the US to play college golf and here we are!
Professional Development Tip: Join organizations and don’t be scared to go up to people at conferences to make new connections and friends.
Program/Lab/Advisor: I’m a 5th year doctoral candidate in the Behavior Analysis program at West Virginia University. I work in Dr. Karen Anderson’s Behavioral Pharmacology Lab.
Research Interests: I use rat models to study how commonly used drugs like nicotine and alcohol can affect impulsive choice. I am also involved in human delay-discounting research using fMRI.
Fun Fact: I like to sew and make my own clothes.
Professional Development Tip: Don't be shy! Reach out to that person via email–the worst they’ll do is ignore you or say no to whatever you're asking.
Program/Lab/Advisor: 2nd year graduate student in Dr. Michael Amlung’s Behavioral Economics and Addictions Neuroscience (BEAN) lab at the University of Kansas.
Research Interests: I study common behavioral processes and contextual factors that influence consumption of psychoactive drugs. My research uses behavioral economics and behavior analysis to examine manipulatable factors that alter preference for drugs
Fun fact: I enjoy rock climbing and writing music in my free time
Professional Development Tip: The questions a researcher can attempt to answer are always limited by the techniques and methods at their disposal. Never underestimate the utility of an unfamiliar research method or a colleague in a different field of science. You will undoubtedly learn something useful if you take the time to listen and understand a different perspective.
Program/Lab/Advisor: I’m a 2nd year psychology trainee in the Clinical Psychology PhD program at Nova Southeastern University working under the supervision of Dr. Christian DeLucia.
Research Interests: My research interests include investigating psychosocial factors that lead to continued or decreased substance use in adults and older adults. Currently we are implementing brief recovery management checkups and monitoring client changes following short-term residential treatment.
Fun fact: I grew up riding horses and would travel for competitions to many states across the southeastern region of the US.
Professional Development Tip: Don’t let another’s point of view stop or shift your pursuit, everyone has a different experience and yours just might be everything you hoped it would be!
