Who We Are

Matthew Kirkpatrick, PhD
Associate Professor of Research Population and Public Health Sciences
mgkirkpa@usc.edu

Dr. Kirkpatrick’s research uses laboratory psychopharmacology, Ecological Momentary Assessment, and survey methods to focus on how drug use – both normal and problematic – functions in social contexts. His work examines the acute and residual effects of a range of psychoactive drugs (including alcohol, nicotine, and amphetamines) in ethnically diverse populations of both current drug abusers and healthy normal volunteers, and under various laboratory and naturalistic conditions. His current interests focus on: (1) the complex bi-directional interactions between acute drug effects and social settings, and how these interactions contribute to the rewarding effects of drugs; and (2) how friends and family can either help or hinder quit attempts (especially cigarette smoking quit attempts). Overall, this multidisciplinary approach carries direct clinical relevance as it will improve our understanding of drug use, which will help to develop novel treatments for those who wish to quit.

Saida Coreas
Doctoral Student
scoreas@usc.edu

Saida Coreas is a PhD Student in the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. She graduated from California State University, Los Angeles in 2018 with a B.S in Public Health. She completed a 3-year (2018-2021) post-baccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA) fellowship at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland where she worked on research projects looking at racial/ethnic differences in tobacco product use patterns among U.S. adults, as well as relationships between cigarette smoking susceptibility and smoking initiation among U.S. youth. Other work includes investigating the relationship between acculturation and cardiometabolic risk factors among U.S. Latinos. Her research focuses on understanding how factors relating to social determinants of health influence tobacco use among minority populations. In her free time, Saida enjoys gardening, going on road trips, and spending time with friends and family. 

Devaki Patel
Doctoral Student
djpatel@usc.edu

Devaki Patel is a PhD Student in the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. She graduated from the University of California, San Diego in 2021 with a B.S. in Public Health and a minor in Global Health. She then attended the University of Southern California, where she earned her Master of Public Health. Devaki has worked on various nicotine and tobacco related research studies including the investigation of e-cigarette use in youth and young adults and tobacco cessation intervention research in romantic couples. Outside of research, Devaki enjoys reading novels of various genres, trying new foods and restaurants in Los Angeles, and spending time with friends and family.

Lucy Schuler
Doctoral Student
 lschuler@usc.edu

Lucy Schuler graduated from UC Berkeley in 2021, receiving a B.A. in Psychology (Highest Honors) and Linguistics. At Berkeley, Lucy was a research assistant in the Language and Cognitive Development Lab. Her senior honors thesis examined the role of financial stressors associated with the COVID-19 pandemic on children’s language environments and exposure. As a project assistant in the DUB Lab, her main work is on the Smoking Cessation in Sexual Minority Couples Study. Outside of research, Lucy enjoys going on walks with her dog, discovering new podcasts, and exploring all over Los Angeles.

Anna Miner
MPH Student
acminer@usc.edu

Anna Miner is a current Masters of Public Health student on the community health promotion track, set to graduate in 2025. She graduated from USC in 2024 with a B.S. in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. At USC, Anna helped to organize free kidney health screenings for the local Los Angeles community and conducted neonatal research at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. As an undergraduate research assistant and now an MPH student at the DUB Lab, Anna has focused on tobacco and alcohol research projects. Outside of research, Anna enjoys exploring LA and spending time with her friends and family.

Aaryan Midha
Student Research Assistant
aaryanmi@usc.edu

Aaryan Midha is an undergraduate at the University of Southern California pursuing a B.S. in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and a minor in Addiction Science, set to graduate in 2026. At USC, Aaryan co-founded SeeCing a Path Forward for Diabetes, an organization that teaches how to intervene during hypoglycemic attacks, raise awareness of diabetes, and prevent the onset of diabetes in Los Angeles communities. Aaryan is also Co-Director of Community Involvement for USC Kidney Disease Screening and Awareness Program, a non-profit dedicated to fighting kidney diseases by raising public awareness and promoting the early detection of chronic kidney disease. He is also involved with Blueprints for Pangaea, a nonprofit with the mission of addressing health disparities through the distribution of healthcare resources on a local and global level.  In the future, Aaryan hopes to obtain a progressive master’s degree in Global Medicine. In his free time, Aaryan volunteers for the Keck Hospital of USC and enjoys playing tennis, swimming, reading, editing for the Daily Trojan, and spending time with his friends and family.

Raina Pang, PhD
Associate Professor of Research Population and Public Health Sciences
rpang@usc.edu
https://powerlab.usc.edu/
https://www.instagram.com/uscpowerlab/

Dr. Pang’s research interest lies in understanding sex/gender differences and female-specific factors in substance use (e.g., alcohol, tobacco, cannabis) and other health risk behaviors (e.g., eating). Dr. Pang completed a postdoctoral fellowship for mentored training in behavioral pharmacology and laboratory-based menstrual cycle studies and mentored K01 with training in Ecological Momentary Assessment. Currently, Dr. Pang is PI on projects investigating menstrual cycle effects on alcohol use and eating behavior, and perinatal tobacco use.