Rishika Shah
Rishika Shah
Graduate Student
- Primary Advisor: : Keanan Joyner, Ph.D.
- Secondary Advisor: : Hedy Kober, Ph.D.
- B.A. in Psychology : Arizona State University
Clinical Science Graduate Student
I am a second-year Clinical Science PhD student under the mentorship of Dr. Keanan Joyner at the C.R.E.A.M. Lab. I graduated summa cum laude from Arizona State University with a B.S. in Psychology in Fall 2022. Building upon my undergraduate research interest in addiction and comorbid psychopathology, I received the post- baccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award at the National Institutes of Health where I investigated the pharmacological and subjective effects of alcohol through intravenous ethanol administration paradigms.
My graduate research focuses on: (1) the role of social influence and trait- suggestibility in reward and decision-making processes; (2) quality of interpersonal relationships and social networks in predicting negative outcomes related to problematic substance use and co-occurring internalizing symptoms; and (3) within-and between- person variation in protective mechanisms of substance-free activities using a behavioral economics perspective. To explore these questions, I aim to integrate psychophysiological markers (EEG) with intensive longitudinal data from ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to capture individual differences in both experimental and real-world dynamic environments.
In my free time, I like soaking up the Bay area sun at local hikes and parks, practicing yoga, reading and cooking.
Curriculum Vitae
Current Work
My research interest lies in advancing our understanding of the etiology of alcohol use disorder (AUD) to improve clinical outcomes. I aim to adopt an interdisciplinary approach, incorporating neuroimaging, behavioral self-reports, and ambulatory assessments to explore how biopsychosocial processes influence substance use and comorbid psychopathology. My work primarily targets adolescents and young adults, with the goal of informing more effective diagnostic and intervention strategies.
I am currently working on a project that examines how the domain of ‘amotivation’ relates to substance use outcomes, as well as other factors like sleep, stress, and affect, using data from an ecological momentary assessment.
Academic Work
Publications
Published
Joyner, K. J., Franck Love, S., Shah, R. V., Liu, N. H, & Brooks Stephens, J. R. (accepted). Advancing our understanding of cultural competency learning requires more of a structural perspective than an
individual one. Psychological Inquiry.
Shah, R. V., Luk, J.W., DiazGranados, N., Ramchandani, V.A., Stangl, B.L. (2025). The role of financial well-being during COVID-19 on alcohol use and mental health outcomes. Journal of Addiction Medicine. (in press).
Shah, R. V., & Blais, R. K. (2024). Negative social exchanges are associated with more severe depressive symptoms above and beyond the effects of positive social exchanges in male US service members and Veterans. Military Medicine. Advance online publication. Blais, R. K., Xu, B., & Shah, R. (2023). The 2015-2016 Military Women’s Health Study: Advances in sexual health and trauma, suicide, and mental health outcomes research. The Military Psychologist, 38(3). https://doi.org/https://www.militarypsych.org/wp-content/uploads/07-Blais-Military-Women.pdf
Okey, S. A., Waddell, J. T., Shah, R. V., Kennedy, G. M., Frangos, M. P., & Corbin, W. R. (2023). An Ecological Examination of Indica Versus Sativa and Primary Terpenes on the Subjective Effects of Smoked Cannabis: A Preliminary Investigation. Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research,
10.1089/can.2022.0213. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2022.0213
Waddell, J., McDonald, A., Shah, R., Corbin, W. (2022) Daily relations among alcohol and cannabis co-use, simultaneous use, and alcohol-related problems: an event-level latent profile analysis: Cannabis.10.26828/cannabis/2023/000171
Non-refereed Publications
Blais, R.K., Xu, B., Shah, R. V. (2023). The 2015-2016 Military Women’s Health Study: A narrative
review of findings and suggestions for future research. Military Psychologist. In Press.
Manuscripts submitted/Under review
Shah, R. V., Blais, R.K (2022). Higher negative social exchanges are associated with more severe depressive symptoms in male us service members and veterans. Military Psychology. Manuscript Under Review.
Manuscripts in Preparation
Shah, R.V., Alexandra L. Cowand, Melanie Schwandt, Jodi M. Gilman, Nancy DiazGranados, Vijay A. Ramchandani, Bethany L. Stangl (2023). The Association Between Trait-Suggestibility and Alcohol Use in Adults with and without Alcohol Use Disorder. Manuscript in Internal Review.
Shah, R. V., Luk, J.W. (2023). Mechanisms and Pathways of Problematic Social Media Use and Alcohol Misuse: A Systematic Review. Manuscript in Preparation.
Shah, R. V., Luk, J.W., Nancy DiazGranados, Vijay A. Ramchandani, Bethany L. Stangl (2023). The
Role of Financial Well-Being during COVID-19 on Alcohol Use and Mental Health Outcomes.Manuscript in Preparation.
B.L. Stangl, J.W. Luk, R.V. Shah, C.L.Vaughan, A.J. Waters, M.L. Schwandt, D. Goldman, N. Diaz Granados, V.A.Ramchandani (2023).The Relationship Between Covid-19-Related Stigma And Alcohol Use, Mental Health, Fear Of Covid-19 And Fatigue At 2-Year Follow-Up. Manuscript in
Preparation.
Poster Presentations
B.L. Stangl, J.W. Luk, R.V. Shah, C.L.Vaughan, A.J. Waters, M.L. Schwandt, D. Goldman, N.Diazgranados, V.A. Ramchandani (2023). NIH Research Festival. The Relationship Between Covid-19-Related Stigma and Alcohol Use, Mental Health, Fear Of Covid-19 And Fatigue At 2- Year Follow-Up.
Shah, R., & Blais, R.(2022). Association of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies (ABCT). Examining the Relationship of Positive and Negative Social Support with Depression in the Military.
Shah, R., Gamaldo, A., Allan, A. (2022). Annual Biomedical Conference for Minoritized Scientists
(ABRCMS). Examining the Association of Personality and Cognitive Functioning in Older Black Americans.
Shah, R., Gamaldo, A., Allan, A. (2022). Improving Access Through Research and Training Seminar (IMPACT). Exploring the association of Area Deprivation Index and Domains of Cognitive Functioning in Older Black Adults.
Shah, R., Okey, S & Corbin, W. (2022). Research Society on Marijuana (RSMj) Conference. The Role of Impulsivity in Cannabis and Alcohol Use Frequency, Disorders and Problem Use.
Shah, R., & Blais, R.(2021). Arizona Psychology Undergraduate Research Conference (AZPURC).
Examining the Relationship of Positive and Negative Social Support with Depression in the Military.
Shah, R. (2020). Annual Psychology Seminar, St. Xavier’s College. The Dichotomy of Political Ideologies
