Denise D. Tran, Ph.D. – Assistant Professor, USC Keck School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Dr. Tran is the director of the SHINE Research Lab at the USC Keck School of Medicine. She earned her B.S. in Psychology from the University of California, San Diego and her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Loma Linda University. Her research focuses on the prevention and intervention of substance use behaviors in adolescents, young adults, and minority populations with a primary focus on the use of e-cigarettes and other tobacco products. Her interests also include examining factors associated with alcohol, cannabis, and opioid use.
Valen Lu – Undergraduate Research Assistant, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Valen is a second-year undergraduate student studying Sociology and Data Science with minors in Applied Analytics and Legal Studies. She is interested in exploring social causes of addictive behavior. In her spare time, she also enjoys bouldering, playing ultimate frisbee, and baking.
Tanishka Khanduja – Undergraduate Research Assistant, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Tanishka is a junior majoring in Neuroscience (Bachelor of Science) with a minor in Forensics and Criminality at the University of Southern California. She is deeply passionate about understanding the biological machinery of neurodegenerative disorders as well as the neural circuitry behind addiction and complex psychological disorders. In her free time, she is an avid reader, cook, and weightlifter.
Clara Mintzer – Undergraduate Research Assistant, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Clara Mintzer is a junior pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology and a Bachelor of Arts in History at the University of Southern California. She is interested in the genetic factors affecting addiction. In her free time she enjoys reading, baking, and hiking.