Leslie Brick, Principal Investigator
I am Associate Professor at the Center on Alcohol, Substance Use, and Addiction and the Department of Psychology at the University of New Mexico. I also hold Adjunct Professor positions at Brown University Medical School and Emory University. My background is in Behavioral Science and Quantitative Methods.
Outside the lab, I enjoy wandering in the mountains, music, and time with my family and dog (Frida) — I also have a soft spot for creepy stories and good laughs.
Lennon Kuzniar, Research Scientist 1
I am a phlebotomist and medical assistant with a background in behavioral and pharmaceutical research. I earned my B.A. in Cognitive Science from Occidental College and plan to attend medical school to become a surgeon.
In my free time I enjoy knitting, painting, and watching movies with my family. The quickest way to my heart is a chai latte or a sweet treat!
Alondra Rivera, Undergraduate Research Assitant
I am an undergraduate student at the University of New Mexico studying Psychology with a focus on Substance Use and Behaviorism. My goal is to continue my education as a graduate student to earn my PhD and one day conduct research of my own. I wish to learn more about people around me and how our environment influences our everyday lives.
When I’m not at school or at work I spend my time reading, listening to music, watching anime, cooking, or going to the gym. I enjoy crafts and constantly pick up new hobbies (usually more than I can handle.)
Providence-based Team
Our Providence-based team at Brown University leads ongoing work on a NIDA-funded R01 focused on cannabis use following acute trauma (ED CAT Study), and collaborates closely with our Albuquerque lab to advance our shared research goals.
Gillian Rossmann, Research Assistant
Gillian graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire in 2024 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Neuroscience, with minors in Psychology and Chemistry. She is currently a Clinical Research Assistant working on the Cannabis and Trauma study. Her background includes preclinical research investigating the behavioral and biochemical effects of alcohol. Gillian’s research interests lie in pharmacology and behavior characteristics of cannabis and other substance use. In her free time, you can find her rock climbing, crafting, and adding more plants to her ever-growing collection. In the future, Gillian plans to pursue an MD-PhD.
Miranda McSherry, Reserach Assistant
Miranda graduated from Simmons University with a Bachelor’s Degree in psychology and is currently a Clinical Research Assistant working on the Cannabis and Trauma study. Her background includes working with cannabis and practicing trauma-informed care with adolescents dealing with suicidality. In her free time, you can find Miranda being crafty or hanging out with family, friends, and her cat Macy.
Gabi Prieto
Gabriel (Gabi) graduated from Brown University with a Bachelor’s Degree in psychology and is currently a Clinical Research Assistant working on the Cannabis and Trauma study. His background includes behavioral health psychology research and continued experience as a residential caseworker in group homes for adults with persistent, severe mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders, informing his research interests in psychopathology, substance use, and integrated behavioral health care in community settings. In his free time, Gabi likes to rollerblade, surf, and woodwork. In the future, Gabi plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology.
Aleks Karnick, F32 Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Aleksandr (Aleks) Karnick, PhD, MPH, is a NIH F32 Post Doctoral Research Fellow at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Dr. Karnick’s research focuses on examining how neurological and biological risk factors interact with stressful and traumatic experiences to interfere with daily functioning and lead to maladaptive coping (e.g., substance use, suicidal thoughts and behaviors). Using multiple methods, he hopes to probe these interactions through the development of neuroaffective models of behavior and decision-making. Clinically, he is interested in identifying modifiable treatment targets and addressing biased cognitive processes using principles derived from cognitive-behavioral and third wave frameworks. Dr. Karnick completed his PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of Southern Mississippi and his predoctoral internship at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.