THRU LAB CURRENT MEMBERS

Alexander W. Sokolovsky, PhD

Assistant Professor

Dr. Sokolovsky is an Assistant Professor at the Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies. His research focuses on understanding the causes and consequences of tobacco use and dependence, the use of substances in the real world, the translation of this knowledge into interventions and treatments, and the prevention of tobacco-related harms. His current projects focus on understanding cross-conditioning in young adult users of cigarettes and e-cigarettes (DUET) and examining the effectiveness of providing free e-cigarette to adult smokers with asthma to reduce harm and assess the associated changes in lung function (SWAP).

Mary Ellen Fernandez, BA

Research Assistant

Mary Ellen is a Research Assistant working within the THRU Lab. As part of the THRU Lab, Mary Ellen works on both research studies: SWAP and Project DUET. Her research interests include young adults, substance use, harm reduction and public policy. She received her BA in Psychology and minored in Justice Studies at Rhode Island College. Mary Ellen hopes to continue her education in the very near future to receive an MSW (Master of Social Work).

Nicole Haderlein, MPH

Research Assistant

Nicole Haderlein has been a Research Assistant in the THRU Lab since 2022. She received her MPH Epidemiology at Brown University and attended UW-Madison for her undergraduate education. She is interested in mental health and addiction research. A few fun facts: she has a calico cat, likes to crochet and is an avid baker.

Munachimso Ugoh

Graduate Research Assistant

Munachimso Ugoh is an MPH Epidemiology student at Brown University, with a Bachelor’s Degree from Xavier University of Louisiana. His focus includes infectious disease epidemiology, cancer prevalence in Sub-Saharan Africa, substance use relationship with infectious diseases, harm reduction interventions, and tobacco’s impact on maternal mortality. Following his master’s degree, Muna aspires to attend medical school, combining academic expertise with hands-on practice to address public health challenges effectively. 

 

Ashlynn Ruleman, MPH

Graduate Research Assistant

Ashlynn Ruleman (pronouns: she/her/hers) is interested in understanding complex patterns of multiple tobacco product use among young adults, as well as how novel nicotine and tobacco products integrate into the product landscape. She aims to utilize qualitative and quantitative methods to examine the contextual influences and motivations behind polysubstance use. She holds an MPH in Epidemiology from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and a BS in Anthropology from the University of Vermont. When she is not working, Ashlynn practices yoga and hikes with her dog, Moose.

 

Madeline Chong

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Madeline Chong is an undergraduate research assistant at Brown University who is pursuing a degree in Public Health. She is interested in infectious disease, cancer progression, and addiction research and is following the pre-medical track. Outside the lab, Madeline is a passionate foodie who loves discovering new restaurants and trying new recipes.

 

Emma Rosenthal

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Emma Rosenthal is an undergraduate student at Brown University pursuing a degree in Cognitive Neuroscience and Intercultural Competence. She is especially interested in the intersections of mental health, addiction, and holistic wellbeing. After graduating, Emma will join the Gunderson Residence at McLean Hospital and plans to pursue graduate studies in clinical psychology. 

 

Lauren Diamond

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Lauren Diamond is an undergraduate student at Brown University who is pursuing a degree in economics and entrepreneurship. She is interested in addiction research and the associated development of cessation solutions. Lauren has fostered hundreds of kittens and is incredibly passionate about animal rescue.

 

THRU LAB ALUMNI

Bailey Clark

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Bailey Clark is an undergraduate student at Brown University who is pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Health and Human Biology with a theme in Brain Behavior. She is interested in addiction studies and looks forward to continuing her education in the health science field centered around addiction research and cessation. In her free time, Bailey is avidly volunteering her services in the healthcare setting, logging over 150 hours in hospitals around Rhode Island.

 

Mariel Bello, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow

Mariel Bello, Ph.D., is a NIDA T32 Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies at Brown University School of Public Health. She earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Science from the University of Southern California in 2022, where she conducted research examining tobacco-related health disparities among socioeconomically disadvantaged racial/ethnic minority adolescents, young adults, and adults who smoke. Her program of research focuses on the etiology and underlying mechanisms of tobacco dependence in underserved populations in order to inform the development of innovative, culturally-tailored smoking cessation treatments in disadvantaged, minority groups. Her work has been supported by grant funding from the National Science Foundation and USC Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science. Additionally, as a pre-licensed clinical psychologist, she provides evidence-based, outpatient psychological services to clients from socially disadvantaged backgrounds in Rhode Island. Aside from research and clinical work, Mariel enjoys visiting local cafés and antique shops, arts & crafts, reading, playing video games, hiking, and spending time with her fiance, friends, and family.

 

Madison A. Smith, BA

Graduate Research Assistant

Lab Member from May 2021 – August 2021

Madison is a Masters of Public Health Graduate Student at Brown University’s School of Public Health. She worked as a Graduate Research Assistant for the THRU Lab, primarily focused on the SWAP research study. She is passionate about Public Health and learning  more about the implementation of nicotine harm reduction interventions and strategies. After graduation, Madison’s goal is to use her MPH background in the healthcare setting specifically working in administration and policy implementation.

THRU LAB PETS