Faculty


Raina Pang, PhD
Associate Professor of Research Population and Public Health Sciences
rpang@usc.edu
About Raina Pang, PhD

Broadly speaking my research interest lies in understanding sex/gender differences and women specific factors in addiction. As part of these efforts, I have completed a postdoctoral fellowship investigating the interactive role of menstrual cycle and nicotine on response inhibition and smoking behavior using laboratory based behavioral pharmacology. Currently, I am PI on a five year study aimed at understanding within and between subject effects of ovarian hormones on mood and smoking behavior across the menstrual cycle using ecological momentary assessment.

Raina Pang, Ph.D.  

Director

Associate Professor of Research

Dr. Pang is an Assistant Professor of Research in the Department of Preventive Medicine in the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California and a member of the USC Norris Cancer Center. She earned her B.S. in Psychology at the University of Oregon, PhD in Neuroscience at the University of Southern California, and completed a TRDRP postdoctoral fellowship at the Health, Emotion, and Addiction Laboratory at the University of Southern California.

Dr. Pang’s interdisciplinary psychosocialbiology research program utilizes human behavioral pharmacology and ecological momentary assessment (EMA) methods to investigate mechanisms underlying tobacco related health disparities (e.g., sex/gender differences, female-specific factors, psychiatric comorbidity). This interdisciplinary research carries direct clinical relevance because it will improve our understanding of tobacco addiction in females and individuals with co-morbid psychiatric disorders, and also bears translational relevance to the development of neuroendocrine-based pharmacotherapies to reduce smoking.

Staff & Students


Chyna Tucker
Resource Employee
cjtucker@usc.edu
About Chyna Tucker

Chyna Tucker graduated from the University of Southern California, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Business. Her research interests include mental health related disparities, and the intersection between culture and mood disorders. She is currently pursuing her MSW at UCLA, where she hopes to investigate and develop culture specific therapeutic interventions. Outside of research, Chyna enjoys fashion, cooking, yoga, and visiting family in her home country, Jamaica.


Lori Zadoorian, B.S.
Medical Student Research Assistant
lori.zadoorian@westernu.edu
About Lori Zadoorian, B.S.

Lori Zadoorian graduated from the University of California, Davis with a major in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior and minor in Psychology. She is currently a medical student at Western University of Health Science – College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific. Her research interests include women’s health, lifestyle medicine, and social determinants of health. Outside of work and school, Lori enjoys cooking and trying new foods, indoor rock-climbing, and challenging herself with escape rooms.


Katrina Huynh
Student Research Assistant
knhuynh@usc.edu
About Katrina Huynh

Katrina Huynh is an undergraduate student at the University of Southern California studying Biology and Spanish. Her research interests include women’s health, addiction science, and the social determinants of substance use. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, running, spending time outdoors, and creating Spotify playlists. She hopes to attend medical school and become an Emergency Medicine physician.

Hanna Raskin, B.S.

Project Assistant

Hanna Raskin graduated from the University of Southern California, where she earned her Bachelors of Science in Neuroscience. Prior to joining POWER Lab she worked under Dr. David Black at USC’s DUB Lab. Her research interests include psychoneuroimmunology, drug use behavior, reproductive health, and mental health. Outside of research, Hanna enjoys reading, visiting coffee shops, vintage shopping, and weight lifting. In the future, Hanna plans on applying to medical school and hopes to become an OB-GYN.

Chyna Tucker, B.A. 

MSW Candidate

CHDAS Trainee

Chyna Tucker graduated from the University of Southern California, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Business. Her research interests include mental health related disparities, and the intersection between culture and mood disorders. She is currently pursuing her MSW at UCLA, where she hopes to investigate and develop culture specific therapeutic interventions. Outside of research, Chyna enjoys fashion, cooking, yoga, and visiting family in her home country, Jamaica.

Lori Zadoorian, B.S.

Medical Student Research Assistant

Lori Zadoorian graduated from the University of California, Davis with a major in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior and minor in Psychology. She is currently a medical student at Western University of Health Science – College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific. Her research interests include women’s health, lifestyle medicine, and social determinants of health. Outside of work and school, Lori enjoys cooking and trying new foods, indoor rock-climbing, and challenging herself with escape rooms.

Katrina Huynh 

Student Research Assistant

Katrina Huynh is an undergraduate student at the University of Southern California studying Biology and Spanish. Her research interests include women’s health, addiction science, and the social determinants of substance use. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, running, spending time outdoors, and creating Spotify playlists. She hopes to attend medical school and become an Emergency Medicine physician.

Frequent Collaborators

Matthew Kirkpatrick, PhD
mgkirkpa@usc.edu
Associate Professor of Research Population and Public Health Sciences
Lina D'Orazio, PhD
lina.dorazio@med.usc.edu
Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology
Casey Guillot, PhD
Casey.Guillot@unt.edu
Assistant Professor

Casey Guillot, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Matthew Kirkpatrick, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Research

Lina D’Orazio, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology