CRIA Predoctoral Training Program

The predoctoral training is a four-year commitment, which is the average duration of doctoral training for most of our programs. 

Trainees will have the guidance of qualified mentors as they develop and pursue their independent research objectives. Mentors are assigned based on areas of research interest, faculty resources and availability, and specific expertise that would benefit a fellow.

Overview of research training and activities

Each mentor provides detailed training in conceptualization, methodology, and ethics of research in the trainee's primary area of study. Trainees will also participate in a core curriculum, as well as have an opportunity to participate in a supplemental curriculum. The core curriculum consists of three components, listed below in detail, that include:

  • a one credit course each semester
  • Clinical and Research Institute on Addiction's seminar series
  • Formal didactic coursework 

Core Curriculum

CHB 620: Special Topics (1 credit each academic semester)

  1. Foundations of Interdisciplinary Alcohol Research - this seminar is designed to provide information on alcohol research, with coverage of topics that pertain to etiology and treatment. 
  2. Seminal Articles in Alcohol Studies - monthly round table session in which trainees and other interested faculty read and discuss seminal articles in the alcohol field, as well as broader articles that have been influential in alcohol research.
  3. Grant Writing - ongoing training to prepare all trainees to write career-appropriate federal funding grant applications (i.e. F32 for predoctoral level and K01/Kl2 for postdoctoral level).
  4. Statistics Workshops - workshop topics include mixed modeling regression, power analysis, sample size determination, and ordinal data analyses. 
  5. Professional Issues and Career Development - this seminar includes topics related to the development of a professional career, including developing a vita, publishing, determination of authorship, reviewing manuscripts and grant applications, applying for jobs and negotiating offers, teaching, mentoring, leadership, management, and maintaining a balance between professional goals and personal life. 

CRIA Seminar Series

The seminar series includes multidisciplinary presentations from nationally and internationally prominent researchers, as well as from researchers from the University at Buffalo. Trainees are required to attend each of the 8-10 seminars that are presented annually.

Formal Coursework

In addition to the workshops and seminars described above, all trainees will take the following:

  1. 3 credit graduate course in ethics (CHB 520: Public Health Ethics: An Interdisciplinary Exploration).
  2. All predoctoral trainees will take at least one 3 credit course in addictions (Psychology students will take PSY 830: Psychology of Drug Addiction - Theory, Assessment and Treatment; Social Work students will take SW 587: Addiction in the Family; Public Health students will take CHB 500: Public Health and the Addictions).

Faculty

Our faculty come from diverse yet complimentary disciplines such as psychology, social work, public health and the psychobiological sciences. All faculty have extensive alcohol research experience and are productive researchers with current grants or substantial external support.

Gregory Homish, PhD

Chair; Professor

Department of Community Health and Health Behavior School of Public Health and Health Professions

310 Kimball

Phone: (716) 829-6959; Fax: (716) 829-6040

Email: ghomish@buffalo.edu

Kenneth E. Leonard, PhD

Senior Research Scientist; Professor of Psychiatry

Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions

1021 Main St.

Phone: (716) 887-2509

Email: kleonard@buffalo.edu

Clara M. Bradizza, PhD

Professor

School of Social Work

Phone: (716) 887-2532

Email: bradizza@buffalo.edu

Craig Colder, PhD

Professor; Director of Graduate Studies

Department of Psychology

228 Park Hall, Buffalo NY 14260-4110

Phone: Phone: (716) 645-0190

Email: ccolder@buffalo.edu

Samir Haj-Dahmane, PhD

Professor

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology; Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences

1021 Main St., Buffalo, NY 14203-1016

Phone: Phone: (716) 887-2231

Email: sh38@buffalo.edu

Heather Orom, PhD

Associate Dean for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion; Director of Graduate Studies, PhD and MS Programs; Associate Professor

Department of Community Health and Health Behavior School of Public Health and Health Professions

304 Kimball, Buffalo, NY 14214

Phone: (716) 829-6682; Fax: (716) 829-6040

Email: horom@buffalo.edu

Christopher Barrick, PhD
Associate Professor, School of Nursing

Caroline Bass, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology

Arin Bhattacharjee, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology

Elizabeth Bowen, PhD
Assistant Professor, School of Social Work

Stewart Clark, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology

R. Lorraine Collins, PhD
Associate Dean for Research
Professor, Department of Community Health and Health Behavior

David Dietz, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology

Kurt Dermen, PhD
Senior Research Scientist, Department of Psychiatry

Peter Elkin, MD
Professor and Chairman, Department of Biomedical Informatics
Professor of Internal Medicine

Larry Hawk, PhD
Professor, Department of Psychology

Andrew Hyland, PhD
Chair, Department of Health Behavior
Roswell Park Cancer Institute

Greg Loney, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology

Paul Meyer, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Psychology

Jeffrey Miecznikowski, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Biostatistics 

Richard O'Connor, PhD
Professor, Oncology
Roswell Park Cancer Institute

Brian Quigley, PhD
Research Assistant Professor, Division of Behavioral Medicine

Jennifer P. Read, PhD
Professor
Director of Clinical Training, Department of Psychology

Robert G. Rychtarik, PhD
Senior Research Scientist, Department of Psychiatry

Dr. Roh-Yu Shen, PhD
Senior Research Scientist, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology

Paul Stasiewicz, PhD
Professor, School of Social Work

Jennifer Temple, PhD
Professor
Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences

Maria Testa, PhD
Research Professor, Department of Psychology

Peter Thanos, PhD
Senior Research Scientist, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology

Stephen T. Tiffany, PhD
Empire Innovation Professor, Department of Psychology

Greg Wilding, PhD
Chair and Professor, Department of Biostatistics

How to Apply

Interested individuals are encouraged to contact co-directors Kenneth E. Leonard or Gregory G. Homish, in advance of submitting materials. 

Applications including a vita, representative reprints, three letters of reference, and a cover letter expressing research interests and training goals may be sent to Kim Larkin at klarkin@buffalo.edu.

Alcohol Research Postdoctoral Training Committee
Attn: Kenneth E. Leonard and Gregory G. Homish
Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions
1021 Main Street
Buffalo, New York 14203-1016

Applicants must be citizens or noncitizen nationals of the U.S. or must have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence. AA/EOE. 

Application Due

  • May 15 Predoctoral applicants apply by May 15 for the August start

About Us

RIA in the evening.

UB’s Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions (CRIA) is a long-standing national leader in the study of alcohol and substance abuse. For nearly 50 years, CRIA has conducted groundbreaking research on significant addiction issues, including:

Part of UB’s Downtown Campus, CRIA is a key contributor to UB’s reputation for research excellence and a proud member of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. 

Contact Us

Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions
1021 Main Street
Buffalo, NY  14203-1016
Telephone: 716-887-2566
Fax: 716-887-2252
criawebmaster@buffalo.edu