Melissa Gasser

Graduate Student, Clinical Psychology

I received my B.A. in Cognitive Science and Psychology from the University of Virginia where my research work primarily focused on clinical anxiety disorders and implicit cognition. My research interests grew during my undergraduate career to include substance use disorders which led to a NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse) internship at San Francisco General Hospital. After earning my undergraduate degree, I worked as a research coordinator for Dr. Kristen Lindgren at the University of Washington Medical Center. While there, I strengthened my background in both substance use disorders and implicit cognition, focusing on implicit drinking identity. 

As a graduate student, my research interests include risk-taking behavior with respect to substance use, especially alcohol, and sexual behavior. Additionally, I’m interested in integrating web- or mobile-based technology (mHealth) to address health disparities for diverse populations by better understanding and addressing risky behavior in both domains through prevention and intervention efforts.

Email: mlgasser@uw.edu