Principal Investigator/Faculty Lead
Lyn Stein, PhD
Lyn Stein, PhD is a faculty member in the Psychology Department at The University of Rhode Island (URI), part of the Social Sciences Research Center (SSRC), and head of the STRIDE lab. Dr. Stein is also an Adjunct Professor within the Behavioral & Social Sciences Department of Brown University’s School of Public Health and is a member of the training faculty at Brown’s Center for Alcohol/ Addiction Studies (CAAS).
Her primary area of interest is in treatment and assessment of health risks, including issues related to ethnic/ racial bias; detection of under/ over-reported substance use; enhancing treatment engagement; family intervention/ planning; reducing at-risk behavior following facility release (correctional or hospital setting); and implementation science. Otherwise, you will find her hiking with her family.
For more details on Dr. Stein’s background, current work, research, and curriculum vitae, please visit Dr. Stein’s faculty page.
Lab Staff
Laurel Murphy – Project Coordinator
Laurel began working with Dr. Stein in 2005 as a Research Assistant and holds a BA degree in psychology from the University of Rhode Island. She has extensive experience in overseeing large National Institute of Health (NIH), human subject research grants. Currently, Laurel is the Project Coordinator for all lab projects. She is responsible for staff oversight, data management, screening and assessment procedures, and interfacing with project collaborators. She has co-authored several procedures and assessment manuals and provided numerous program trainings. Laurel’s professional interests include substance use, juvenile justice, public health and statistics. Otherwise, you will find her in her garden.
Nicole Theroux-Kochanek – Research Associate II
Nicole joined the lab in 2012 and holds a Master’s degree in general psychology from Boston University. Nicole has over ten years of experience working with child survivors of sexual and physical abuse. Nicole’s earlier work with the lab included recruitment, assessments delivery and conducting individual treatment sessions with at risk teens. Currently Nicole is responsible for organizing and reviewing assessment data, collaborating with partners, and assisting with program evaluation of multiple projects. Nicole’s professional areas of interest include women’s health, child abuse prevention and intervention, and mechanisms of behavior change. Otherwise, you will find her spending time with her family or her taking photos.
Alexis Piccirillo – Research Assistant III
Alexis joined the lab in 2020 and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and English from the University of Rhode Island. Alexis has experience in legal research related to opioid litigation and the criminal backgrounds of sex traffickers. Alexis is primarily responsible tracking participants, assisting with progress reports, and supporting the day-to-day operations of the lab. Alexis’s professional interests include research around gender equality, work-life balance, and crime and delinquency. Otherwise, you will find her reading or embroidering.
Graduate Research Assistants
Corrine Roma
Corinne is a first-year student in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program at the University of Rhode Island. Prior to attending URI, she was a Research Project Manager at the Brown University School of Public Health, Department of Health Services, Policy & Practice. Corinne earned a B.S. in Human Development with a minor in Inequality Studies from Cornell University in 2020. Corinne is interested in substance use disorder among people with justice system involvement, as well as evaluating accessibility and efficacy of mental health and substance use care for this population and other underserved groups.