Daniella Fernandez, senior undergraduate
Author: Daniella Fernandez | Major: Psychology, Criminology, and Sociology | Semester: Fall 2024
My name is Daniella Fernandez, and I am a senior undergraduate studying psychology, criminology, and sociology within the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. I am currently conducting my honors thesis under the supervision of Dr. Ellen Leen-Feldner, Vice Chair of the Department of Psychology, which explores the role of shame in the relation between cannabidiol (CBD) and problematic alcohol use. Data collection for my thesis was completed in the fall of 2024. We are currently analyzing the data and working to disseminate the findings at local and national research conferences. My long-term career goals are two-fold; I plan to 1) pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology and continue conducting research that expands the extremely limited literature on CBD for alcohol-related outcomes, and 2) continue my work as a Hispanic leader and researcher to ensure that others like myself feel included and supported in professional settings.
For the millions of Americans suffering from clinically relevant alcohol use problems, few are able to access evidence-based treatment. Thus, novel therapeutics are necessary. There is growing research surrounding the effects of CBD on substance-related outcomes, including the potential to reduce problematic alcohol use. However, no work has examined the role of shame in this context. I intend to extend this area of research by examining the effects of CBD vs. placebo administered daily for three weeks on alcohol craving and consumption as a function of trait shame, which has the potential to impact interventions designed to address problematic alcohol use.
In the fall of my freshman year, I took Abnormal Psychology with Dr. Leen-Feldner. I loved the course material and her teaching methods. The class was challenging for me, but I learned a lot of valuable information and I always felt supported by her. Eventually, I sent her an email inquiring about becoming a research assistant in her research lab. After being interviewed, I was accepted into the lab. I chose the topic for my thesis by familiarizing myself with the existing CBD literature, gaining an understanding of the gaps in current research, and paying attention to which types of articles piqued my interest. After consulting with my graduate mentor, Riley Gournay, M.A., and Dr. Leen-Feldner, we established which of my interests and potential research questions were feasible to examine in our laboratory. It was very difficult for us to conceptualize my research project, as there is hardly any existing literature on CBD and problematic alcohol use. Moreover, there is no existing research on CBD and shame. Therefore, we based the conceptual and theoretical framework of my thesis on areas of literature we were less familiar with (e.g., shame and related alcohol use). In April of 2024, I was invited to present my preliminary project at the Honors Research Symposium where I discussed the background, expected results, and study implications. In the spring of 2025, I plan to disseminate my findings at the Anxiety and Depression Association of America Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, the National Conference on Undergraduate Research in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the Honors Research Symposium in Fayetteville, Arkansas. In attending these conferences, I plan to utilize networking opportunities to expand my network ahead of graduate school interviews.