SABA 2023 Innovative Student Research in DEI: Cassandra OHara

Cassie is a second-year doctoral student at the University of Florida studying Psychology with an
emphasis in Behavior Analysis under the advisement of Dr. Jesse Dallery.
Her research interests include culturally responsive approaches to treating substance use disorders, digital contingency management, laboratory models of relapse, and health-related choice behavior. Cassie’s research project will use a mixed methods approach to develop, assess, and implement culturally tailored digital contingency management for smoking cessation in LGBTQ+ folk. Smoking is just one area in which LGBTQ+ folk experience significant health disparities and there is a dire need for more research.
Since contingency management involves providing financial incentives contingent on objective evidence of smoking abstinence, this research project would not have been possible without the Innovative Student Research Grant in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Words cannot express Cassie’s gratitude to all those who made this grant possible and for the impact it will have on LGBTQ+ individuals. She is honored to be a recipient and looks forward to disseminating the results of this research at future conferences.