About

Dr. Mian’s research is grounded in the principles of harm reduction, and aims to specifically enhance novel and accessible protective strategies to help people reduce risks and use substances safely. Through her research, she aims to promote the humanity of substance use and the diverse experiences of those who use substances, and to contribute to the equitable dissemination of safe and accessible substance use interventions.

As a researcher, Dr. Mian prioritizes using mixed methods to examine substance use, including psychometrics, qualitative/ethnography, and community-based research practices. She focuses on cannabis, alcohol, and psychedelic use specifically, and has further explored the use of these substances in pregnant individuals, teens, and in religious communities. She also is passionate about exploring the impact of decriminalization and policy change on substance use perceptions and behaviors. Clinically, Dr. Mian is passionate about addressing trauma and sexual violence, particularly in the South Asian community. She has worked and trained in rehabilitation, community, and medical settings, utilizing evidence-based treatments and assessments. She is also passionate about undergraduate and community teaching, and views mentorship as an opportunity to amplify underrepresented communities in psychology.

BS, Biopsychology, Tufts University
MA, Psychology, University at Albany, State University of New York (SUNY)
PhD, Clinical Psychology, University at Albany, State University of New York (SUNY)
Clinical internship, VA Palo Alto
Postdoctoral Fellow, NIDA T32 Substance Use Disorders Treatment and Services Research, University of California, San Francisco & Kaiser Permanente Division of Research

My name is Ava Blakely. I am a sophomore at Suffolk University studying Psychology and plan to graduate in the Spring of 2026. I have always had a particular interest in learning about the different aspects of substance use and gained further excitement in the topic when researching the effects of ADHD medications on human development in both patients diagnosed with ADHD and non-ADHD college students. I enjoy learning about new upcoming harm reduction strategies and have a particular interest in psychedelic research as new studies arise. Following my undergraduate studies, I plan to pursue a career in psychology, studying substance use disorders and treatment and researching new studies.

My name is Emaly Roy, and I am a junior majoring in psychology and criminal justice. My favorite courses at Suffolk have been Crime and Mental Illness, Women and Crime, and Psychology of Addictions. I am particularly interested in the connection of substance use to the criminal justice system and making harm reduction supplies accessible. Additionally, this year, I will be running the Chicago Marathon!