Lab Director:

Dr. Meagan J Brem (she/her/hers) is an Assistant Professor in the Clinical Science program within Department of Psychology at Virginia Tech. She completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Tennessee in 2021 after completing an APA-accredited pre-doctoral internship at the Charleston Consortium/Medical University of South Carolina (Substance Abuse Track). Dr. Brem's research investigates the intersection of alcohol use and intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration. To date, her research has focused on mechanistic testing of distal and proximal moderators of the association between alcohol use and IPV, broadening the definition and reach of alcohol-related IPV theories, testing brief, laboratory-based interventions for aggression, and examining IPV correlates among various populations (e.g., college students, adolescents, adults arrested for domestic violence, adults with substance use disorders, community couples, and individuals who identify as LGBTQ+). Her research has been funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) of the National Institutes of Health, and the American Psychological Foundation (2017 Visionary Grant Recipient).

When she is not in the lab, Dr. Brem might be found going for a run, hiking through one of the local trails with her family, or exploring a new restaurant.

Graduate Students:

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Allison Tobar (she/her), B.S. & B.A.
Graduate Student, Department of Psychology

Allison is a second-year Ph.D. student and received a B.A. in Criminology and Criminal Justice and a B.S. in Psychology at the University of Rhode Island. In undergrad, she was in various research labs exploring substance use, health disparities, and intimate partner violence on a NIDA K23 grant. After undergrad, she spent two years as a research assistant on a PCORI-funded comparative effectiveness study examining different models of care for pregnant women with opioid use disorder. Additionally, she studied how COVID-19 impacted recovery and prenatal care for mothers with substance use disorders. Allison’s research interests include sexual assault and risky behaviors with an emphasis on substance use while using mixed methods and a community-focused approach. She also has a particular interest in underrepresented populations within these topics.

E-mail: atobar@vt.edu

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Thomas Joseph Shaw (he/him), B.A. & B.S.

Graduate Student, Department of Psychology

TJ is a second-year Ph.D. student and received B.A.’s in History and Photojournalism and B.S. in Psychology from Syracuse University. During undergrad, TJ worked as a research assistant in the Minority Stress & Trauma Lab at Syracuse under Dr. Jillian Scheer, studying stigma-related stress, trauma exposure, hazardous drinking, and PTSD, specifically in sexual and gender minority populations with a focus on sexual minority women. His research interests revolve around understanding the pathways to bidirectional intimate partner violence perpetration through mixed methods research. He is particularly focused on attachment insecurity, coping mechanisms, and substance use. TJ hopes to develop accessible interventions that target malleable mechanisms associated with intimate partner violence.

E-mail: tjshaw@vt.edu