MIHS Mentor Database

Researcher:	Institution	Research Focus:	Techniques/Instrumentation:	Potential Projects	Contact Information
Grayson, Bernadette PhD	University of Mississippi Medical Center	Obesity and diabetes in pediatric and adult human populations Treatment of neurotrauma with cannabis formulations Discovery of novel mechanisms driving obesity and diabetes in human populations.			Email: bgrayson@umc.edu Office: (601)984-3809 Dr. Grayson's Faculty Page
Gholar, Victoria PhD	University of Mississippi Medical Center			cSPARKS (congenital Syphilis Prevention and Awareness through Reproductive and Kinship Support) program where we are using several initiatives to help mothers stay healthy Teen Mom Study that evaluates the #MamaLetsMove intervention, which combines mHealth and peer health coaching with WIC services to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behavior among pregnant, Black teens in the Mississippi Delta. Identifying health-related social needs of underserved populations and helping individuals get connected with resources	Email: vgholar@umc.edu
Nadorff, Michael PhD	Mississippi State University	Dr. Nadorff studies the association between sleep problems, particularly insomnia and nightmares, and suicidal behavior across the lifespan. He also has current grant funding to implement youth suicide prevention programs across the state and is interested in validating the effectiveness of these programs.Keywords: Nightmares, suicide, insomnia, youth, older adults, psychology	Part of what we do with our suicide grant is gatekeeper trainings (think of it like CPR for psychiatric emergencies) and postvention training and intervention (postvention is what is done in the immediate aftermath after a suicide). We have a licensed clinician leading both of these, and students would be able to accompany that clinician and aid in the training and some aspects of the postvention work.		Email: mn487@msstate.edu Office: (662)325-1222 Dr. Nadorff's Faculty Page
Allen, Hannah	University of Mississippi	The William Magee Institute focuses broadly on behavioral health research, with an emphasis on mental health and substance use among adolescent, young adult, and student populations. However, our research team explores a wide variety of topics including HIV, gambling, and academic achievement. We also produce a podcast related to college student health and wellbeing.	We use a variety of methods to answer our research questions, including primary data collection using qualitative (i.e., focus groups, interviews) and quantitative (e.g., surveys) methods. We also analyze secondary data from large, nationally-representative studies.	Students will have the opportunity to discuss with Dr. Allen what their interests are so we can find a suitable project. Students can work on implementation of health programming, health communication efforts, or data collection and analysis.	Email: hkallen1@olemiss.edu Office Phone: (662)-915-6003 Dr. Allen's Lab Page
Lee, Joonyoung Ph. D.	Jackson State University	My research focuses on promoting health equality among racial and ethnic minority groups through physical activity interventions, psychological well-being, and motor skill competence. I aim to foster community engagement and develop evidence-based strategies to address health disparities.	During the summer, we will not be conducting data collection on-site. Students will primarily engage in tasks such as data input, data screening, and basic data analysis. At our school, we have access to Microsoft software, SPSS, and R, which is an open-source statistical analysis program.	The student will contribute to a project examining how physical activity and community engagement can advance health equality among underserved populations, with a particular focus on youth. This research will center on the design and evaluation of complementary health intervention programs (e.g., digital yoga and mindfulness) aimed at enhancing physical activity levels and mental well-being through innovative, community-based strategies. Through this project, the student will gain valuable experience in public health research, including data collection, data analysis, and the creation of practical solutions to address persistent health disparities.	Email: j00963416@jsums.edu Office Phone: 601-979-6327 Dr. Lee's Faculty Page
Lemacks, Jennifer	University of Southern Mississippi	Dr. Lemacks serves as the director of Gulf South Center for Community-Engaged Health Research and Innovation whose mission is to support transdisciplinary team science, multi-stakeholder partnerships and workforce capacity, to conduct community-engaged and solutions-oriented disease prevention and healthy aging research, and to address health disparities. Research activities within the center primarily focus on cardiometabolic health, social determinants of health, health disparities, and community priorities and needs.	Community based participatory research, community needs assessment through quantitative and qualitative methods, primary and secondary data analysis utilizing technology innovative solutions.	On-site data collection opportunity for an ongoing project, planning and executing community outreach activities focusing on health, secondary data analysis for completed research projects.	Email: jennifer.lemacks@usm.edu Office Phone: 601.266.6825 Dr. Lemacks' Website