Bunting Research Lab

The goal of the Bunting Research Lab is to conduct meaningful research to understand the experiences of and improve outcomes for individuals engaged in high-risk polysubstance use. Learn more about our current projects.

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brittany griffin

Brittany graduated from Marist College in 2019 with a degree in Psychology. Before pursuing research at NYU she previously worked one on one in a client-facing setting working with individuals with both mental health diagnoses and substance use disorders. Brittany is particularly interested in addiction and substance use treatment research as well as public health policy surrounding these fields. In her role as Senior Research Coordinator, Brittany oversees all of the Lab’s studies.

Michaela Barratt

Michaela graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2020 with a degree in Psychology. She is interested in reducing mental and health care disparities for youth in low SES communities through culturally competent community and school-based interventions. Moreover, she would like to investigate how these interventions longitudinally affect social and emotional development. Michaela works on several lab projects and directly with participants in her role as lab Research Data Associate.

ADETAYO FAWOLe

Adetayo graduated from New York University with a master’s in Public health. His research interests include polysubstance use and substance use treatment. Adetayo worked as a Research Assistant in the Lab and continues to publish on related projects.

Dani Ben-Arie

Dani is a rising senior at NYU studying Public Health and History. She is interested in learning more about substance use research and the public health research process. She is currently working on a project that examines the relationship between substance use, mental health, and body image.

MATHEUS BENDER

Matheus studies sociology at Berea College and has a special research interest in public health, education, and power dynamics. His academic focus revolves around understanding what are the underlying common reasons that motivate people in their choices and how to use this knowledge to tailor more efficient public policies. Matheus joined the lab in 2022 and assisted in the validation process of the polysubstance use assessment tool and other projects related to the opioid crisis in the United States.

Amelia Colliver

Amelia graduated from the University of Puget Sound in 2020 with a degree in Political Science where she discovered a passion for public health policy. She spent several years working in the fields of public housing and early childhood intervention before undertaking a Fulbright Research Grant focused on the relationships between climate change-induced forced migration and mental health outcomes. She is currently pursuing an MPH at NYU and joined the lab in the summer of 2023 as a SARET (Substance Abuse Research, Education, and Training) fellow.

Laura Jaramillo

Laura is currently pursuing her degree in Nursing and Global Public Health at NYU. Prior to transferring from the University of Virginia to NYU, she studied Global Public Health and Cognitive Neuroscience at the Uniinia, and has experience working in investment banking and private equity, within the healthcare teams. Laura is interested in the application of research to policies, especially those addressing mental health, substance use, health equity and economics, and social determinants. Laura joined the lab in 2023 and works on several projects including the Polysubstance Patterns project examining life-course patterns of stimulant-opioid use among justice-involved persons.

Jaimee Williams

Jaimee is a senior studying Psychology at Mercy College enrolled in a dual B.S./M.S. program. Her research interests include social determinants of substance use and implementation science. Currently, she is a drug-dependence implementation science scholar (DDIS) and examines health disparities among vulnerable populations. Jaimee joined the lab in the summer of 2023 as a DDIS intern and is working on several projects, assisting with community outreach and manuscripts.

ona isiofia

Ona studies Health Sciences and Anthropology at Rice University. Her research interests include improving substance use-related health outcomes in historically marginalized communities and reforms in mental health treatment and substance use rehabilitation methods in prisons. She has experience working with vulnerable populations at a Ryan White Part F HIV/AIDS Program and in an HPV education study. Ona joined the lab in the summer of 2023 as a NIDA intern to assist with recruitment for the polysubstance assessment tool project.

Lab Alumni

SIMRAN ARYA

Simran graduated from the University of Rochester with a degree in Public Health in 2019. She is currently pursuing her M.D. at the Stony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine. Her background in anthropology supports a research interest in qualitative methods, and she is particularly passionate about the value of narrative data in influencing policy changes. Simran joined the Lab in 2021 and worked on the Reddit Fentanyl study, including first authoring a qualitative analysis of the emerging M30 pressed pills.

Suhas NAGAPPALA

Suhas is currently a fourth year student at UC Berkeley studying Molecular/Cell Biology and Public Health. His research interests include opioids, substance use treatment, and health care policy. Suhas hopes to continue being involved in substance use research in the future. Suhas works on the Reddit Fentanyl study, as well as other projects in the Center for Opioid Epidemiology and Policy.

willa serling

Willa Serling is a MPH, MSc Governance and Leadership in Public Health candidate in the EuroPubHealth programme. Prior to her involvement at COEP, she has worked at a public health focused INGO, grassroots CBO, and intergovernmental agency with particular interest areas in how policies impact social determinants of health and health equity. Willa completed her B.A. from Colorado College with degrees in Anthropology, Global Health, and Biology. Willa joined the Lab in 2021 and assisted in the creation of a provider survey regarding perceptions of polysubstance use.