Principal Investigator: The Study of Teen Opioid Misuse and Prevention Research Lab

Dr. Micah E. Johnson (Mentored By Dr. Linda Cottler)

Lab Information:

Lab Location: HealthStreet at 2401 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL 32608

Lab Hours: Mondays 1:00pm to 4:00pm (other meeting days as well).

E-mail: MicahJohnson3000@ufl.edu

Lab website: Canvas

Office Location: Room 224 & 222 at HealthStreet

Office Phone: (352) 273-9307

Office Hours: By appointment

Neither the life of an individual nor the history of a society can be understood without understanding both.                                                                                                                         -C. Wright Mills

Lab Communications:

Ask general questions in lab and Email personal or sensitive questions to MicahJohnson3000@ufl.edu.

Additional Resources: 

Lab reading and other materials will be emailed directly to trainees.

Lab Description:

Opioid addiction, misuse and overdose is an ongoing and rapidly evolving public health crisis. More than two million Americans have OUD. Millions more misuse opioids, taking opioid medications longer or in higher doses than prescribed. NIH prioritizes research that can prevent and treat opioid misuse and addiction, and that will help people with OUDs achieve and maintain a meaningful and sustained recovery. Effective prevention and treatment requires diverse perspectives and the limited diversity in public health and substance abuse research hinders the current efforts to produce comprehensive and innovative solutions. Cultural homogeneity among opioid misuse researchers also contributes to a general deficit in knowledge of how the crisis impacts youth from minority and disadvantaged communities.

To address these issues, Dr. Micah E. Johnson leads a trans-disciplinary research laboratory that focuses on opioid misuse and opioid use disorder (OUD) that specifically recruits undergraduate and pre-doctoral investigators from underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds. The proposed project is entitled “The Study of Teen Opioid Misuse and Prevention (STOMP) Research Lab: Gifted Future Investigators”, or abbreviated STOMP. The purpose of STOMP is to recruit and train the next generation of research scientists. We use statistical analyses and qualitative tools to investigate the prevalence, patterns, predictors and preventions of teen opioid misuse. We will leverage the cutting-edge mentoring practices to train students to be highly productive and aggressively seek funding opportunities to advance their research. STOMP is an opportunity for students to transition into a T32 pre-doctoral or postdoctoral position in the UF Substance Abuse Training Center in Public Health, or another NIDA T32 program.

Purpose of Lab:

Goal The primary goal of STOMP is to recruit and train future investigators from diverse backgrounds who will aid in developing innovative science and solutions to address the opioid crisis. To achieve this goal, our aims are to:

AIM 1 provide supplemental support and professional development for the next generation of researchers particularly those from underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds. The outcome will be a diverse pool of highly qualified undergraduate and pre-doctoral students who are on track to be highly successful researchers. The impact of this outcome will address the general deficit of diversity in public health as well as strengthen the workforce with highly qualified future researchers focused on addressing the opioid crisis in the US.

AIM 2 provide research and professional opportunities to publish and write grants. The outcome will be an increase in publications and grant submissions among undergraduate and pre-doctoral students, especially those from underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds. The impact of this outcome will serve to reduce the racial publication and grant gap in academia.

Lab Goals and/or Objectives: By the end of this course, students will:

SLO 1. Identify, explain and apply basic research methods.

SLO 2. Analyze, critique and interpret the literature on opioid misuse.

SLO 3. Analyze and interpret data and write scientific papers.

How This Lab Relates to the Student Learning Outcomes in the Bachelor of Arts:

This course provides basic knowledge on research methods, grantsmanship and scientific writing. Emphasis is placed on the ability to understand, analyze and interpret the scientific literature.

Benefits to Trainees:

• Research experience (very important for PhD and MD-track students)
• Networking with faculty and scholars
• PhD Preparation for PhD-track trainees
• Professional development through guest speakers
• Research mentoring experience
• Publications and presentations
• Potential recommendation letter from Dr. Micah Johnson and other scholars
• $3,000 in funding for Triple P awardees
• Additional opportunities for funding and travel grants
• Private lab space to conduct research and work
• Prestigious membership as the founding members of STOMP

Mentoring Philosophy: 

My ultimate goal as a research mentor is to provide trainees with a well-balanced and enriching education. It is my responsibility to design meaningful, purposefully organized, and challenging instruction, goals, and activities.

Instructional Methods:

This course uses multiple instructional and assessment methods: Lectures, discussions, group learning projects and presentations.

Attendance Policy:

Attendance is mandatory! The PI/Lab instructor may prohibit further attendance and subsequently remove trainees from the lab for excessive absences. Students who do not attend at least one of the first three lab meetings of the course may be dropped from the lab.

Participation: Attendance and participation is required. In addition to in-person participation, you may also participate by posting questions, comments, or links to relevant videos or news stories in the discussion room on eLearning. If you post a link, be sure to contextualize it and make a connection to issues we are studying in the course

Assignment Policy: 

Readings and Lab Participation: An interaction between students/trainees and instructor is essential for Labs. Hence, it is absolutely essential that you read the assigned material and/or complete homework assignments in advance so that you are able to participate in Lab discussions.

 

IN-LAB ETIQUETTE

You must be on time and ready for each Lab session. If you miss an announcement that I make at the beginning of Lab because you are late or did not attend, it is your responsibility to know what's going on in Lab. Everyone should make a "Lab-buddy" to keep them informed if they are late or miss a Lab. Students who are late, absent, or disruptive will be dismissed.

Students should remember to silence their cell phones, laptops, and all other electronic devices before Lab begins. PLEASE DO NOT READ, TYPE, TWEET, OR SEND TEXT MESSAGES DURING THE LAB. This constitutes disruptive behavior and will result in the student being dismissed from lab and/or remove from the program.

Lab Technology:  Students may also have access to the lab space during HealthStreet hours.

 

University Policy on Accommodating Students with Disabilities:

Students requesting accommodation for disabilities must first register with the Dean of Students Office (http://www.dso.ufl.edu/drc/). The Dean of Students Office will provide documentation to the student who must then provide this documentation to the instructor when requesting accommodation. Accommodations are not retroactive, therefore, students should contact the office as soon as possible in the term for which they are seeking accommodations.

University Policy on Academic Misconduct:  

Preamble: In adopting this Honor Code, the students of the University of Florida recognize that academic honesty and integrity are fundamental values of the University community. Students who enroll at the University commit to holding themselves and their peers to the high standard of honor required by the Honor Code. Any individual who becomes aware of a violation of the Honor Code is bound by honor to take corrective action. Student and faculty support are crucial to the success of the Honor Code. The quality of a University of Florida education is dependent upon the community acceptance and enforcement of the Honor Code. Students should be sure that they understand the UF Student Honor Code at https://www.dso.ufl.edu/sccr/process/student-conduct-honor-code. The Honor Pledge:

We, the members of the University of Florida community, pledge to hold ourselves and our peers to the highest standards of honesty and integrity by abiding by the Honor Code.

On all work submitted for credit by students at the University of Florida, the following pledge is either required or implied:

"On my honor, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid in doing this assignment."

Netiquette: Communication Courtesy: 

All members of the Lab are expected to follow rules of common courtesy in all email messages, threaded discussions and chats. Please review the netiquette guidelines at http://teach.ufl.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/NetiquetteGuideforOnlineLabs.pdf

Getting Help:

For issues with technical difficulties, please contact the UF Help Desk at:

• Learning-support@ufl.edu
• (352) 392-HELP - select option 2

Other resources are available at http://www.distance.ufl.edu/getting-help for:

• Counseling and Wellness resources
• Disability resources
• Resources for handling student concerns and complaints
• Library Help Desk support

Should you have any complaints with your experience in this course please visit http://www.distance.ufl.edu/student-complaints to submit a complaint.

Lab Schedule: LAB Meetings Mondays 1:00-4:00 pm

5/14	Orientation: Select Projects and Prepare Lab Space; Homework: IRB certification due (May 14th)
5/21	Training at 308 Marston: Conducting Literature Reviews (Michelle Leonard); Homework: 1. Find and skim 15-20 articles for review; 2. Identify 8 key control variables from literature
5/28	Holiday (HealthStreet Closed)
6/5	Tuesday- Training: Writing and Reviewing Scientific Papers I (N. Smith); Homework: 1 page lit review
6/11	Training: Writing and Reviewing Scientific Papers II; Homework: Revise lit review
6/18	Training: Univariate, Bivariate and Logistic Regression in Stata (TBD); Homework: Write Stata Code
6/25	Lab work: Writing Papers (Literature review): Finalize and Format the Literature Review
7/2	Lab work: Stata Analysis and Creating Tables: Triple check the codes and run Stata analysis.
7/9	Lab work: Stata Analysis and Creating Tables: Create Tables
7/16	Lab work: Writing Papers: Write Methods, Results, and Discussion
7/23	Lab work: Formatting and Finalizing Papers
7/30	Lab work: Submitting Papers to Journals
8/6	Submitting Papers to Journals

 

Projects and Ideas

Quantitative Studies of Florida Justice-involved Children	Qualitative Studies	Other Projects and Ideas
Various predictors of opioid use among Florida juvenile offenders (Justice-involved Children)	Codeine use among Among A.A. in Houston Texas (Interviews/Ethnography).	Conceptual pieces; literature reviews; and other projects determined by the group.
Any other analysis of Dr. Johnson’s FLDJJ data.	Codeine use in Nigeria: What we know and don’t know (content analysis/lit review)	Infographic on Opioids with Art Director Jonathan Akanbi;
	Hip Hop Ethnography: Opioid use in rap music (content analysis)	Major Players in Opioid Research
	Through a lean patch: Linking stress to codeine dependency (interviews or focus groups).	AMORES: All minority opioid researchers (a poster with pictures, names, and affiliations of all minority opioid researchers).
		Intellectual Lineage

Note. The contents of this document are subject to change.

 

 STOMP Intellectual Lineage:

Dr. Lee Nelken Robins was an American professor of social science in psychiatry and a leader in psychiatric epidemiology research. She was affiliated with the Washington University in St. Louis for more than 50 years from 1954 until 2007. The Los Angeles Times reported that Robins “pioneered the field of psychiatric epidemiology” and “played a key role in determining the prevalence of mental problems in the United States and the world.” In 1954, Robins became a member of the faculty at Washington University School of Medicine as a research assistant. She continued to work at Washington University for the next 50 years, being promoted to assistant professor in 1959, associate professor in 1962 and full professor (in sociology in psychiatry) in 1966. She founded and served as the director of the school's Master's Program in Psychiatric Epidemiology.

During her career at Washington University, Robins was recognized as a leader in research into psychiatric epidemiology, the study of the root causes of mental disorders in a population-wide sense. She was also “a leader in the development of diagnostic criteria for psychiatric diagnosis.” Robins received numerous honors and awards in her career, including being named as a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Society for the Study of Addiction to Alcohol and Other Drugs. She was also a recipient of the Paul Hoch Award from the American Psychopathological Association, the Nathan B. Eddy Award from the College on Problems of Drug Dependence and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs section of the American Public Health Association. She was also named an honorary fellow of the Royal Society of Psychiatrists and of the American Society of Psychiatrists. Robins also served on the editorial boards of numerous journals, including Criminal Behavior and Mental Health, Epidemiologia e Psichiatria Sociale, International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research, Development and Psychopathology, Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, Psychological Medicine, and Social and Community Psychiatry. Dr. Robins is the great-grand mentor of the STOMP lab. It is an honor to be in her intellectual lineage.

One of Lee Robins' greatest and closest protégés is Dr. Linda B. Cottler. Dr. Cottler is the Associate Dean for Research and Planning at the College of Public Health and Health Professions and Dean’s Professor and Founding Chair of the Department of Epidemiology at the College of Public Health and Health Professions and the College of Medicine at the University of Florida. She is involved in studies in several major areas with public health importance. These include: the development of culturally reliable and valid measures for identifying substance use, abuse and dependence, along with psychiatric disorders and their risk factors; innovative methods for conducting national surveys of high risk behaviors; and community based, peer-delivered interventions to change HIV risk behaviors and substance abuse. The work she has done is directly related to reducing disparities for health research and health services. Dr. Cottler was at Washington University in the Department of Psychiatry for nearly 31 years prior to coming to the University of Florida in 2011. In her career, she has received numerous awards for mentoring and excellence in research. It is an honor and privilege to have Dr. Cottler as the grand-mentor of the STOMP lab.

Dr. Micah E. Johnson is a sociologists and epidemiologist (in-training) as well as a licensed educator and forensic expert. Dr. Johnson has dedicated his life to championing the cause of peace and equality, which is reflected in his professional and personal endeavors. Dr. Johnson currently serves as a National Institutes of Health National Institute of Drug Abuse Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Florida, under the tutelage of Dr. Cottler. His research focuses on opioid misuse, childhood trauma, and juvenile justice. His philanthropic and research interests are fueled by his childhood experiences with poverty, violence and social inequalities. He was awarded the McKnight Doctoral Fellowship, the Lydia Donaldson Tutt-Jones Research Grant, the UF Rollo Award, membership in the Alpha Lambda Epsilon Honors Society, membership in the Bouchet Honors Society as well as other prestigious awards and honors. Once of his greatest passions in life is to help identify, recruit and train extraordinarily talented and productive scholars from minority and disadvantaged backgrounds.

 

Resources:

• This summer, the goal is to become an expert in logistic regression using Stata. Here are resources:

  o YouTube tutorials
    http://www.youtube.com/user/statacorp

  o Stata Press books
    http://www.stata-press.com

  o Training
    http://www.stata.com/training

  o Stata Forum
    http://www.stata.com/statalist

  o The Stata Journal
    http://www.stata-journal.com

 

• The goal is to be informed on the opioid crisis and latest drug related news. Here is an important resource:

Please join NDEWS: https://network.ndews.org/login

Please make sure you sign up for the listserv.