My Research Interests
My research interests gravitate toward cultural, gender and educational issues impacting Latino communities in the United States. My research experiences have provided me with opportunities to work in art-based educational and racial identity programs for Black and Latino youth and health-focused research in cancer, somatization, and PTSD with ethnocultural groups.
I am specially interested in learning and using qualitative and quantitative methods to evaluate the cultural validity of measures for cultural and linguistic minorities. The question of whether measures are truly understandable for a population of interest matters!
My doctoral dissertation culturally adapted the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) for Spanish Speaking Latinos. In this project, I integrated cross-cultural equivalence and cultural adaptation considerations in adapting a PTSD measure for Latinos in South Florida.
I am specially interested in learning and using qualitative and quantitative methods to evaluate the cultural validity of measures for cultural and linguistic minorities. The question of whether measures are truly understandable for a population of interest matters!
My doctoral dissertation culturally adapted the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) for Spanish Speaking Latinos. In this project, I integrated cross-cultural equivalence and cultural adaptation considerations in adapting a PTSD measure for Latinos in South Florida.
Research Experience
Dissertation Title: The Cultural Validity of the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5) for Spanish Speaking Latinos with Limited English Proficiency in the United States.
- Access Publication here.
- Developed an empirically-driven translation and adaptation of the CAPS-5 for Latinos with Limited English Proficiency.
- Developed expertise on cross-cultural equivalence, translation, and measurement validity principles; psychometrics; the influences of social, historical, and cultural events on the construct of PTSD; and culturally-appropriate assessment practices with Spanish speaking Latinos.
- Conducted focus groups with community sample and individual interviews with clinical sample to acquire feedback on the quality of the translation.
Research Coordinator for the CAMPOS Project
Dept. Educational & Psychological Studies, University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL (August 2009 - Present)
The CAMPOS Project is a research study examining the efficacy of a cognitive behavioral intervention for Latinos with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and somatic symptoms. Research responsibilities include:
- Coordinate submissions to the Institutional Review Board, including revision of materials and collection of productivity for re-approval of project on a year-to-year basis.
- Collaborate with team members in the translation and cultural adaptation of materials presented to monolingual Spanish clients following best practices recommended by the literature.
- Develop and maintain partnership with health and mental health care providers at recruitment sites to increase recruitment rates. Coordinate and supervise recruiters in research team to ensure rapid engagement of potential participants into the project.
- Collaborate with team members in the quality control and data entry of assessment files.
- Collaborate with principal investigator and team members in the development of publications.
Research Lab Member at CRECER
Dept. Educational & Psychological Studies, University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL (September 2008 - September 2010)
Collaborated in the development and implementation of community-oriented initiatives serving the Black Caribbean community in Miami, FL.
- Contributed to logistical tasks, the review of materials for racial identity development programs for children, including the Taking Action Against Racism summer workshops (2009, 2010), and the Kulula Project enrichment program.
- Collaborated in the creation of literature summaries and data entry tasks in ongoing research projects.
- Participated in presentation, poster and publication efforts on topics including spirituality in adolescent mental heath; racial identity in immigrants and Black children; cultural adaptation of measures; and cultural adaptation of clinical trials.
- Created and maintained content for the team’s website, with a focus on promoting team’s leadership in the development of academic-community partnerships.
Research Assistant at Dept. of Epidemiology and Public Health
University of Miami School of Medicine
Miami, FL (September 2008 - May 2009)
Assisted with research on the relationship of psychology, health behaviors, and survival among Black and Latino cancer patients.
- Conducted literature summaries for the preparation of manuscripts and grant proposals.
- Utilized EndNote to manage articles database and reference lists.
Research Member at the Perfectionism Lab
Dept. of Psychology, Smith College
Northampton, FL (September 2006 - April 2008)
Participated in undergraduate research focused on culture and perfectionism.
- Co-developed a multi-site survey study to explore perfectionism among female college students of color. Completed literature review, research design, IRB submission, and recruitment of participants. Shadowed mentor in conducting data analyses.
- Co-authored literature review on cultural differences of perfectionism among African American and Asian Americans.
Undergraduate Summer Research Experiences
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI (June - August 2007)
- Admitted to the Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP).
- Assisted in the evaluation of art workshops for inner-city children in the Detroit area.
- Collected qualitative data and conducted thematic analysis for a poster presentation.
- Participated in enrichment seminars and regional conference in preparation for graduate school.
Florida International University
Miami, FL (June - August 2007)
- Assisted in the evaluation of a positive youth development intervention for at-risk high school students.
- Updated and cleaned assessments database; participated in training for coding of interview and free response survey questions; assisted graduate students with literature review, management of lab articles, and preparation of lab course materials.
University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL (May - July 2005)
- Admitted to the Psychology Research Initiatives Mentorship Experience (PRIME).
- Shadowed research lab members conducting a study exploring early signs of autism on younger siblings of autistic children.
- Assisted with recruitment efforts, scored measures and summarized articles.