Genes, Environment, and Youth Development (Su)

Lab Director and Principal Investigator: Jinni Su, Ph.D., Assistant Professor

Dr. Su is a member of the developmental psychology faculty. Her research focuses on how genetic and environmental influences contribute to the development of substance use and related behavioral and emotional health outcomes. Integrating developmental psychology and statistical/molecular genetics, Dr. Su utilizes a multidisciplinary perspective to understand the interplay between genetic predispositions and psychosocial factors in influencing substance use and related outcomes across diverse populations, with a focus on racial/ethnic minority adolescents and young adults. She applies innovative genetically informed designs to examine the genetic and psychosocial pathways underlying the intergenerational transmission of substance use disorders and related outcomes. Dr. Su also examines potential differences in pathways of risk and resilience across racial/ethnic groups, with the goal to understand mechanisms underlying racial/ethnic disparities in substance use disorders and related health outcomes and inform effective, personalized prevention and intervention efforts. Her research involves self-report data from surveys and interviews and genomic data collected from saliva or blood samples. Dr. Su received her bachelor’s degree in Economics from Beijing Normal University, China. She completed her master’s and doctoral degrees in Human Development and Family Studies at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Dr. Su continued as a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University under the mentorship of Dr. Danielle Dick.

Contact Dr. Su | Read her CV  

Graduate Students

Angel D. Trevino

Angel is a fourth-year Ph.D. student in Developmental Psychology. He is interested in studying the pathways through which individual differences, genes, and environmental factors lead to the development of psychopathology in youth. He is particularly interested in how cultural processes interplay with genetic influences on youth outcomes. Outside of the lab, Angel enjoys spending time with his family and dogs.

Belal Jamil

Belal is a third-year in the Developmental Psychology PhD Program. He is interested in understanding how parenting, genetics, and culture can influence mental health and substance use-related outcomes among adolescents and emerging adults. He has a particular interest in understanding pathways of risk and resilience among ethnic minority populations. Outside of the lab, Belal enjoys crocheting, drawing, and working out.

Lab Coordinator 

Marilyn Ghazoul

Marilyn is a senior getting a B.S. in Psychological Sciences and will be graduating in December 2023. She is interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in child clinical psychology. Marilyn is currently interested in child development research, more specifically the protective factors of substance use and mental health in minority populations. In addition to the Genetics, Environment, Youth and Development lab, Marilyn is the after-school coordinator of a preschool where she is able to work one-on-one with children ages 3-6 and a senior research assistant in another on campus lab. In her free time, she enjoys working out, hanging out with family and friends, reading, and cooking.

Lead of Outreach and Communication

Aryn Layno

Aryn is a junior getting a B.S. in both Neuroscience and Biomedical Sciences. She will be graduating in May 2025 and hopes to pursue a career in medicine as a physician. Aryn is interested in researching substance abuse and psychology in underrepresented communities. Aside from working in the Genetics, Environment, Youth and Development lab, Aryn is a medical assistant at Bell Well Medical and is part of the SOLUR Research program. In her free time, she enjoys embroidery, video games, and trying new restaurants.

Undergraduate Research Assistants:

Chiara Fusciello

Chiara is a senior getting a B.S. in Biological Sciences and will be graduating in May 2024. She is interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. In addition to her interest in understanding the role of genes and environment in the development of alcohol use disorders, Chiara is currently also interested in research involving chronic diseases and mental well-being. In addition to the Genetics, Environment, Youth and Development lab, Chiara is a facilitator at the Sexual and Relationship Violence Department at ASU and is also a volunteer at Phoenix Children's Hospital. In her free time, she enjoys playing soccer, crocheting, and spending time with friends and family.

Sofia Wernik

Sofia is a senior at ASU pursuing a B.S. in Psychology and Sociology graduating in December 2023. After graduation she is interested in pursuing a doctoral program to obtain her Psy.D. Sofia is currently focused on substance-use research with an emphasis on the impacts of short-term cannabis use on cognition. In addition to being a research assistant for the GEYD Lab, Sofia is the Substance Use, Health, and Behavior Lab Coordinator here at ASU. In her free time, she enjoys staying active and hiking the Superstition Mountains!

Catalina Amurrio Zamora 

Catalina is a senior that will be graduating in May 2024 with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences and a minor in French. She is interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences as she hopes to become a Clinical Scientist as this will allow her to deepen her passion for biology and medicine. Catalina works as a Global Peer Mentor for ASU where she supports other international students like her and she volunteers at a children's hospital with Project Sunshine. In her free time, she enjoys playing the violin, traveling and hanging out with friends and family.

Alana Colby

Alana is graduating with her B.A. in Psychology in May of 2024. She is looking forward to pursuing a Ph.D. in clinical psychology focusing on adolescent substance use disorders. She is completing her applications for Ph.D. programs while working in two other labs, including a substance use and social psychology lab. Alana works full-time in hospitality and prides herself on being able to pay her way through each semester at ASU. In her free time, she enjoys painting and playing spending time with her adorable cat.

Iosef Isaac Perez

Iosef is a sophomore getting a B.S. in Psychology and Neuroscience and as well a minor in Counseling and Psychological Sciences. He is interested in becoming a psychiatrist and is currently completing pre-med requirements to go into medical school. Iosef is currently interested in mental health research in minority populations, and the interactions between environment and genetics and how they contribute to risk for mental disorders. Outside of the lab, Iosef is an officer of the Psychology engagement team, teacher's assistant at ASU Mirabella, Barrett student, and research team member at the Polytechnic campus. In his free time, he enjoys playing the bass guitar, reading, and playing video games.

Allison Miller

Allison Miller is a sophomore majoring in Psychology, with a minor in Sociology and will be graduating in May 2026. She is interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. She is currently fascinated by social psychology and the science behind relationships. Allison enjoys reading, listening to indie music, and trying new restaurants.

Hannah Doherty

Hannah is a senior getting her B.S. in Psychological Sciences and will be graduating in December 2023. She is interested in pursuing her doctorate in clinical child psychology. Hannah is an RA for the Genes, Environment, Youth, and Development lab, where she conducts research pertaining to substance use and mental health outcomes within different college student populations. Outside of research, Hannah is co-coordinator of RefServe, an organization that provides free English lessons to refugees, and works full-time at the Arizona State Hospital. In her free time, she enjoys working out, hiking, and reading.

Nirmitha Hamsanipally

Nirmitha is a sophomore double majoring in Biomedical Sciences and Data Science and will be graduating Spring 2026. She is interested in going to medical school in the future and hoping to either specialize in pediatrics or psychiatry. Nirmitha is currently interested in the effect of ethnic-racial discrimination on alcohol and substance use within the demographic of college students. In addition to the Genetics, Environment, Youth and Development lab, Nirmitha volunteers at hospitals in the Phoenix area, working with infants in the NICU and oncology patients. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music on her daily walks as well as playing pickleball at her local park.

Samantha Steinke 

Samantha is an ASU Alumni that graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. This is her second semester as a research assistant in the Genes, Environment, and Youth Development lab. She is currently interested in Graduate programs in Social or Positive Psychology, and is planning to apply in Winter 2023. She loves to travel, read, and spend time with friends & family in her free time.

Lab Alumni 

Mariam Ewais, Biological Sciences and Global Health (Fall 2020 - Spring 2023)

Avery Murphy, Psychology minor in Philosophy and Political Science (Spring 2022 - Spring 2023)

Abdullah Warsi, Neuroscience (Fall 2022 - Spring 2023)

Valerie Tan, Psychology (Fall 2022 - Spring 2023)

Kathleen Heaston, Master's Degree in Forensic Psychology (Fall 2022 - Spring 2023)

Madeline Smith, Psychology minor in Family and Human Development (Fall 2022 - Spring 2023)

Ashlynn Rooney, Psychology and Family and Human Development (Spring 2021 - Fall 2022)

Ian McNamara, Psychology (Fall 2019 – Spring 2022; Graduated May 2021); Former lab coordinator, currently Ph.D. student in Clinical Psychology at University of Missouri at St Louis. 

Valeria Perez, Biological Sciences and Global Health (Fall 2020 – Spring 2022)

Isobel Conroy, Psychology (Spring 2021 – Fall 2021; graduated in December 2021); Honors thesis titled “COVID-19 Related Stress, Mental Health, and Alcohol Use Outcomes among College Students: Examining the Moderating Role of Emotion Regulation”. 

Christopher Hernandez, Biology and Society, Global Health, and Transborder Studies (Fall 2019 – Spring 2022; Graduated May 2022); currently student at University of Arizona College of Medicine 

Dylan Wang, Biomedical Sciences (Spring 2021 - Fall 2021)
Elizabeth Cheng, Biological Sciences with minor in Psychology (Spring 2021 - 2022 Spring) 
Riley McKenna,  Biological Sciences and Psychology (2020 summer- 2020 Fall)
Karen Northrop, Business Data Analytics and Psychology (2020 Spring - 2020 Fall)
Mahasin Shigdy,  Psychology (2019 Fall - 2020 Fall; Graduated in December 2020)
Derek Soto,  Psychology (2019 Fall - 2020 Fall; Graduated in December 2020) 
Nicole Taylor, Psychology (2020 Spring - 2020 Fall; Graduated in December 2020); Honor's thesis titled "Depressive Symptoms and Drinking to Cope in Relation to Alcohol Use Outcomes Among European American and African American College Students"; Finalist for the Psychology Department award for Best Undergraduate Research Paper.

Join the Lab!

We are actively recruiting motivated and responsible undergraduate research assistants (RA) to join our lab! Students from underrepresented backgrounds (e.g., racial/ethnic minority, first-generation college students) are strongly encouraged to apply through the ENERGIZE Research Initiative. If you are interested in becoming an RA (for credit or volunteer) in the Genes, Environment, and Youth Development Lab, please fill out this application form and/or contact us at geyouthdevelopment@asu.edu. 

Dr. Su is accepting new graduate students in the Developmental Psychology PhD program. If interested, please email Dr. Su at jinnisu1@asu.edu with a copy of your CV.

Select publications

Below are a sample of recent publications from Dr. Su’s research and lab. A more complete listing may be found in Dr. Su’s curriculum vitae

*undergraduate student co-author; **graduate student co-author

1. Su, J., Trevino, A.**, Jamil, B.**, & Aliev, F. (in press). Genetic risk of alcohol use disorders and childhood impulsivity: Examining the role of parenting and family conflict. Invited paper for the Special Issue of Development and Psychopathology entitled “Leveraging Genetically Informative Study Designs to Understand the Development and Familial Transmission of Psychopathology”. 
2. Su, J., Kuo, S. I., Trevino, A.**, Barr, P., Aliev, F., Bucholz, K, Chan, G., … & Dick, D. M. (2022).Examining social genetic effects on educational attainment via parental educational attainment, income, and parenting. Journal of Family Psychology.
3. Su, J., Trevino, A.**, Kuo, S. I., Aliev, F., Williams, C. D., Guy, M. G., The Spit for Science Working Group, & Dick, D. M. (2022). Racial discrimination and alcohol problems: Examining Interactions with Genetic Risk and Impulsivity. Journal of Youth and Adolescence. 
4. Su, J., Conroy, I.*, Trevino, A.**, Zheng, Y., & Kuo, S. I. (2022). COVID-19 related stressors, parent-child relationship, and profiles of alcohol and mental health outcomes among White and Hispanic/Latinx first-year college students. Child Psychiatry & Human Development. doi: 10.1007/s10578-022-01337-4
5. Taylor, N. L.*, Su, J., The Spit for Science Working Group, & Dick, D. M. (2022). Depressive symptoms and drinking to cope in relation to alcohol use outcomes among White and Black/African American college students. Substance Use and Misuse. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2022.2034871
6. Su, J., Kuo, S. I., Aliev, F., Chan, G., Edenberg, H. J., Kamarajan, C., McCutcheon, V. V., Meyers, J. L., Schuckit, M., Tischfield, J., & Dick, D. M. (2021). The association between polygenic risk, sensation seeking, social support and alcohol use in adulthood. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 130, 525-536. doi: 10.1037/abn0000568. 
7. Su, J., Seaton, E. K., Williams, C. D., The Spit for Science Working Group, & Dick, D. M. (2021). Racial discrimination, depressive symptoms, ethnic-racial identity and alcohol use among Black American college students. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 35, 523-535. doi: 10.1037/adb0000717. 
8. Barr, P. B., Ksinan, A., Su, J., Johnson, E. C., Meyers, J. L., Wetherill, L., Latvala, A., Aliev, F., Chan, G., Kuperman, S., Nurnberger, J., Kamarajan, C., Anokhin, A., Agrawal, A., Rose, R. J., Edenberg, H. J., Schuckit, M., Kaprio, J., & Dick, D. M. (2020). Using polygenic scores for identifying individuals at increased risk of substance use disorders in clinical and population samples. Translational psychiatry, 10(1), 196. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-020-00865-8 
9. Su, J., Kuo, S. I., Derlan, C. L., Hagiwara, N., Guy, M. C., & Dick, D. M. (2020). Racial discrimination and alcohol problems among African American young adults: Examining the moderating effects of racial socialization by parents and friends. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 26(2), 260–270. https://doi.org/10.1037/cdp0000294 
10. Patterson, R. E., Kuchenbaecker, K., Chen, C., Popejoy, A., Walters, R., Periyasamy, S., Lam, M., Iyegbe, C., Strawbridge, R., Brick, L., Carey, C., Martin, A., Meyers, J. L., Su, J., Bigdeli, T. B., Chen, J., Edwards, A. C., Kalungi, A., Koen, N., Majara, L., Schwarz, E., Smoller, J., Sullivan, P., Vassos, E., Mowry, B., Prieto, M., Cuellar-Barboza, A., Edenberg, H., Huang, H., & Duncan, L. E. (2019). Genome-wide association studies in ancestrally diverse populations: Opportunities, methods, pitfalls, and recommendations. Cell. 179, 589-603. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2019.08.051 
11. Ksinan, A., Su, J., Aliev, F., The Spit for Science Working Group, & Dick, D. M. (2019). Unpacking genetic risk pathways for college student alcohol consumption: The mediating role of impulsivity. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 43, 2100-2110.
12. Silventoinen, K., Su, J., Pulkkinen, L., Barr, P., Rose, R. J., Dick, D. M., & Kaprio, J. (2019). Genetics of Perceived Family Interaction From 12 to 17 Years of Age. Behavior genetics, 49(4), 366–375. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10519-019-09960-z
13. #Cho, S. B., #Su, J., Kuo, S. I., Bucholz, K. K., Chan, G., Edenberg, H. J., … & Dick, D.M. (2019). Positive and negative reinforcement are differentially associated with alcohol consumption as a function of alcohol dependence. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 33, 58-68.  #co-first authors 
14. Su, J., Kuo, S. I., Myers, J. M., Guy, M. & Dick, D. M. (2018). Examining interactions between genetic risk for alcohol problems, peer deviance, and interpersonal traumatic events on trajectory of alcohol use disorder symptoms among African American college students. Development and Psychopathology, 30, 1749-1761. 
15. Su, J., Kuo, S. I., Aliev, F., Guy, M. C., Derlan, C. L., Edenberg, H. J., … & Dick, D. M. (2018). Influence of parental alcohol dependence symptoms and parenting on adolescent risky drinking and conduct problems: A family systems perspective. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 42, 1783-1794. 2018-2019 top downloaded and most read paper in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research 
16. Su, J., Kuo, S. I., Bucholz, K. K., Edenberg, H. J., Kramer, J. R., Schuckit, M., & Dick, D. M. (2018). Understanding mechanisms of genetic risk for adolescent internalizing and externalizing problems: The mediating role of parenting and personality. Twin Research and Human Genetics, 21, 310-321. 
17. Su, J., Leerkes, E. M., & Augustine, E. M. (2018). DRD4 interacts with adverse life events in predicting maternal sensitivity via emotion regulation. Journal of Family Psychology, 32, 783-792. 
18. Su, J., Supple, A. J., Leerkes, E. M., & Kuo, S. I. (2018). Latent trajectories of alcohol use from early adolescence to young adulthood: Interaction effects between 5-HTTLPR and parenting quality and gender differences. Development and Psychopathology, 31, 457-469. 
19. Dick, D. M., Barr, P. B., Cho, S. B., Cooke, M. E., Kuo, S. I., Lewis, T., Neale, Z., Salvatore, J. E., Savage, J. E., Su, J. (2018). Post-GWAS in psychiatric genetics: A     developmental perspective on the “other” next steps. Genes, Brain, & Behavior. 2017-2018 top downloaded and most read paper in Genes, Brain, and Behavior. 
20. Su, J., Hancock, L., McGann, A., Alshagra, M.*, Ericson, R.*, Niazi, Z.*, Dick, D. M., & Adkins, A. (2018). Evaluating the effect of a campus-wide social norms marketing intervention on alcohol use perceptions, consumption, and blackouts. Journal of American College Health, 66, 219-224. 
21. Su, J., Supple, A. J., & Kuo, S. I. (2018). The role of individual and contextual factors in differentiating substance use profiles among adolescents. Substance Use and Misuse, 53, 734-743. 
22. Su, J., & Supple, A. J. (2016). School substance use norms and racial composition moderate parental and peer influences on adolescent substance use. American Journal of Community Psychology, 57, 280-290
23. Su, J., & Supple, A. J. (2014). Parental, peer, school, and neighborhood influences on adolescent substance use: Direct and indirect effects and ethnic variations. Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse. 13, 227-246. 

• Dr. Jinni Su is awarded $1,656,143 over five years (9/2023 – 5/2028) from the National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIH/NIAAA) for research project R01AA031281, “Gene-Environment Interplay and Alcohol Use among Racially-Ethnically Diverse Youth: A Developmentally and Culturally Informed Approach”.  We are so excited for the award and look forward to collaborations with co-investigators Drs. Kathryn Lemery-Chalfant, Jose Causadisas, Eleanor Seaton, and Kevin Grimm. Wohoo!!!!

• Congratulation to Angel Trevino on the acceptance of his first-author paper to be published in Behavior Genetics. We are so proud of you!! The paper is titled “Alcohol use disorder polygenic risk scores and trajectories of early adolescent externalizing behaviors: Examining the role of parenting and family conflict in the Racially/Ethnically Diverse ABCD Sample”. (September, 2023)
   
• New paper led by Dr. Jinni Su, graduate student Belal Jamil and colleagues is accepted for publication at Development and Psychopathology! The paper is titled “Polygenic risk, social support, and alcohol use among European American and African American adults”. (August, 2023)
   
• Graduate students Angel Trevino and Belal Jamil both presented first-author papers at the Behavior Genetics Annual Meeting, at Murcia, Spain!! Way to go, Angel and Belal!! (June, 2023)
   
• Graduate student Angel Trevino successfully defended his Master’s Thesis! His thesis was titled “Genetic and Environmental Influences on Youth Externalizing Behaviors across Racial/Ethnic Groups”. Congratulations, Angel! (April 2023)
   
• Graduate student Belal Jamil successfully proposed his Master’s Thesis. Congratulations, Belal!! (April, 2023)
   

• Graduate student Angel Trevino successfully proposed his master’s thesis! Congratulations, Angel! (August, 2022)

• Graduate student Angel Trevino presented a poster entitled “Alcohol use disorder polygenic scores and trajectories of childhood externalizing behaviors: Examining the role of parenting and family conflict in the ABCD study” at the Behavior Genetics Association Annual Meeting at Los Angeles! (June, 2022)

• New study by Dr. Jinni Su, graduate student Angel Trevino, and colleagues examining the role of genetics, personality, and racial discrimination in alcohol use among Black/African American young adults is published in Journal of Youth and Adolescence, and is featured by ASU News.

• New study by Dr. Jinni Su, undergraduate student Isobel Conroy, graduate student Angel Trevino, and colleagues is published in Child Psychiatry and Human Development, and is featured by ASU News. (March, 2022)

• Dr. Jinni Su’s research on polygenic risk scores, social support, and alcohol use was featured in the APA Monitor in Psychology. (January, 2022)

• Dr. Jinni Su's new study published in Journal of Abnormal Psychology is featured in the U.S. News and World Report and ASU News. (September, 2021). 

• Dr. Jinni Su's new study published in Psychology of Addictive Behaviors is featured in ASU News (September, 2021). 

• Congratulations to lab members, Mahasin Shigdy, Derek Soto, and Nicole Taylor, who graduated from ASU Psychology in December 2020!!! Many congratulations and best wishes for your bright future!

• We are so excited to welcome Angel Trevino, the very first graduate student in the GEYD Lab, to the ASU Developmental Psychology PhD program!!! (August, 2020).

• Dr. Su was invited to speak at the 3rd Annual Arizona Psychology Undergraduate Research Conference, Tempe, AZ (via zoom; April 18, 2020). Her presentation was titled " Genetic and Environmental Influences on Substane Use Disorders".

• Our undergraduate research assistants, Derek Soto and Mahasin Shigdy, presented at the 3rd Annual Arizona Psychology Undergraduate Research Conference, Tempe, AZ (via zoom; April 18, 2020). Their poster presentation was titled "A systematic review of racial/ethnic discrimination and alcohol use outcomes in the Latino population in the US". 

• Dr. Jinni Su received seed grant from the Institute for Social Science Research (11/13/2019). Her grant proposal is titled "A Cultural Genomics Approach to Understand Gene-Environment Interactions and Alcohol Misuse among African American College Students".

• Dr. Jinni Su is featured on ASU Now about her research, addressing the importance of increasing representation of minority populations in genetic research.

• Dr. Su attended the 2019 World Congress of Psychiatric Genetics  in Los Angeles on 10/26-31, 2019. She presented research showing that higher sensation seeking and lower levels of social support serve as pathways linking genetic risk to alcohol use disorder symptoms in adulthood, using data from the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism.