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

Belal Jamil

Belal is a fifth-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 racially/ethnically diverse samples of 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 reading.

Lab Coordinator 

Aryn Layno

Aryn recently graduated with her B.S. in Neuroscience from ASU in December 2024. Aryn is interested in researching substance use, mental health, and health disparities in underrepresented communities. Aside from working in the Genetics, Environment, Youth, and Development lab, she serves as an ICU Lead Scribe and volunteers for Duet: Partners in Health and Aging, Hospice of the Valley, and Big Brothers Big Sisters Arizona. She is currently applying to medical school! In her free time, she enjoys journaling and trying new restaurants with her friends.

Lead of Outreach and Communication

Shereen (Jing He)

Jing He is a senior pursuing a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Early Childhood Education. She is interested in exploring the roles of both genetics and the environment in children’s and youth’s mental health issues across different racial groups, as well as the unique pressures faced by ELL (English language learners) and Asian Americans. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. in developmental psychology. Jing also enjoys learning different languages and cultures behind them. In her free time, she loves cooking, dancing, working out, bouldering, and trying out different sports.

Undergraduate Research Assistants:

Chiara Fusciello

Chiara recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science in biomedical sciences and a minor in psychology in May 2024. She also completed her honors thesis entitled "Coping Mediates the Link between Social Support and Depression in Patients with ADPKD on Dialysis: Acceptance Helps and Planning is Harmful". Chiara will be applying to graduate schools for the upcoming cycle, where she hopes to conduct research on how adverse life events/stress impact mental well-being in youth and adolescents. Chiara has been a member of the Genetics, Environment, Youth and Development lab since January 2022, and is excited to continue to pursue her research interests with Dr. Su through the conduction of an independent project. In addition to being a research assistant with the GEYD Lab, Chiara volunteers at Phoenix Children's Hospital and is working on publishing her first research manuscript. In her free time, she enjoys playing soccer, crocheting, and spending time with friends and family.

Moira Semple

Moira is a junior expected to graduate in Fall 2025 with a B.S. in Biological Sciences (Neurobiology, Physiology & Behavior) and a certificate in Evolutionary Medicine. Alongside her work in the G.E.Y.D. Lab, Moira is also a research assistant in the Brain, Epigenetics, Altered States of Consciousness Research (BEAR) Lab, where she will be conducting her honors thesis with Dr. Lewis this year. As a recipient of the SOLUR Fellowship, Moira's research, which explores how life experiences induce epigenetic changes linked to mental health, will be funded by the School of Life Sciences. Additionally, she serves as Vice President for the NeuroDevils club here at ASU and is a student of the Barrett Honors College.

Haley Patel

Haley is a sophomore majoring in Medical Microbiology. She is interested in studying positive psychology in adolescents through independent research projects guided by Dr. Su. She wishes to pursue her goal of being a physician and researching psychology/genes to raise awareness of misunderstood facts. She would also love to explore the avenues of clinical psychology. Her hobbies include traveling, playing badminton, and running.

Hannan Huynh

Hannah is a senior majoring in Psychology and joined the GEYD Lab in Fall 2025 because she values research experience and wants to further her knowledge of psychology. She’s especially interested in how family, culture, and environment influence youth development and mental health, and she hopes to apply this experience toward my goal of becoming a clinical counselor. She enjoys baking and trying new recipes in her free time.

Melanie Perez Saenz

Melanie is a senior pursuing a B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Sociology. She joined the GEYD Lab in Fall 2025 because, as a first-generation Mexican-American, she is passionate about contributing to and understanding the lab’s work on how genetics and environments interact to shape emotional and behavioral outcomes. She hopes to gain hands-on research experience that will prepare her for graduate school in Clinical Psychology. Melanie loves thrifting and has played soccer since the 2nd grade (practically her whole life).

Fan Ding

Fan Ding earned her M.S. in Psychology from the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts  and Sciences in May 2025, specializing in child and adolescent development. She is currently a volunteer research assistant in Dr. Jinni Su’s GEYD Lab. With experience in behavioral experiments and data analysis, Fan is passionate about applying research to promote healthy development and strong family relationships. She plans to pursue a second master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and become a mental health counselor, aiming to support Asian American families in easing parent–child conflicts and fostering well-being. In her free time, she enjoys traveling the world, baking, and playing jazz music.

Courtney LaPointe

Courtney is majoring in neuroscience and joined the lab this fall of 2025 to further pursue her research interests in substance use and addiction. She is excited to research and learn more about the biological and behavioral factors that drive substance use disorders. Working in the lab will also provide her with resources and mentorship while she completes her honors thesis, which she will present in the spring of 2026.

Online Undergraduate Research Scholars (OURS)

Sivanah Tatem

Sivanah is a senior pursuing her B.A. in Psychology and will graduate in Spring 2025. She plans to continue her studies with a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, with research interests in developmental psychology and the impact of trauma on youth mental health. Outside of academics, she enjoys bouldering, crocheting, and spending time outdoors on picnics and hikes with friends.

Douglas Taylor

Doug Taylor is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry. He previously earned a master’s degree in Psychology and is interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in educational psychology. He currently works as a Student Success Navigator at Southwestern Oregon Community College, where he supports students in reaching their academic and career goals. Doug is passionate about the intersection of science and education and hopes to integrate his background in psychology and biochemistry into future research. Outside of academics and work, he enjoys biking, hiking, going to the beach, and writing poetry and music.

Ethan Cowan-Kazmi

Ethan is a junior majoring in Psychology and joined the GEYD Lab in Spring 2025. He conducted his first project on the relationship between family income, resilience, and academic performance in college students! Ethan has a lot of interest in the impact of environmental and genetic factors on youth and young adult outcomes, such as the career success of diagnosed mentally ill individuals. He aspires to become someone who works in the field and has a tangible, positive impact on at-risk individuals!  

September Spotleson

September is a Psychology major expecting to graduate in December 2025. She is currently a Research Intern with the SHIRT Program at ASU, where she helps develop a historical timeline of Arizona’s water management. She was also involved in setting up two exhibitions in the spring semester to present the information found to the community. Previously, she gained valuable experience as a Forensic Case Manager at Vienna Psychological Group, where she worked with clients involved in the criminal justice system, assisted in running therapy sessions, and conducted case assessments. 

She joined this lab in January of 2025 because she is passionate about understanding how genetic and environmental factors contribute to the development of substance use disorder, particularly in adolescence and young adulthood. This lab's focus on family process, sociocultural factors, and genetics in predicting substance misuse aligns with my research interests. 

Allie Kjelsrud

Allie is a senior expected to graduate in Fall of 2025 with a B.S. in Neuroscience. Allie plans to pursue a MD/Ph.D. to gain an integrated understanding of how environment and genetic disparities can impact mental health and substance use-related outcomes among marginalized communities. She also works part-time as a barista at Starbucks. In her free time, Allie enjoys completing a puzzle, reading to relax, and spending time with her close friends and family.

Lab Alumni 

• Samantha Dela Cruz, Psychology (Fall 2024)
• Mikaelyn Dela Cruz, Psychology (Fall 2024)
• Ellie Han, Tempe Preporatory Academy (high school; Fall 2024)
• Allison Miller, Psychology (Graduated December 2025)
• 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 who have little to no prior lab experience are strongly encouraged to apply through the ENERGIZE Research Initiative. As a participating ENERGIZE lab, we are committed to involve students from all backgrounds, including those with varied ethnic, cultural, intellectual and socioeconomic perspectives. 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 [email protected]. 

Dr. Su is accepting new graduate students in the Developmental Psychology PhD program. If interested, please email Dr. Su at [email protected] 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.