GLOBAL HEALTH IN PSYCHOLOGY
HEAR IT FROM ME
ABOUT
Who is Ana Regina Ramirez?
Describing oneself is often a daunting feat, as people are as intricate and complex as the universe itself. It is easiest to start simply: I am a graduate of the Honor’s College at Florida International University. I received my Bachelor of Arts in psychology, with a minor in anthropology and sociology. I had the grand opportunity of studying abroad at Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris, France in the summer of 2016, where I studied art, human rights, and the French Revolution. My studies in Mysore, India, mark my second Study Abroad experience at FIU. On campus I am involved in several extracurricular groups, ranging from my sorority to honors societies to volunteer organizations. I am a research assistant for a neuropsychology laboratory as of 2016 and was also a research assistant for a Legal psychology laboratory and a laboratory studying ADHD. Additionally, I worked for three years as a writing tutor at my university. I plan to begin my Masters studies in the Fall of 2020. I hope to attain a Masters in Biostatistics, as I have long been interested in research and plan to dedicate my life to advancing global health.
Academic accomplishments aside, much more exists in me than the scholarly aspects highlighted above. My life began, much differently than it exists today, in Mexico City. Because of my father’s dedication my family was able to move to California, a propitious move indeed, and begin a life in the United States. I know that my life would have unraveled much differently had I not been given the opportunities I received here. Since our initial move, we relocated to the sunny, tropical—albeit mosquito infested—paradise commonly known as Miami, Florida, where my life as a young adult has blossomed. Ultimately, then, who is the writer, the student behind the research?
I am a lover of animals, Franz Kafka, Van Gogh, mythology, Pieology Pizza, Amy Winehouse, and Valentino. I am perpetually entranced by the serenity and beauty of the ocean. I love the feeling of sand under my feet and the sizzling sensation of sun on my skin. I love nature. I feel peace when I watch the sunset. I love books. I love art. I cried in awe of Géricault’s Raft of the Medusa in Paris. I love Thai and Italian food. I am an elephant enthusiast. I deemed “Requiem for a Dream” my favorite movie and Brave New World my favorite book. I admire musicians, creative and capable of producing riveting music. I love people, particularly the “wild-cards.” I love the resilience of the human spirit. I love to travel, and by the end of 2019 I will have visited twenty-four countries. Naturally my love of traveling and exploration, coupled with my desire to broaden my understanding of the human experience, brought me to study Global Health in Mysore, India. Words are but mere vessels of expression, and I genuinely question their capability in expressing the excitement I feel towards my awaiting adventures. I know that my knowledge of health, of psychology, of HIV stigma, of culture, and of people themselves expanded immensely after my study abroad program. And for that reason, I cherish the chance to examine the unknown and perpetuate the existing bodies of knowledge in Global Health.
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CV
A GLIMPSE
EDUCATION
The Honors College at Florida International University Fall 2014 – Spring 2018
Summa Cum Laude – Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, minor in Anthropology & Sociology
GPA: 3.93 / Concentration: 4.0
Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris, France Summer 2016
Completed senior thesis requirements through an Honors study abroad program, a multi-cultural exploration of art, human rights, World War II, and the French Revolution.
Public Health Research Institute of India, Mysore Summer 2017
Gained field experience through FIU’s first research-oriented study abroad program while working closely alongside public health professionals to build my psychology senior thesis and present my findings on research of HIV.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Substance Use & HIV Neuropsychology Lab Research Assistant August 2016 – Present
FIU Center for Children and Families | Investigator: Raul Gonzalez, Ph. D.; (305) 348-4921
Run neuropsychological assessments for the NIH-funded Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, a large-scale ten-year longitudinal study, on children between the ages of 9 – 13 (REDCap, Q-Interactive, NIH Toolbox, RAVLT, WISC-V).
Administer structured clinical interviews for parents and children in English and Spanish (KSADS, drug use histories).
Collect anthropometric measurements and substance use data through biological samples (Dräger, NicAlert).
Complete screening, scheduling, and follow-up phone interviews with parents and children in English and Spanish.
Manage site’s Fitbit data (Fitabase) and biospecimen samples, including saliva, hair, blood, and baby teeth.
Oversee data entry, completion measures, and data cleaning.
Review materials translated from English to Spanish for consortium use.
Train incoming research assistants on study protocol and supervise study volunteers on administrative tasks.
Worked with the Miami Dade County School system to coordinate ABCD study recruitment efforts.
Piloted a behavioral and neuroimaging study examining the effects of cannabis use on brain activity and motivation in emerging adults.
Administered and scored behavioral and neuropsychological assessments for pilot study (drug use history questionnaire, MSVT, MATLAB).
Worked with a doctoral student on a review of adolescent cannabis use on motivation and emotion.
Neuroinformatics & Brain Connectivity Lab Research Assistant April 2019 – August 2019
FIU Department of Physics | Investigator: Angela Laird, Ph. D.; (305) 348-6737
Ran functional magnetic resonance imaging protocols for the ABCD Study on children between the ages of 9 – 13 and administered neurocognitive scanner tasks (E-Prime, REDCap).
Performed practice sessions with study participants in mock fMRI scanner.
Examined the presence of disruptive behavior disorders, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and oppositional defiant disorder, in study participants.
Collected anthropometric measurements and substance use data through biological samples (Dräger, NicAlert).
Received Level One MRI Certification.
Pelham ADHD Lab Research Assistant May 2018 – July 2018
FIU Center for Children and Families | Investigator: William Pelham, Ph. D.; (305) 348-3002
Piloted a study embedded into FIU’s Summer Treatment Program which examined memory function in children with ADHD.
Ran study trials in the treatment program with children between the ages of 8 – 12.
Collected, scored, entered, and managed data.
Conducted literature searches and used university interlibrary systems.
Writing Assistant & Peer Mentor Writing Fellow January 2015 – April 2018
FIU Center for Excellence in Writing | Supervisor: Charles Donate, MFA; (305) 348-6634
Received a semester of formal training as a writing mentor for the program.
Tutored undergraduate students to improve their writing skills in a peer-mentoring program embedded into History, Writing, and remedial courses.
Worked alongside doctoral teaching assistants and professors to lead weekly discussion sections.
Provided tailored feedback to students during one-on-one sessions.
Investigative Interviewing Lab Research Assistant December 2016 – May 2017
FIU Department of Psychology | Supervisor: Nadja Schreiber Compo, Ph. D.; (305) 348-3384
Aided a doctoral student on a study exploring the importance of interviewer tactics in eyewitness memory and challenging existing notions on how interviewer persuasion may affect legal cases.
Assigned codes to qualitative data to facilitate quantitative data analysis.
Scored the study’s manuscripts.
Pharmacy Technician June 2015 – July 2016
Walgreens Pharmacy | Supervisor: Sahily Umpierrez, RPh; (305) 274-3040
Gained knowledge of pharmacology, drug scheduling, and patient care in English and Spanish while concurrently using complex pharmacy systems.
Worked with pharmaceutical vendors, doctors, medical staff, hospitals, and insurance companies to facilitate daily pharmacy tasks.
Awarded a pharmaceutical license from the Florida Board of Pharmacy as a registered Pharmacy Technician.
PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
Pacheco-Colón, I., Ramirez, A. R., & Gonzalez, R. (2019). Effects of Adolescent Cannabis Use on Motivation and Depression: A Systematic Review. Current Addiction Reports, 1-15. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-019-00274-y
POSTER PRESENTATIONS
Filgueiras, S., Ramirez, A. R., Medina, D., Stephens, D., & Madhivanan, P. (2017, October). HIV Positive Indian Women’s Perceptions of their Social Support Systems. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the McNair Undergraduate Research Conference at Florida International University, Miami, FL.
Granja, K., Ramirez, A. R., Hawes, S. Dupperouzel, J. C., & Gonzalez, R. (2020, June). Cannabis Use as a Predictor for Effort and Motivation. Poster to be presented at the 82nd Annual Meeting of the College on Problems of Drug Dependence, Hollywood, FL. (In Preparation)
Ramirez, A. R., Granja, K., Hawes, & Gonzalez, R. (2020, June). Reliability Between Measures of Motivation: A Correlation Between the Apathy Evaluation Scale, the Motivation and Engagement Scale, and the EEfRT Task. Poster to be presented at the 82nd Annual Meeting of the College on Problems of Drug Dependence, Hollywood, FL. (In Preparation)
HONORS & AWARDS
Phi Sigma Sigma Fall 2014 – Spring 2017
I joined several committees in this sorority, sat on the disciplinary board in 2015, and completed substantial community service.
Gamma Epsilon Phi Honors College Honor Society Fall 2014
Miami Dade County Animal Services Volunteer Fall 2016
Global Health Equity Scholar Summer 2017
I received this award for my studies in Global Health in Mysore, India.
Dean’s List Fall 2014 – Spring 2018
Best Buddies Volunteer at FIU Fall 2016 – Spring 2018
Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society Fall 2016 – Spring 2018
This organization recognizes the top 7.5% of Juniors and Seniors at FIU.
Psi Chi Fall 2016 – Spring 2018
Order of Omega Greek Honor Society Fall 2016 – Spring 2018
This organization recognizes leaders in the top 3% of Juniors and Seniors in the Greek community.
Sigma Alpha Pi Spring 2017 – Spring 2018
Also known as the National Society of Leadership and Success, this is the largest collegiate leadership honor society in the US.
Phi Beta Kappa Spring 2018
This organization is the oldest and most prestigious honor society in the US, recognizing select members at graduation.
TRAININGS & CERTIFICATIONS
Level One MRI Certification
fMRI Safety Training
CITI Social and Behavioral Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) – Stage 1
CITI Social and Behavioral Human Subjects Research (HSR) – Stage 1
CITI Health Information Privacy and Security (HIPS) – Stage 1
Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse, Abandonment, and Neglect Policy
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Compliance
Office of Research and Economic Development Prior Approval of Sponsored Project Proposals
Nepotism in Research
Conflict of Interest in Research
Research Misconduct
Approvals Required on Electronic Proposal Routing Approval Form Prior to Proposal Submission
Laboratory Hazard Awareness
Hazard Communication
Safe Management of Biohazardous Waste
Blood-borne Pathogens Awareness
RELEVANT COURSEWORK & SKILLS
Undergraduate courses: Statistics for Behavioral Sciences I, Statistics for Behavioral Sciences II, Research Methods in Psychology, Independent Research, Psychology Internship, Honors Intro and Leadership, Human Biology
Spring & Summer 2020 courses: Calculus I, Computer Programming I, Calculus II
Quantitative skills: Excel, REDCap, SPSS, Qualtrics, R