Meet New CAS Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Emmanuel D. Thomas
Standing in the entrance to the Center of Alcohol & Substance Use Studies (CAS) at Smithers Hall, two new CAS postdoctoral fellows, Drs. Emmanuel Alvarez and Emmanuel D. Thomas pose for a photo together.
Meet New CAS Postdoctoral Fellow
From ecological momentary assessment studies of trauma and alcohol use in Black communities to research identifying culturally informed risk and protective factors, Dr. Emmanuel D. Thomas brings an innovative, community-engaged perspective to the Center of Alcohol & Substance Use Studies. In this Q&A, he reflects on the experiences that shaped his research path, the urgent questions driving his work, and his vision for advancing equitable, real-world solutions for trauma and addiction recovery.
Introducing Dr. Emmanuel D. Thomas
To start off, can you share a little about your academic and professional journey—what brought you into the field of addiction and/or trauma research?
Thomas: My interest in trauma and addiction research was gradually shaped over the course of my academic journey through both personal and professional experiences. As an undergrad at Georgetown, I was interested in how trauma affects daily functioning and contributes to other forms of psychopathology, such as depression. Upon starting graduate school at the University of Rhode Island, I started working at a residential substance use treatment facility and soon realized the difficulty of studying trauma without also considering the impact of substance use. As a result, I sought to understand the interface between trauma and substance use at the daily level. My graduate training comprised extensive research and clinical experiences that allowed me to further investigate and treat trauma and substance use as both researcher and clinician, setting the stage for my postdoctoral work.
What drew you specifically to the Center of Alcohol & Substance Use Studies for your postdoctoral fellowship?
Thomas: I was thrilled at the opportunity to work with such an accomplished and diverse team of researchers and clinicians at different stages of their careers. I was particularly excited by the prospect of working under the direct mentorship of Dr. Denise Hien, a renowned expert in the fields of traumatic stress and addictions. I believed that Dr. Hien’s background in trauma and addictions translational research would pair well with my interest and experience in micro-longitudinal assessment of trauma and substance use, as well as help expand my program of research by incorporating opportunities to engage in implementation science.
DISSERTATION SPOTLIGHT
Can you give a high-level overview of your dissertation? What question were you trying to answer?
Thomas: My dissertation, titled, Micro-longitudinal Examination of the Associations between Depression and Alcohol Use and Black Individuals in the Community: Risk and Protective Factors, was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism through an F31 predoctoral award. I recruited adults from the Providence Metropolitan Area who identified as Black or African American. The participants underwent a baseline session during which they answered several clinician-administered diagnostic assessment and self-report questions, an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) period that involved thrice-daily self-report surveys, and a follow-up session to garner qualitative feedback. The primary aim of the study was to investigate whether depression symptoms and alcohol use, craving, and consequences were bidirectionally associated at the within-day level. The secondary aim was to explore whether racial stress and symptoms were associated with alcohol use, craving, and consequences at the within-day level, and whether that association was influenced by depression symptoms. The results of the study indicated that Black adults who reported a momentary elevation in depression symptoms also tended to report increased alcohol use, craving, and consequences at the following timepoint compared to their own baseline levels of depression and alcohol use outcomes. Black adults who reported experiencing more racial discrimination and trauma symptoms of discrimination were also more likely to report higher alcohol use and craving at the following timepoint. Between-person depression symptoms did not influence this association. These study findings underscore the utility of examining the influence of both clinical and culturally relevant factors on alcohol use outcomes among Black adults. It highlights the value of EMA methods in exploring experiences in real-world contexts while accounting for the unique trajectories of individuals.
How does your dissertation set the stage for the work you’ll be doing as a postdoc?
Thomas: My dissertation will serve as a foundation for my continued pursuit of knowledge regarding the impact of culturally relevant risk and protective factors for Black adults regarding traumatic stress and substance use. I hope to extend this line of research by incorporating measures of race-related stress in future investigations and refining these measures for to improve EMA methods. Additionally, my participants’ feedback on the impact of recognizing race-related stress has provided me with invaluable insight into ways to improve messaging around the concept of race-related stress, identify gaps in clinical and community support, and consider relevant social determinants of health. I hope to leverage this insight when designing future studies.
POSTDOCTORAL FOCUS & GOALS
What are the key projects or research areas you’ll be focusing on during your postdoc?
Thomas: I will be involved in several projects during my postdoctoral training. In collaboration with the Project Harmony executive team, I will be leveraging innovative methodology to integrate and analyze data from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol/other drug use disorder (AOD) treatment trials. Additionally, I will become involved in community engagement projects during my time at CAS to establish and maintain ties with the communities I aim to serve through my research.
What do you hope to accomplish during your time here—scientifically, professionally, or creatively?
Thomas: I hope to advance my research program by applying for an NIH Early Research Career Development Award. I also aim to continue expanding my research program by disseminating research in various forms, including review articles, empirical studies, intervention studies, case studies, and assessment studies.
How do you hope your postdoctoral work will advance our understanding of addiction, trauma, co-occurring conditions, or recovery pathways?
Thomas: My ultimate goal is to focus on individual- and systemic-level processes that may confer risk for, or provide protection against, deleterious trauma or addiction outcomes.
THE TRANSLATION IMPACT
Why is this research urgently needed right now in the addiction and trauma landscape?
Thomas: Although we have made great strides in the field to address the high co-occurrence between trauma and substance use, it remains a large issue, especially among vulnerable populations. Additionally, given the historical disconnect between researchers and the communities they aim to serve, I believe that incorporating community engagement methods is crucial for highlighting the voices of our research participants as we continue to explore treatment gaps.
What motivates you in doing this work—what keeps you committed to research in this area?
Thomas: I am passionate about hearing the voices of diverse groups of folks, discovering new gaps, and collaborating to identify novel questions and answers. As a Black, first-generation college graduate, I hope to continue leveraging my personal lived experiences and professional skills to identify ways to support the communities with which I identify.
FUTURE VISION
Looking ahead, where do you see your research trajectory leading after your fellowship?
Thomas: Following my postdoctoral fellowship period, I aim to transition into a tenure-track academic position.
