MATEO Lab

MATEO Lab Director

Matthew R. Pearson (a.k.a. mateo)

I'm an experimental psychologist passionate about mentoring and conducting research that can help alleviate human suffering. I work well with people who share these passions and those who are not offended by an irreverent interpersonal style.

2022-present Research Professor, University of New Mexico, Center on Alcohol, Substance use, And Addictions

2020-2022 Research Associate Professor, University of New Mexico, Center on Alcohol, Substance use, And Addictions

2014-2020 Research Assistant Professor, University of New Mexico, Center on Alcohol, Substance use, And Addictions

2012-2014 Post-Doctoral Fellow, University of New Mexico, Center on Alcohol, Substance use, And Addictions

2012 Applied Experimental Psychology, Ph.D. 2012 Old Dominion University

2009 Experimental Psychology, M.S. 2009 Old Dominion University

2005 Psychology Major, B.S. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Current Lab Members

Deanna Sprunk (ds, Senior Program Manager)

ds is to the lab what gravity is to standing on the earth. In addition to being the best damned administrator I've ever worked with, I care for her deeply and will fight you if you have a problem with that! Not "literally," but literally.

Frank J. Schwebel (Research Assistant Professor)

Frank runs the Texting Experiment Team (TExT) Lab to explore his interests in technology-delivered interventions designed to treat addictive behaviors. Frank is currently conducting a study funded by UNM's Substance Use Disorders Grand Challenge initiative that probes motivation to change among polysubstance users ('Ready2Change'), an IMPOWR-funded pilot study using text message reminders/messages to improve outcomes among individuals with comorbid chronic pain and opioid use disorder, and an IMPOWR-funded supplement to culturally tailor an integrated treatment (Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention+Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) for comorbid opioid use disorder and chronic pain among Hispanic/Latino populations. More information about Frank's work is available here at his own website (which I realize looks much better than mine).

Dylan K. Richards (Research Assistant Professor)

Dylan has interests in the use of protective behavioral strategies, Self-Determination Theory, brief interventions, and the integration of these concepts. Dylan recently completed an individual postdoctoral fellowship award (F32AAA028712) from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism to study motivations for responsible alcohol use among young adults. Dylan recently received a career development award from NIAAA to studying recovery from alcohol use disorder from the dual lens of self-determination theory and behavioral economic theory following voluntary temporary abstinence campaigns (Dry January, Sober October).

Megan Kirouac (Research Assistant Professor)

Megan is a licensed clinical psychologist with interest in research and treatment of addictive behaviors. Megan is currently funded as a Principal Investigator on the Rural Opioid Training Assistance-Regional program from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), along with Dr. Cassie Boness. Megan is also funded on two large-scale RCTs using a hybrid implementation efficacy design to test new treatments for substance use disorders: one is a treatment to simultaneously treat co-occurring chronic pain and opioid use concerns; the other is testing video-based nationwide delivery of Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention to improve the quality of life of individuals with histories of alcohol use concerns.

Matison W. McCool (2nd Year, Postdoctoral Fellow, T32AA018108, primary mentor: Frank Schwebel)

Matison is interested in understanding how specific intervention components may prompt behavioral and physiological changes, mindfulness-based interventions, and measuring self-regulation through cardiac vagal control. The bulk of Matison’s work has focused on using daily diaries and intensive longitudinal designs to assess the impacts of dialectical behavior therapy skills on drinking and substance use outcomes. Recently, he has focused on expanding his training in the areas of machine learning analytical methods and heart rate variability research. If you would like to visit a website without any materials, pages, or information, you can visit Matison’s website.

Nina Christie (1st Year, Postdoctoral Fellow, RM1DA055301, co-mentor: Katie Witkiewitz)

Nina’s primary goal is to conduct research that will ameliorate suffering caused by substance use. Her work is focused through the lens of harm reduction and drug policy. Nina's previous work has focused on the interplay between social isolation and opioid use. Currently, she is working with Drs. Margo Hurlocker and Megan Kirouac on the HOPE Study (Healing Opioids and Pain through Engagement). More broadly, she studies the interplay between social connection and substance use behaviors. Her goals are to directly influence drug policies and improve overall health and wellbeing among people who use drugs. You can read more details about what she is currently up to at her website here; you can also follow her on Twitter and BlueSky!

Kalina M. L. Fahey (1st Year, Postdoctoral Fellow, RM1DA055301, co-mentor: Katie Witkiewitz)

Kalina's research interests include the role of stress in LGBTQ+ substance use disparities and the complex relationship between LGBTQ+ identity and religion, specifically the effect religion can have on mental and physical health among LGBTQ+ populations. Her work has previously been recognized by the APA Dissertation Award and professional organizations such as Society of Behavioral Medicine and Research Society on Alcohol.

Christian Garcia (1st Year, Postdoctoral Fellow, T32AA018108, primary mentor: Katie Witkiewitz)

Christian is passionate about teaching/mentoring and conducting community-participatory research. Working with his mentors, Christian will continue to develop his program of research addressing disparities in alcohol and other substance use related to age/older adults.

Current Research Assistants

Ricardo A. Rubio

Joey Mok

Olivia Cole

Vanessa C.Hernandez

Chloe Martinez

Former Post-Doctoral Fellows

Adrian J. Bravo (Assistant Professor at William & Mary)

Verlin W. Joseph (Assistant Professor at University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center)

Kevin S. Montes (Assistant Professor at California State University, Dominguez Hills)

Dylan K. Richards (Research Assistant Professor at UNM CASAA)

Frank J. Schwebel (Research Assistant Professor at UNM CASAA)

Former Research Assistants

Alyssa Allen, Haydee Andujo, Susan Baumgardner (Ph.D. student, Clinical Psychology at Colorado State University), Laura G. Boothe (RN, University of Virginia Children's Hospital, also my sister from another mister), David Brown, Jude Chavez (M.A. Counseling student, University of New Mexico), Catherine Rose Cole, Matthew Crockett, Lizeth Cueto, Brittany DeAngelo, Stephanie DeLang, Chloe J. Espinosa, Stephen Frazier, Gabriel J. Gonzales, Andres Grajeda (M.A., Counseling, University of New Mexico), Savaunah A. Herrera (MBA student), Stephanie Hood (M.A., Counseling, Marquette University), Megan Horowitz, Fillip Kosorukov, Adrienne Lawless, Jenae Lynch, MacKenzie May (Ph.D., Counseling Psychology, American Lake VA), Peter Minge, Aurelie Mujynya (BSN student, Arizona State University), Matthew Jerome Pearson (M.D., Resident, Owensboro Health Regional Hospital, also not related at all, just coincidentally given the same name), Bianca Rogers, Mariah Sandoval, Jesus Schink, Monica Serna, Sarah Simons, Elisha Sneddy, Melissa Sotelo (Ph.D. student, Oregon State University), Kristin Tubb, Christopher Upton, Angelica Valazquez, Andrew Weinstein (Ph.D. student, Social Psychology, University of Houston), Natalie M. Wendel, Cynthia Wenzl, Alexander Win (M.D. student, University of New Mexico)