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Susan Luczak
Assistant Professor (research) of Psychology

Contact Information
Office: SGM 501
Phone: (213)740-2203
E-mail: luczak@rcf.usc.edu

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Susan Luczak
Susan Luczak
Susan Luczak
 

Biographical Sketch

Susan E. Luczak received her Sc.B. in Psychology from Brown University in 1993 and her Master’s degree and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from USC in 1997 and 2000. Dr. Luczak is an Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Psychology at University of Southern California. She is also an Assistant Adjunct Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at University of California, San Diego. She is a member of the American Psychological Association, ISBRA, and RSA, and is on the editorial board of Alcohol-An International Biomedical Journal. Dr. Luczak's research examines etiological factors in the development of alcohol problems and methodological issues in alcohol research. She is currently investigating genetic, biological, and psychosocial factors that relate to alcohol use in various ethnic groups, including individuals of African (Mauritian Creole), Asian (Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Korean), and Caucasian (Jewish and non-Jewish) descent. Her findings have been published in Psychological Bulletin, Journal of Abnormal Psychology, Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, and Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.

Education

  • B.S. Psychology, Brown University, 5/1993
  • M.A. Clinical Psychology, University of Southern California, 8/1997
  • Ph.D. Clinical Psychology, University of Southern California, 8/2000

Postdoctoral Training

  • Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California, San Diego, 2000-2001   

Academic Appointment, Affiliation, and Employment History

  • Assistant Adjunct Professor, University of California, San Diego, 8/1/2005-  
  • Assistant Research Professor, University of Southern California, 1/1/2002-  
  • Assistant Project Scientist, University of California, San Diego, 8/1/2001-7/31/2005  

Description of Research

Summary Statement of Research Interests
The major goal of my research is to understand how alcohol problems develop and manifest themselves. My research program examines ethnic groups with varying patterns and consequences of alcohol use to identify genetic, biological, cultural, and psychosocial risk and protective factors associated with alcohol-related behaviors. I currently conducted in three arenas. First, I have a Mentored Clinical Scientist Development K08 Award from NIAAA titled “Childhood Precursors to Alcohol Involvement.” This project studies alcohol behaviors of ethnic groups (e.g., Caucasians, Chinese, Creoles of African decent, and Indians) on the island of Mauritius. Second, I have a research grant from the Alcoholic Beverage Medical Research Foundation titled “Real-Time Assessment of Alcohol Involvement Across ALDH2 Genotypes.” This project examines naturalistic drinking patterns and responses in real time across individuals who do and do not have a genetic protective factor. Third, I continue to collaborate with faculty members in the UCSD Department of Psychiatry where I am an Assistant Adjunct Professor. My work at UCSD examines risk and protective factors for alcohol involvement across Asian and Caucasian Americans. All of these research projects examine variation in genes that regulate alcohol metabolism, their protective associations with alcohol-related behavior, potential mechanisms of action, and additional psychosocial factors associated with alcohol involvement using both cross-sectional and longitudinal designs.
Research Keywords
Alcohol Genetics Ethnic group differences Alcohol metabolizing genes Risk and protective factors
Research Specialties
Genetic and ethnic group differences in the development of alcohol use and problems

Funded Research

Contracts and Grants Awarded
  • Childhood Precursors To Alcohol Involvement (Nat Inst of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)), Luczak, Susan Elizabeth, $411,298, 8/15/2004-7/31/2009  
  • Real-Time Assessment Of Alcohol Involvement Across ALDH2 (Alcoholic Beverage Medical Research Foundation), Luczak, Susan Elizabeth, $95,000, 7/1/2006-6/30/2009  
Proposals Submitted
  • NIH, submitted, Susan E. Luczak, $411,176, 8/1/2008-7/31/2010  

Publications

Abstract
  • Luczak, S. E., Raine, A., Venables, A., Mednick, P. H., Carr, L. G. (2007). Alcohol metabolizing gene allele frequencies in three ethnic groups in Mauritius. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.
  • Luczak, S. E., Doran, N., Myers, M. G., Carr, L. G., Wall, T. L. (2007). Alcohol use progression in Asian-American college students: Effects of ALDH2, behavioral undercontrol, and acculturation. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.
  • Luczak, S. E., Shea, S. H., Carr, L. G., Wall, T. L. (2007). ADH polymorphisms in Jewish and non-Jewish college students. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.
  • Luczak, S. E., Wall, T. L., Edelman, H. J., Xuei, X., Carr, L. G. (2006). Variations in ADH gene polymorphisms across four ethnic groups. Poster session presented at the International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism.
  • Luczak, S. E., Ebberhart, N. C., Carr, L. G., Wall, T. L. (2004). Binge drinking and alcohol use disorders in college students: Genetic and ethnic group differences. Poster session presented at the American Psychological Association, Honolulu, Hawaii..
  • Luczak, S. E., Cook, T. A., Avanecy, N., Carr, L. G., Wall, T. L. (2002). Associations of conduct disorder and ALDH2 with alcohol dependence symptoms in Korean and Chinese college students. Poster session presented at the Pacific Northwest Regional Workshop on College Drinking, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, Washington..
Journal Article
  • Luczak, S. E., Doran, N., Myers, M. G., Carr, L. G., Wall, T. L. (2007). Stability of heavy episodic drinking in Chinese- and Korean-American college students: Effects of An status and behavioral undercontrol. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.. Vol. 68, pp. 789-797.
  • Luczak, S. E., Raine, A., Venables, P. H., Mednick, S. A. (2006). Externalizing but not internalizing behavior problems at age 8 years predict alcohol use disorders at age 30 years. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research,. Vol. 30 ((Suppl. 6).)
  • Luczak, S. E., Wall, T. L., Glatt, S. G., Carr, L. G. (2006). Genetic associations of alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenase with alcohol dependence and their mechanisms of action. . Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research,. Vol. 30, pp. (Suppl. 6), 276A..
  • Luczak, S. E., Wall, T. L., Carr, L. G. (2006). Associations of ALDH2 and ADH1B with alcohol dependence and other endophenotypes in Asians. . Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research,. Vol. 30 ((Suppl. 6).)
  • Luczak, S. E., Wall, T. L., Myers, M. G. (2005). Smoking behavior in Chinese- and Korean-American college students. Poster session presented at the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, Prague, Czech Republic.
  • Luczak, S. E., Glatt, S. J., Wall, T. L., Li, T. K. (2005). Meta-analyses of ALDH2 and ADH1B in Asians: Examining moderators of effect. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. Vol. 29 (133A)
  • Luczak, S. E., Ebberhart, N. C., Carr, L. G., Wall, T. L. (2005). Family history of alcoholism and alcohol use disorders among Chinese- and Korean-Americans. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. Vol. 29, 83A.
  • Luczak, S. E., Spence, J. P., Hsueh, A., Wall, T. L. (2004). ALDH1A1 provides a protective effect from developing alcohol dependence in Chinese- and Korean-American college students. Poster session presented at the International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism, Heidelberg, Germany.
  • Luczak, S. E., Wall, T. L. (2004). Gambling behavior in Chinese, Korean, and White American college students: Ethnic differences in relation to alcohol use disorders. Poster session presented at the American Psychological Association, Honolulu, Hawaii..
  • Luczak, S. E., Wall, T. L. (2004). The relationship of conduct disorder to substance use disorders in Chinese-, Korean-, and White-American college students. Poster session presented at the College on Problems of Drug Dependence, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
  • Luczak, S. E. (2004). Mediators of the low risk for alcohol use disorders in Jewish Americans. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research,. Vol. 28,49A
  • Luczak, S. E. (2004). ALDH2 status and conduct disorder mediate the relationship between ethnicity and alcohol dependence in Chinese-, Korean-, and White-American college students. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. Vol. 28 (48A)
  • Luczak, S. E., Ebberhart, N. C., Carr, L. G., Wall, T. L. (2004). Factors associated with high scores on the Self Rating Effects of Alcohol form among Chinese- and Korean-American college students. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. Vol. 28 (160A)
  • Luczak, S. E., Cook, T. A., Carr, L. G., Wall, T. L. (2003). Associations of ALDH2 and ADH2 genotypes with response to alcohol in Asian Americans. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. Vol. 27 (175A)
  • Luczak, S. E., Avanecy, N., Carr, L. G., Wall, T. L. (2002). Excitement seeking and alcohol use and problems in Chinese, Korean, and White college students. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. Vol. 26 (31A)
  • Luczak, S. E., Ebberhart, N. C., Carr, L. G., Wall, T. L. (2002). Relationship of parental history of alcoholism and ALDH2 gene status with alcohol problems in Chinese- and Korean-American college students. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. Vol. 26 ((Suppl. 5), 74A)
  • Luczak, S. E., Horn, J. L., Raine, A., Venables, P. A. (2001). Reconsidering the inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity categories of ADHD. Poster session presented at the Western Psychological Assocation, Kaanapali, Hawaii..
  • Luczak, S. E., Wall, T. L., Shea, S. H., Byun, S. M., Carr, L. G., Li, T. K. (2001). Alcohol expectancies in Jewish American college students. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. Vol. 25 ((Suppl. 5), 38A.)
  • Luczak, S. E., Horn, J. L., Earleywine, M., Reynolds, M., Raine, A., Mellingen, J., Venables, P., Mednick, S. A. (1999). The construct of alcohol problems: A lack of invariance across religions. Poster session presented at the Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy, Toronto, Canada..
  • Luczak, S. E., Drugan, R. C., Holmes, P. V., Scher, D. M., Ferland, R. J., Oh, H. (1996). On the veracity and variability of recovered traumatic memory. Traumatology. PubMed Web Address
  • Luczak, S. E., Drugan, R. C., Oh, H., Holmes, P. V., Ferland, R. J. (1994). Rapid regulation of peripheral benzodiazepine receptors by stress: Contributions of increased metabolic rate and anxiety. Poster session presented at the Eastern Psychological Association Meeting, Providence, Rhode Island..
  • Luczak, S. E., Drugan, R. C., Oh, H., Ferland, R. J., Holmes, P. V. (1993). Stress-induced alterations in peripheral benzodiazepine receptors in rats: Contributions of gender and activity. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts.. Vol. 14 (1451)
  • Luczak, S. E., Ferland, R. J., Drugan, R. C., Holmes, P. V. (1993). Sex differences in stress-induced alterations in peripheral and central benzodiazepine receptors in rats. Neuropsychopharmacology. Vol. 9, pp. 79S-80S..
Manuscript
  • Luczak, S. E., Duranceaux, N. C., Schuckit, M. A., Eng., M. Y., Carr, L. G., Wall, T. L. (2008). Ethnic differences in level of response to alcohol between Chinese- and Korean-Americans. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs..
  • Luczak, S. E., Wall, T. L., Schoedel, K., Ring, H. Z., Katsuyoshi, D. M., Tyndale, R. F. (2007). Differences in pharmacogenetics of nicotine and alcohol metabolism: Review and recommendations for future research. Nicotine and Tobacco Research.
  • Luczak, S. E., Eng., M. Y., Wall, T. L. (2007). ALDH2, ADH1B, and ADH1C Genotypes in Asians: A literature review. Alcohol Research and Health,.
  • Luczak, S. E. (2007). Environmentally-induced changes in peripheral benzodiazepine receptors are stressor- and tissue-specific. Pharmacology, Biochemistry, & Behavior..
  • Luczak, S. E., Glatt, S. J., Wall, T. L. (2006). Meta-analyses of ALDH2 and ADH1B with alcohol dependence in Asians. Psychological Bulletin..
  • Luczak, S. E., Shea, S. H., Hsueh, A., Chang, J., Carr, L. G., Wall, T. L. (2006). ALDH2*2 is associated with alcohol-induced blackouts in Asian-American college students. Journal of Studies on Alcohol.
  • Luczak, S. E., Carr, L. G., Cook, T. A., Shea, S. H., Wall, T. L. (2005). Genetic associations of alcohol dehydrogenase with alcohol use disorders and endophenotypes in White college students. Journal of Abnormal Psychology..
  • Luczak, S. E., Cook, T. A., Shea, S. H., Ehlers, C. L., Carr, L. G., Wall, T. L. (2005). Associations of ALDH2 and ADH1B genotypes with response to alcohol in Asian Americans. Journal of Studies on Alcohol.
  • Luczak, S. E., Wall, T. L., Avanecy, N., Ebberhart, N. C. (2003). Family history of alcohol dependence in Asian Americans. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs.
  • Luczak, S. E., Carr, L. G., Wall, T. L., Corbett, K., Oh, C. (2003). Religious influences on heavy episodic drinking in Chinese and Korean American college students. Journal of Studies on Alcohol,.
  • Luczak, S. E., Schuckit, M. A., Smith, T. L., Barnow, S., Preuss, U., Radziminski, S. (2003). Correlates of externalizing symptoms in children from families of alcoholics and controls. Alcohol and Alcoholism,.
  • Luczak, S. E. (2002). Binge drinking in Jewish and non-Jewish college students. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.
  • Luczak, S. E., Elvine-Kreis, B. J., Shea, S. H., Carr, L. G., Wall, T. L. (2002). Genetic risk for alcoholism relates to level of response to alcohol in Asian American men and women. Journal of Studies on Alcohol..
  • Luczak, S. E., Wall, T. L., Shea, S. H., Byun, S., Carr, L. G. (2001). Binge drinking in Chinese, Korean, and White college students: Genetic and ethnic group differences. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors.
  • Luczak, S. E., Raine, A., Venables, P. A. (2001). Invariance of alcohol problems across religious groups. Journal of Studies on Alcohol,.
  • Luczak, S. E., Jacobs, W. J., Thomas, K. G., Laurance, H. E., Jacobs, W. J. (1999). Age-related changes in a human cognitive mapping system: Data from a computer-generated environment. CyberPsychology and Behavior.
  • Luczak, S. E., Olin, J. T., Schneider, L. S., Novit, A. (1998). Efficacy of Hydergine for dementia (Cochrane Review). The Cochrane Library, Issue 4/ Oxford.
  • Luczak, S. E., Thomas, K. G., Gatz, M. (1997). A tale of two school districts: Lessons to be learned about the impact of relationship building and ecology on consultation. Journal of Educational and Psychological Consultation.

Guest Lectures in Courses

  • PSYC524: Research Design in Developmental Psychology Dynamic modeling of the Anticipated Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale across men and women., Spring 2007   
  • PSYC680: Seminar in Psychopathology Meta-analysis of ALDH2 in Asians, Fall 2006   
  • PSYC599: Violence: A Clinical Neuroscience Approach ALDH2 status and conduct disorder mediate the relationship between ethnicity and alcohol dependence, Fall 2005   

Honors and Awards

  • NIH/NSF Career Development Award, Childhood Precursors to Alcohol Involvement. Mentored Career Development Award (K08 AA14265) , 8/15/2004-7/31/2009  
  • Travel Awards, International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism (2 awards), 9/1/2004-9/30/2006  
  • Junior Investigator Awards, Research Society on Alcoholism (4 awards), 6/1/2001-6/30/2004  
  • Guze Symposium Travel Award, Missouri Alcoholism Research Center, Spring 2004   
  • Junior Investigator Travel Award, College on Problems of Drug Dependence, Spring 2004   
  • Scaife Medical Scholarship in Addictions Studies, Spring 2002   
  • Travel Award, National Institute of Drug Abuse, Fall 2001   
  • Research Recognition Award Finalist, Research Society on Alcoholism, Spring 2001   
  • Phi Kappa Psi, Spring 2000   

Service to the Profession

Editorships and Editorial Boards
  • Editorial board member, Alcohol: An International Biomedical Journal, 6/1/2007-6/30/2010  
Professional Memberships
  • International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism, 1/1/2002-  
  • Research Society on Alcoholism, 1/1/2001-  
  • American Psychological Association (Divisions 28 & 50), 10/1/1995-  
Reviewer for Publication
  • Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, Ad-hoc reviewer, 1/1/2007-  
  • American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics , Ad-hoc reviewer, 1/1/2006-  
  • Alcohol-An International Biomedical Journal, Ad-hoc reviewer, 1/1/2005-  
  • Journal of Studies on Alcohol (and Drugs), Ad-hoc reviewer, 1/1/2001-  
  • Archives of General Psychiatry, Ad-hoc reviewer, Spring 2007   
  • Journal of the American Medical Association, Ad-hoc reviewer, Spring 2007   
  • Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry, Ad-hoc reviewer, Spring 2007   
  • Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, Ad-hoc reviewer, 1/1/2001-5/1/2006  
  • Psychiatry Research, Ad-hoc reviewer, Fall 2005   
  • Drug and Alcohol Dependence, Ad-hoc reviewer, 2003-2004   
  • The Pharmacokinetics Journal, Ad-hoc reviewer, Spring 2004   
  • Alcohol and Alcoholism, Ad-hoc reviewer, Spring 2003   
  • Journal of Abnormal Psychology, Ad-hoc reviewer, 2001-2002   
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