Robert F. Leeman, PhD
Professor and Department Chair
Department of Health Sciences, Faculty
Office: 316L RB
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 617-373-6501
Education
Ph.D. Psychology, University of Pennsylvania – 2005
M.A. Psychology, University of Pennsylvania – 2002
B.A. Psychology and Screen Studies, Clark University — 1998
Research interests
Addictive Behaviors, HIV, Adolescence/Young Adulthood, Etiology, Interventions, mHealth
Overview
Dr. Leeman is an experimental psychologist with a public health focus. His primary research interests are addictive behaviors (particularly alcohol), sexual health behavior and difficulties with self-control (e.g., impulsivity). Using human laboratory, survey and randomized controlled trial methods, Dr. Leeman tests novel interventions for substance misuse and HIV prevention and attempts to learn more about risk factors for these behaviors, particularly in adolescent and young adult populations. In his recent research, these novel interventions have been primarily technology-based including web-based interventions, mobile health (mHealth) devices and smartphone applications.
Dr. Leeman has over 100 peer-reviewed publications and chapters. He has been funded from NIH continuously since 2010, serving as principal investigator or equivalent on nine NIH grants. He has leadership roles in several national and international professional societies including a four-year term on the American Psychological Association Board of Convention Affairs, a four-year term on the Board of Directors and Chair of the Mentoring Subcommittee (Education Committee) for the Research Society on Alcoholism, and Inaugural Co-Chair of the International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism Communications Committee. He was named a Fellow of the American Psychological Association in 2021.
Affiliations
Courtesy Faculty, Department of Health Education & Behavior, College of Health & Human Performance, University of Florida
Selected Honors and Awards
2017 Presidential Citation for Distinguished Service, American Psychological Association. Society of Addiction Psychology (Division 50)
2017 Educator of the Year, Department of Health Education & Behavior, University of Florida
2019 Inaugural Mary F. Lane Endowed Professor, Department of Health Education & Behavior, College of Health & Human Performance, University of Florida
2019 Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety (SCCAHS) Distinguished Lecturer Award
2021 Fellow, American Psychological Association, Division 28 (Psychopharmacology and Substance Abuse)
Selected Publications
Leeman, R. F., Berey, B. L., Frohe, T., Rowland, B. H. P., Martens, M. P., Fucito, L. M., Stellefson, M., Nixon, S. J., & O’Malley, S. S. (in press). A combined laboratory and field test of a smartphone breath alcohol device and blood alcohol content estimator to facilitate moderate drinking among young adults. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors. doi: 10.1037/adb0000780
Frohe, T., Beseler, C. L., Mendoza, A., Cottler, L B., & Leeman, R. F. (2019). Perceived health, medical and psychiatric conditions in individual and dual-use of marijuana and nonprescription opioids. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 87, 859-871.
Berey, B. L., Leeman, R. F., Chavarria, J., & King, A. C. (2019). Relationships between generalized impulsivity and subjective stimulant and sedative responses following alcohol administration. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 33, 616-625.
Leeman, R. F., DeMartini, K. S., Gueorguieva, R., Nogueira, C., Corbin, W. R., Neighbors, C., & O’Malley, S. S. (2016). Randomized controlled trial of a very brief, multicomponent web-based alcohol intervention for undergraduates with a focus on protective behavioral strategies. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 84, 1008-1015.
Leeman, R. F., Toll, B. A., Taylor, L. A., & Volpicelli, J. R. (2009). Alcohol-induced disinhibition expectancies and impaired control as prospective predictors of problem drinking in undergraduates. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 23, 553-563
Selected Public Service
2023 Incoming Chair, American Psychological Association Board of Convention Affairs
2022 Steering Committee Co-Chair, Greater Gainesville Chapter of Equality Florida
2021-present Field Editor, Journal of Studies on Alcohol & Drugs
2015-present Reviewer for several NIH grant panels including NIAAA AA-2; ZRG1 F16-L review panel, Fellowships: Risk, Prevention and Health Behavior; Interventions to Addiction Risks and Mechanisms (ARM); Prevent and Treat Addictions (IPTA) and a P60 reverse site visit
2014-2017, 2022-present Section editor for alcohol: Current Addiction Reports