Robert Leeman, Ph.D.

• Associate Professor, Department of Health Education & Behavior, University of Florida

• Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine

Biography:

Robert F. Leeman, Ph.D. joined the faculty in the Department of Health Education and Behavior at the University of Florida in 2015. His primary research interest is in relationships between various difficulties with self-control and addictive behaviors, particularly alcohol. He has particular interests in impaired control over alcohol use (i.e., difficulty adhering to limits on use), disinhibition/impulsivity and cognitive biases. Using human laboratory, survey and randomized controlled trial methods, Dr. Leeman tests novel interventions and attempts to learn more about risk factors for problem substance use, particularly in adolescent and young adult populations. Dr. Leeman recently extended his research on new interventions for young adults to include reduction of risky sexual behavior and alcohol use, along with uptake and adherence to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among MSM. He recently received a UH2 award from NIH/NIAAA to support this research.

Before coming to UF, Dr. Leeman was at the Yale School of Medicine for a decade, first as a post-doctoral fellow and then as a faculty member. Concurrent with his faculty appointment at Yale, he joined the VA MIRECC as a Research Scientist in 2012. He retains an adjunct faculty appointment at Yale. Dr. Leeman received a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania in 2005 and a B.A. in Psychology and Screen Studies from Clark University in 1998.

Dr. Leeman has been awarded multiple NIH grants including an F31, K01, R03 and an R21, along with a clinical research loan repayment award from NIH/NIAAA and a grant from the ABMRF/the Foundation for Alcohol Research. He was a 2006 recipient of an Enoch Gordis Research Recognition Award from the Research Society on Alcoholism, in addition to several other travel and young investigator awards.