Ph.D., University of Minnesota, Family Social Science, 2012
M.A., University of Minnesota, Family Social Science, 2009
B.A., University of Minnesota, Psychology, 2006

• Adolescent and young adult development
• Alcohol and substance use
• Externalizing and internalizing behaviors and disorders
• Gene-environment interplay
• Individual difference-social context interplay
• Parenting, peer, sibling, romantic relationships
• Personality, individual differences, and behavior genetics
• Risk, protective, and resilience factors

HDFS 2010     LIFESPAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IN FAMILY CONTEXT
HDFS 3030     ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT IN THE FAMILY
HDFS 3980     UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH AND STUDY
HDFS 4980     ADVANCED UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY STUDIES
HFDS 7010     CHILD AND ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT IN CONTEXT
HDFS 7900     DIRECTED STUDIES
HDFS 7990     RESEARCH AND THESIS
HDFS 8990     RESEARCH AND DISSERTATION

2020   Awarded the SGA Faculty Member of the Year for the College of Human Sciences, Auburn University
2018   Nominated for SGA Outstanding Faculty Member from the College of Human Sciences
2017   Accepted to participate in the competitive Early Career Reward program for the
      Center of Scientific Review (NIH)
2016   Faculty Excellence Award, Department of Human Development and Family Studies
2016   Outstanding Professional Paper/Publications Award by the Families and Health Section of the NCFR
2015   Outstanding New Professional Paper Award by the Families and Health Section of the NCFR

College Experiences Leading to Chronic Alcohol Use Disorder and Depression
Auburn University Intramural Grants Program
Principal Investigator: Diana R. Samek

The purpose this study is to follow-up on the 209 original first and second year AU students (data collected in the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 academic years) when they are estimated to be in first year post-graduation (2019-2020 academic year). The proposed study is comprehensive in measurement and covers gamut of risk and protective factors for AUD and depression, including assessments of personality, stress, and social-relational context, including, parent support, antisocial peer affiliation, and romantic relationship experiences. Outcomes of the proposed study include identification of what risk factors in the first and second year of college that predict chronic and comorbid AUD and depression one-year post-college.

Persistence of Alcohol Use Disorders: Person and Environment Effects
National Institutes on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Principal Investigator: Diana R. Samek

The purpose of this study was to identify complex processes of individual-social context interplay as it relates to substance use disorder onset and course from adolescence through late young adulthood. The six-wave Minnesota Twin Family Study (N = 2,769) is used to address this, with comprehensive assessments of personality, substance use, and social context at each time point. More information about the MTFS and the Minnesota Center for Twin and Family Research can be found here.

*Nichols, L.R., Samek, D.R., *McConnell, L. (2019). Key personality traits and alcohol use disorder symptoms in first and second year college students: Detangling antecedent from consequence. Addictive Behaviors, 89, 178-187. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2018.10.004

Samek, D.R., Hicks, B.M., Iacono, W.G., & McGue, M. (2019). Personality, romantic relationships, and alcohol use disorder symptoms in adolescence and young adulthood: An evaluation of personality x social context interplay. Development and Psychopathology, online first publication, 1-16. doi: 10.1017/S0954579419001111

*Goodman, R.J., Samek, D.R., Wilson, S., Iacono, W.G., & McGue, M. (2019). Features of interpersonal relationship context and major depressive disorder symptoms: Exploring antecedent vs. consequence using a developmental cascade approach. Development and Psychopathology, 31, 1451-1465. doi: 10.1017/S0954579418001037

Samek, D.R., Hicks, B., Durbin, E. Hinnant, J.B., McGue, M., & Iacono, W.G. (2018). Co-development between key personality traits and alcohol use disorder from adolescence through young adulthood. Journal of Personality, 86, 261-282. doi: 10.1111/jopy.12311

Samek, D.R., *Goodman, R.J., *Riley, L., Iacono, W.G., & McGue, M (2018). The developmental unfolding of sibling influences on alcohol use over time. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 47, 349-368. doi: 10.1007/s10964-017-0703-7

Samek, D.R., Hicks, B., Keyes, M.A., McGue, M., & Iacono, W.G. (2017). Antisocial peer affiliation and externalizing disorders: Evidence for gene x environment x development interaction. Development and Psychopathology, 29, 155-172. doi: 10.1017/S0954579416000109

Samek, D.R., *Goodman, R., Erath, S. McGue, M., & Iacono, W.G. (2016). Antisocial peer affiliation and externalizing disorders in the transition from adolescent to young adulthood: Selection versus socialization effects. Developmental Psychology, 52, 813-823. doi: 10.1037/dev0000109

Samek, D.R., Rueter, M.A., Keyes, M.A., McGue, M., & Iacono, W.G. (2015). Parent involvement, sibling companionship, and adolescent substance use: A longitudinal, genetically-informed design. Journal of Family Psychology, 29, 614-623. doi: 10.1037/fam0000097

*indicates graduate student