Colter Uscola
Research Area
Education
B.A., Sociology, West Virginia University
About
I am a first year PhD student in the Department of Sociology at UBC-Vancouver. I work under the supervision of Dr. Seth Abrutyn.
My research interests revolve around mental health and identity transformations across the life-course. Driven by a desire to counter the experiences that contribute to the onset of pathological alcohol/substance use, my intellectual passions fall within four broad areas: a) social psychology; b) mental health and health; c) sociological theory; and d) culture and social networks. Specifically, I seek to reveal how and why status, identity, and emotions interact within cultures and along social networks to produce mental health outcomes that precipitate substance/alcohol misuse.
I currently employ qualitative methods (e.g. semi-structured interviews and focus groups) aimed at outlining the etiology of alcohol use disorders by focusing on emotion, identity, and status dynamics. In the coming year, I will continue to hone both my qualitative and quantitative techniques, focused on developing mixed-methods studies, as I move toward the PhD.
Research
Research Assistant, Dr. Lisa Dilks, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, West Virginia University (2019-20)
Research Assistant, Dr. Melissa Patchan, Department of Learning Sciences and Human Development, West Virginia University (2018-19)
Awards
- ($11,992) Faculty of Arts Graduate Award – (2021-22)
- ($2,133) International Tuition Award – (2021)
- ($15,750) Faculty of Arts Graduate Award – (2020-21)
- ($3,200) International Tuition Award – (2020)
- ($500) Undergraduate Research Travel Grant – (2019)
- ($3,600) Summer Undergraduate Research Experience Award – (2019)
Teaching Assistant:
University of British Columbia:
- FMST210: Family and Human Development (Fall 2020)
- SOCI302: Ethnic and Racial Inequality (Spring 2021)
- SOCI303: Sociology of Migration (Summer 2021)
- FMST210: Family and Human Development (Summer 2021)
- SOCI371: Classical Traditions in Theory (Fall 2021)
West Virginia University
- SOCI101: Introduction to Sociology (Fall 2019)