Alison Looby, Ph.D.

Professor                       

College student substance use

Clinical Psychology                            

*Dr. Looby is accepting graduate students for Fall 2025

Clinical Internship: Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pittsburgh PA (2010-2011)
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, University at Albany (2011)
M.A. in Psychology, University at Albany (2007)
B.A. in Psychology, University of California, San Diego (2002)

alooby@uwyo.edu - Bio Sciences Bldg 125

Academic Positions:

2024-present Professor of Psychology, University of Wyoming
2020-2024  Associate Professor of Psychology, University of Wyoming
2016-2020  Assistant Professor of Psychology, University of Wyoming
2011-2016     Assistant Professor of Psychology, University of North Dakota

Research Interests:

My research interests lie broadly in the area of substance use (e.g., prescription stimulants, alcohol, cannabis), particularly among college students. I am specifically interested in 1) identifying factors that are implicated in one's decision to initiate and maintain substance use, and 2) using this information to develop substance use prevention and treatment efforts for college students. Within this framework, I am interested in examining how drug-related beliefs and expectations impact one's drug use and associated behavior (e.g., mood, cognitive performance). Furthermore, I aim to understand if substance use can be prevented or decreased by modifying these cognitions. Please see the Addictive Behaviors Lab page for more information.

Teaching:

PSYC 2210  Drugs & Behavior
PSYC 2340  Psychopathology
PSYC 5510  Adult Psychopathology

Representative Publications:

Looby, A., Piccorelli, A. V., Zimmerman, L., Falco, C., Livingston, N. R., Akin, C., Benton, S., & Juliano, L. M. (2024). Expectancy for Adderall influences subjective mood and drug effects regardless of concurrent caffeine ingestion: A randomized controlled trial. Psychopharmacology, 241, 109-118. 

Looby, A., Prince, M. A., Livingston, N. R., Berry, K. A., & Harm Reduction Research Team. (2023). An examination of the effects of ADHD symptoms and sex on the relation between cannabis protective behavioral strategies and cannabis consequences. Addictive Behaviors, 144, 107718.

Holt, L., Looby, A., Schepis, T. S., & Stimulant Norms and Prevalence (SNAP) Study Team. (2023). Sources for prescription stimulant misuse: A person-centered approach to understanding links to substance use and psychiatric impairment. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 31, 498-506. 

Looby, A., Prince, M. A., Vasko, J. M., Zimmerman, L., Flory, K., Lefler, E. K., Canu, W., & Hartung, C. M. (2021). Relations among protective behaviors strategies, biological sex, and ADHD on alcohol use and alcohol-related problems: Who benefits most, and from what type of strategy? Addictive Behaviors, 119, 106924.

Looby, A., Prince, M. A., Villarosa-Hurlocker, M. C., Conner, B. T., Schepis, T. S., Bravo, A. J., & Stimulant Norms and Prevalence (SNAP) Study Team. (2021). Young adult use, dual use, and simultaneous use of alcohol and marijuana: An examination of differences across use status on marijuana use context, rates, and consequences. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 35, 682-690.

Looby, A., Zimmerman, L., & Livingston, N. R. (2022). Expectation for stimulant type modifies caffeine’s effects on mood and cognition among college students. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 30, 525-535.

Looby, A., De Young, K. P., & Earleywine, M. (2013). Challenging expectancies to prevent nonmedical prescription stimulant use: A randomized, controlled trial. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 132, 362-368.

Looby, A., & Earleywine, M. (2011). Expectation to receive methlphenidate enhances subjective arousal but not cognitive performance. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 19, 433-444.