Dr. Sarah Dermody

Dr. Sarah Dermody earned her BA (with distinction) from the University of Virginia, and MS and PhD from University of Pittsburgh, before completing a clinical internship and postdoctoral training at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto.  She is currently Assistant Professor of Psychology at Oregon State University.

Dr. Dermody's research broadly focuses on evaluating risk factors and treatment for drug use and addiction in adolescents and adults. More specifically, her research aims to (1) characterize risk of alcohol and cigarette use and dependence across the lifespan; (2) optimize addiction interventions to address co-occurring substance use; and (3) identify differences in substance use patterns and harms based on one’s gender and sexual identities.

Dr. Dermody has published 37 peer-reviewed research articles in various top-tier journals that include Health Psychology, Addiction, Drug and Alcohol Dependence, and New England Journal of Medicine. She is the co-Investigator on two NIH-funded projects (NIAAA, NIDA) evaluating novel pharmacological interventions for addiction. Dr. Dermody also currently serves as consulting editor for the journal Psychology of Addictive Behaviors.

 “I cannot wait to get started at Ryerson! The Psychology Department and broader Ryerson community truly felt like a very natural fit for me professionally and personally. I am eager to start this new chapter, and begin new collaborations and friendships.”