Bunting Research Lab — Amanda Bunting

The goal of the Bunting Research Lab is to conduct meaningful research to understand the experiences of and improve outcomes for individuals engaged in high-risk polysubstance use. Learn more about our current projects.

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Bunting Lab Team

brittany griffin

Brittany holds a BA in Psychology from Marist University and is currently enrolled in the MPH program at the NYU School of Global Public Health. Brittany's research focuses on polysubstance use and the intersection of mental health and substance use treatment. Her work is grounded in community-based approaches, emphasizing harm reduction strategies to improve public health outcomes. Brittany works closely with local New York City communities to expand access to naloxone, support overdose prevention efforts, and promote evidence-based interventions that address the complex needs of individuals who use substances. Brittany oversees all research projects and the overdose prevention program in her role as Senior Research Coordinator.

Michaela Barratt

Michaela holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Connecticut and is currently enrolled in the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program at the NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. Her research focuses on polysubstance use and mental health treatment, with particular attention to access to substance use and mental health care services. Michaela is passionate about advancing research that examines and seeks to reduce health and environmental disparities, as well as community-based research that meaningfully incorporates the voices of community members. She works closely with the community to expand naloxone access and provide overdose prevention education. Michaela works on several lab projects and directly with participants in her role as lab Research Data Associate.

Bunting Lab Students

Mehrdad Kherzi

Mehrdad Khezri is a PhD candidate in Epidemiology at New York University School of Global Public Health. His research focuses on substance use epidemiology, HIV and HCV prevention, and overdose risk. His dissertation examines patterns of high-risk polysubstance use in the fentanyl era and their associations with overdose and treatment discontinuation among people who use drugs. He is also affiliated with the WHO Collaborating Center for HIV Surveillance (HIVHUB) in the Middle East and North Africa, where he contributes to the design and implementation of national bio-behavioral surveillance studies in Iran among people who inject drugs, men who have sex with men, and incarcerated populations.