Team Members

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 Dr. Ju Nyeong Park (she/her) is an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology (Research) at Brown University and Research Project Leader at the Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) on Opioids and Overdose of Rhode Island Hospital. She founded the Harm Reduction Innovation Lab in 2021 to identify evidence-based solutions to overdose in partnership with local organizations and state and federal agencies. Dr. Park earned her Ph.D. and M.H.S. in Epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University and B.Sc. from the University of Sydney. She enjoys traveling, food and live music. Dr. Park can be reached directly at ju_park@brown.edu or on 

Bluesky (@drjupark.bsky.social)

Rehan Aslam was born and raised in Los Angeles and is driven by the impact the opioid epidemic has had on his own community. Rehan worked in substance use treatment for several years, prior to earning his BA from UCLA, MPH from Brown University, and turning his focus toward research. When he’s not doing research, Rehan enjoys spending time out and about in Providence with his dog, Bingo.

Dr. Greg Rosen (he/him) is an Assistant Professor (Research) in the Division of General Internal Medicine at Rhode Island Hospital and Brown University Warren Alpert Medical School. Working at the intersection of HIV and substance use, Greg uses mixed methods and implementation science frameworks to optimize delivery of health services to marginalized populations worldwide, with a focus on people who sell sex and/or use drugs in sub-Saharan Africa and the United States.

Gabby Riendeau is a graduate student at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) and is studying Public Health for her Master's. With the belief that health is a human right, Gabby is passionate about community-based participatory research, health education, and health literacy. She is currently working on a project relating to overdose detection technologies and the intertwined impact of sleep and opioid use disorder. 

Ryan Koch (he/him) is a graduate student at Johnson & Wales graduate school for clinical mental health counseling and earned a ​Bachelor’s from ​Binghamton University in Psychology and is pursuing a Masters in Social Work at Johnson & Wales University. He is interested in ​substance use and its intersection with mood disorders.  He is currently working on a project relating to overdose detection technologies and the intertwined impact of sleep and opioid use disorder.  Ultimately, Ryan aims to ​earn a PhD in Clinical Psychology.  

  Johnny Bird (he/him) is a medical student at Brown University. He is passionate about eliminating barriers to life-saving harm reduction strategies. His research is focused on implementation of drug checking programs in countries throughout the Americas and improving access to harm reduction services for communities from Latin America.

Autumn Froias is a PhD student at Simmons University School of Social Work. Autumn's scholarly interests include treating and reducing the harms associated with substance use disorders. She has worked on a number of research studies funded by the National Institutes of Health investigating the impact of new technologies on behavioral health screening and treatment. Autumn's work has been published in Substance Abuse, Substance Use and Misuse, and Contemporary Clinical Trials. Autumn earned an MSW and BA in Psychology from Boston University and has been practicing as a licensed independent clinical social worker for nearly 10 years. She currently works as a behavioral health clinician at SSTAR's Opioid Triage Center located in Fall River, Massachusetts.

Menaka Naidu is a graduate student at Brown University’s School of Public Health, pursuing her MPH with a focus on health technology. She holds a B.A. in Health and Human Biology from Brown University. At HRIL, Menaka is collaborating with Dr. Park and the Rhode Island Department of Health on research related to drug checking technologies. In 2026 she will be starting medical school at Mount Sinai, New York.

Kenneth Kalu is an undergraduate student at Brown University studying public health. He is interested in harm reduction techniques mitigating harms associated with new substance use developments, focusing especially on stimulant use disorders. Additionally, he is passionate about building harm reduction practices that operate within a framework prioritizing individual dignity and economic justice. He is currently working on a project relating to overdose detection technologies and a project analyzing federal drug control strategies.

  Christina Vasquez (she/her) is a medical student at the Warren Alpert Medical School and earned a B.Sc. with honors from Brown University. She is interested in research, advocacy, and public policy that will reduce health disparities. Christina was assisting with efforts to evaluate overdose detection technologies in Rhode Island and understanding the intertwined impact of sleep and opioid use disorder. 

Masoumah Haidari (She/her) is a junior in the UG/MPH program at Brown University where she is pursuing her passion for Public Health with a focus on Global Health. She is working as a research intern at HRIL. Her research interests include harm reduction, mental health improvement, and developing sustainable public health interventions that are culturally sensitive and globally applicable.

 Amanda Lee Molina (she/her) is a rising senior at Brown University concentrating in Health and Human Biology. She is interested in studying the social determinants of health and equitable health care. She is also passionate about compassionate patient care, which she pursues as an EMT for Brown Emergency Medical Services. She is entering medical school at Brown University in 2026.

  Kate Dowling (she/her) completed her MPH at Brown University's School of Public Health and earned a B.A. in Public Health from Brown University. She is interested in health policy and substance use, and is studying Health Services for her MPH. At HRIL, Kate worked with Dr. Park on a thesis using data from the DISCS study media analysis to look at stakeholder opinions on safe consumption sites. 

Alison Lu (she/her) completed her Bachelor of Science in Public Health at Brown University, as well as a certificate in Engaged Scholarship. She then completed her MPH at King's College London. Her research interests are in substance use disorders, including alcohol addiction and opioid overdose, as well as harm reduction interventions to help those afflicted with addiction. Alison Lu received Brown University's Yat K. Tow Prize for in 2023 for her outstanding commitment to serving the community. She will be entering medical school in 2026.

Megan Aho (she/her) completed her Bachelor of Science in Public Health at Brown University. Her research interests include substance use disorders, harm reduction, and destigmatizing the culture around addiction. She is currently completing her MPH with a certificate in Public Health Research Methods at Columbia University.

Claire Kim (she/her) is a graduate of Brown University with a concentration in Neuroscience. As an intern at HRIL, she assisted in research and data analysis under the guidance of her peers and mentors. She hopes to extend her scope of research into the field of public health to become a better advocate for the well-being of community. She will be entering medical school at Stanford University in 2026.