Below is a list of Rutgers research projects that are actively seeking participants. Click on the study titles below to learn more about how you can be a part of the research. Many research opportunities offer compensation for participation.

Research Community Partnership

The Research Community Partnership (RCP), overseen by the Rutgers Addiction Research Center, is a central enrollment hub for community members to participate in Rutgers research projects, and for researchers to recruit for their studies. Anyone who wants to be a part of research can enroll in the RCP! Learn more and enroll online at ​addictionresearch.rutgers.edu.

If you are a researcher interested in hosting your project on this page, please email rarc@bhi.rutgers.edu with your project details.

Struggling with anxiety or stress? Drinking regularly and want to make a change? Join the PTD study!
What to Expect:
• Complete short smartphone surveys (up to 14 weeks)
• Attend 2 assessment sessions ($30 each)
• Receive 11 no-cost Zoom (or in-person) counseling sessions
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Click the link to take our short screening survey: https://redcap.link/personalizingtreatmentdelivery
We hope to meet you soon!
Contact: ptd.study@rwjms.rutgers.edu

Research Study on Medical Marijuana

Eligibility: You may qualify if you are ages 21 to 65, are a medical cannabis patient, have a valid driver’s license, and have an Android phone

Project description: Volunteers needed for confidential research study on medical marijuana and driving.

Participation involves:

  • 1st study visit with interview and questionnaires
  • 14 days of daily phone surveys, daily collection of driving data using smartphone app, and optional collection of heart rate data using wristband
  • Follow-up visit with interview and questionnaires

Earn up to $298 for completing all study tasks
Help us understand how cannabis might affect driving in daily life

Contact: Tammy Chung, PhD
for more information and to do the online screener to find out if you’re eligible, go to: https://cpbh.rutgers.edu/mmd-research-study/

Rutgers University, New Brunswick, Protocol Number: 2022000859, version 1, 5-8-24
Pro2022000859

Are you interested in knowing your risk for addiction – including problems with alcohol, cannabis, nicotine, other drugs, gambling, gaming, social media, and more?

The Rutgers Addiction Research Center, directed by Principal Investigator, Dr. Danielle Dick, PhD, is currently running a research study to evaluate a newly developed online platform that provides individuals with personalized risk profiles that combine genetic, behavioral, and environmental information.

Participants will receive their personalized risk profile for FREE as well as up to $40 in compensation for completing research surveys to help the study team evaluate the program.

Who can participate?:

  • Ages 18-25
  • Residing in the United States
  • Proficient in English (we’re sorry the program hasn’t been translated into other languages just yet!)

If you are interested in being contacted by the study team about participating in this study, please provide your email HERE.

If you have questions, please reach out to our study team at dnadiscoverystudy@rutgers.edu.

Eligibility: Individuals 18 years and older with opioid use disorder in the last 12 months and any criminal justice involvement in the last 6 months.

Project Description: This is a multi-site randomized clinical trial evaluating extended-release buprenorphine vs. extended-release naltrexone vs. standard of care medications for opioid use disorder in individuals leaving incarceration or with a recent history of criminal justice involvement.

Project Contact: Amesika Nyaku, amesika.nyaku@rutgers.edu

Eligibility: Individuals 18 years and older who use drugs and are willing to be interviewed.

Project Description: This is a qualitative study of the perspectives of people who use drugs to build a foundation for an overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND) program that directly addresses the needs of people who are most affected by opioid overdose, people who use drugs.

Project Contact: Amesika Nyaku, amesika.nyaku@rutgers.edu

Eligibility: We’re looking for adults 18 years and older with or without a history of opioid dependence (e.g. heroin, fentanyl, oxycontin).

Project Description: The goal of this study is to examine the effectiveness of non-invasive brain stimulation treatment. Participants will be asked to complete two computerized tasks while we record brainwaves (EEG) and apply transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Participants will also be asked to complete questionnaires about themselves, and their drug use history.

Project Contact: If you are interested in our study and want to learn more, please contact us at: cognitivestudy@newark.rutgers.edu

Eligibility: We’re actively recruiting social drinkers.

Project Description: This is an online study exploring the effects of a hangover on bodily sensations. You can earn $75 for your participation.

Project Contact: Please reach out to Nandita: 732-743-5414. Study posted by Mateo Leganes-Fonteneau (mateo.leganes@rutgers.edu).

Eligibility: We are looking for adults age 18 and older

Project Description: We are recruiting for a number of paid research studies related to decision neuroscience and computational psychiatry. Our studies involve at least one visit to Rutgers University. You will be compensated for your time.

Project Contact: If you want to learn more, please visit www.konovalab.com/get-involved.

Eligibility: Actively recruiting individuals between the ages of 18-35 years

Project Description: The aim of this project is to examine whether a brief behavioral intervention of slow breathing paced at a resonance frequency of the cardiovascular system can enhance attention and cognitive control in young adults. Results from this study may provide evidence of novel brain-body prevention and intervention targets to improve physical health.

Project Contact: To inquire about participating, email Dr. Brandon Alderman, alderman@rutgers.edu.

Eligibility: Females between the ages of 18-40 who consume alcohol regularly (4 days per week; 7 drinks per week)

Project Description: This project examines the role of fluctuations in progesterone and estradiol (ovarian hormones) as biological mechanisms of affective dysfunction that maintain the rewarding effects of alcohol in females with heavy drinking. This study involves a within-subjects, observational design with prospective daily assessment over the course of the menstrual cycle.

Project Contact: Dr. Samantha Farris, samantha.farris@rutgers.edu

Eligibility: Click here: https://rutgers.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0fyYjmEEVQiOZbE to learn more about this study and see if you’re eligible to participate.

Project Description: There is an emerging body of literature highlighting the impact of gun violence on the general population. However, there is a dearth of research regarding how gun violence is enacted among SGM, especially in New Jersey, despite evidence that SGM are more likely to experience IPV than their heterosexual and cisgender counterparts. The goal of this mixed-methods study is to collect pilot data on the role of guns in occurrences of interpersonal violence (IPV) among sexual and gender minorities (SGM) in order to address current gaps in the literature. The specific aims of this study are to: 1) describe the intersection of gun access, possession, and violence with interpersonal partner violence among SGM in NJ using semi-structured interviews; 2) assess the extent to which gun access, possession, and/or violence victimization/perpetration is explained by (a) sociodemographic factors and (b) history of IPV victimization and/or perpetration among SGM in NJ; and 3) understand the role of mental health, substance use, and psychosocial factors in relation to gun access, possession, and/or violence victimization/perpetration among SGM in NJ.

Project Contact: Kristen Krause, kristen.krause@rutgers.edu