Daniel Hernandez

I am a graduate student pursuing a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, specializing in Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine at the University of Arizona. I conduct my research in Dr. John Ruiz's Social Risk and Resilience Factors (SuRRF) Laboratory, where I focus on understanding the biopsychosocial factors that influence the development of adverse health outcomes, particularly among Hispanics/Latinos. My clinical training involves conducting assessments for both research and applied clinical purposes. As co-lead of the Spanish Psychology Club, I mentor students in scientific literacy and public speaking skills in Spanish.

Research Interests:

• Health Psychology: Investigating the biopsychosocial stress pathways (e.g., cortisol, inflammation) that contribute to the development of non-communicable diseases, with a focus on underserved populations.
• Social Determinants of Health: Exploring how factors such as poverty, education, and healthcare access create health disparities and elevate disease risk through stress-related mechanisms.
• Hispanic Health: Examining the protective roles of social support and cultural factors in mitigating stress and promoting resilience among Hispanics/Latinos, with applications to broader underserved groups.

Selected Publications:

• Hernandez, D. A., Griffith, C. X., Deffner, A. M., Nkulu, H., Hovhannisyan, M., Ruiz, J. M., Andrews- Hanna, J.R., & Grilli, M. D. (2024). Retrieving autobiographical memories in autobiographical contexts: are age-related differences in narrated episodic specificity present outside of the laboratory? Psychological research, 10.1007/s00426-024-01938-9. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00426-024-01938-9

Selected Presentations:

• Hernandez, D.A., Ríos, G.A., Cockburn, A.T., O’Neill, R.M., Morales Lozada, F., Marrero, D., Kraft, V.M., Flores, M.A., & Ruiz, J.M. (2024) The Psychological Effects of cognitive stress Appraisals and Coping with everyday stress Exposure “PEACE” During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Implications for Racial/Ethnic Infectious Disease Risk Differences, Society for Personality and Social Psychology Annual Health Preconference, San Diego, CA
• Hernandez, D.A. Griffith, C.X., Deffner, A.M., Hovhannisyan, M., Nkulu, H., Ruiz, J.M., Andrews-Hanna, J.R., & Grilli, M.D. (2024) Retrieving autobiographical memories in autobiographical contexts: Are age-related differences in narrated episodic specificity present outside of the laboratory, Society for Personality and Social Psychology Annual Conference, San Diego, CA

Courses Taught:

• PSY 300 - Cognitive Neuroscience (2023)
• PSY 478 - Sleep & Sleep Disorders (2024)

TA for:

• PSY 386 - Caring for Older Adults & Self-care for the Caregiver (2025)
• PSY 482 - Mental Health & Mental Wellness in Aging (2025)

*Year listed indicates when this individual last taught the specified course.

Awards and Recognitions:

• Kathryn A. Governal Perseverance Award Recipient (2021)
• Peter W. Likins Graduate Fellowship Award (2024)

Updated: 07/14/25