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)
*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: 09/23/24
Degree(s)
- A.A. Psychology/Sociology - Arizona Western College (2019)
- B.A. Psychology, University of Arizona (2021)
- B.S. Care, Health, & Society - University of Arizona (2021)