He is experimental health psychologist with a specialization in quantitative methods. He received his B.A. in psychology from the University of Akron in 2007, and received his M.A. from Kent State University in 2011.

 His research focuses on the relationship between stress and health, with an emphasis on identifying individual- and environmental factors contributing to the co-occurrence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and addiction to various substances including alcohol, opioids, and tobacco.