About me

I’m Carlos, a Ph.D. student and Lead Graduate Researcher at Texas Tech University, and Manager of Research Support at the University of Miami’s Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. Across these roles, I work to make research more responsive to the people and communities it serves.

Where my questions began

I was born in Bayamo, Cuba, and raised in Hialeah, Florida. Growing up in a predominantly Hispanic/Latine community shaped how I understand family, identity, and care. As a queer, biracial Cuban, I have also thought a great deal about belonging: whose experiences are recognized, who feels welcome, and whose needs are reflected in research. Experiences with cancer in my own family made questions about access to culturally responsive care especially personal.

At Johns Hopkins University, I studied Psychology, Romance Languages, and Spanish, with a minor in the Study of Women, Gender, and Sexuality. My undergraduate research explored how racial and sexual identities relate to students’ sense of belonging. That project helped turn questions from my own life into a research path focused on the connections between identity, social context, and well-being.

Working across two institutions

At Texas Tech, I am pursuing my Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Sciences and work with Dr. Ryan L. Brown in the Stress, Aging, and Relationships (STAR) Lab and Dr. Wonjung Oh in the Child, Adolescent, Resilience, and Ecology (CARE) Lab. As Lead Graduate Researcher, I help develop study protocols, build data systems, train research staff, and coordinate pilot studies, including research that captures people’s experiences as they go about their daily lives.

Alongside my doctoral work, I continue to manage research at Sylvester, working with Dr. Frank J. Penedo and Dr. Sara E. Fleszar-Pavlović on NIH-funded studies in psychosocial oncology and cancer survivorship. My experience includes Avanzando Caminos, which examines Hispanic/Latine cancer survivorship, and My Well-Being Guide, a digital intervention to support people managing depressive symptoms during cancer care. Working directly with participants and developing resources in English and Spanish have kept the practical realities of care central to my research.

Culture, stress & health

My research examines health outcomes, health decision-making, and stress among Hispanic/Latine and sexual and gender minority communities living with cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other chronic conditions. I am especially interested in how family relationships, gender expectations, beliefs about fate, and social conditions shape coping, healthcare decisions, and quality of life. I approach these influences as sources of both support and strain, with attention to differences within communities.

Earlier work in public health research at the University of Miami and disease investigation at the Florida Department of Health showed me how closely research, communication, and access to care are connected. My long-term goal is to develop culturally responsive behavioral medicine interventions and models of care that reduce health inequities and fit into people’s everyday lives.

Leadership, teaching & service

My work also extends to student advocacy and professional service. I currently serve as Vice President of Texas Tech’s Graduate Student Association. Within the Society of Behavioral Medicine, I serve on the Membership Council and Organizational Partnerships Committee and as the Health Equity Special Interest Group’s student/trainee liaison. I also serve on GLMA’s Membership & Development Committee and the Society for Biopsychosocial Science and Medicine’s Inclusion & Belonging Committee. These roles let me contribute to the communities that support students, researchers, and health equity.

Teaching and mentorship connect these parts of my work. I have supported undergraduate learning at Texas Tech and lead hands-on REDCap workshops at Sylvester, helping researchers and clinical staff build and manage their own study systems. Whether I’m mentoring a student, improving a recruitment workflow, or collaborating on a study, I value clear communication and practical tools that help others do their work well.

Beyond the research

Outside of research, you can usually find me at the beach, at a local farmers market, or spending quality time with my husband, Aaron Riffa Aaron , and our two dogs Oliver Oliver and Honey Honey .