Staff: Amanda M. Acevedo, PhD

Amanda M. Acevedo, Ph.D., is a Social and Behavioral Scientist Administrator/ Program Director in the Basic Biobehavioral and Psychological Sciences Branch (BBPSB) of the Behavior Research Program.

Dr. Acevedo cultivates a portfolio of grants related to social and psychophysiological influences on cancer control. Dr. Acevedo's program of research focuses on psychosocial factors (e.g., stress, discrimination, emotion, and cultural norms and expectations regarding emotion expressions) that influence health behaviors, biomarkers, and/or physiological responses to stressors like pain, particularly in Latino samples. This work reflects a multilevel approach to better understand health disparities and inequities, particularly within the broader social context.

Dr. Acevedo earned a Ph.D. in Psychology and Social Behavior with a Health Psychology major and a Quantitative Methods minor from the University of California, Irvine. She is also a proud alumni of Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she received a bachelor of arts degree in psychology. Prior to joining NCI as a Program Director, Dr. Acevedo was a Cancer Research Training Award Post-doctoral Fellow at NCI.



Secondary Branch/Office Appointment:  Health Communication and Informatics Research Branch (HCIRB)

Current and/or past BRP mentors include Rebecca Ferrer, Tanya Agurs-Collins and Annette Kaufman.

Current and/or past BRP mentees include Romy RW and Jacqueline (Jacky) Hua.


Scientific Interests

  • Psychophysiological influences on cancer control
  • Emotions and facial expressions
  • Stress and resilience
  • Pain and health disparities
  • Latino culture and health

Selected Publications and Presentations

To request edits to this profile, please contact us at ncidccpsbrpadvances@mail.nih.gov.