Candace Best, PhD

Indiana University School of Medicine
Department of Pediatrics -- Section of Adolescent Medicine
410 W. 10th Street
Suite 1001
Indianapolis, IN
USA 46202
cabest@iupui.edu

Biographical Sketch:
September 2010 - Present Title: Principal Investigator, Indiana University School of Medicine, IN Mentors: Sarah Wiehe, M.D., MPH; J. Dennis Fortenberry, M.D., M.S. Study: The IDEAL Study: Investigating Dating Expectations Among young Ladies Research Description: Mixed methods research design to help identify how sexual partner ideals, sexual partner feelings, and sexual behaviors with a partner are related to condom use, partner selection, sexual compromise, perceptions of partner availability, and mental health. Responsibilities Include: Literature reviews, developing and completing the IRB application, subject recruitment, data collection, data analyses, and preparation of manuscripts. September 2010 - Present Title: Research Collaborator, Indiana University School of Medicine, IN Mentor: Gregory D. Zimet, Ph.D. Study: Partner specific variables, condom use, STI-risk, and microbicide attitudes Research Description: Examining how partner specific variables influence microbicide attitudes, condom use and STI acquisition through use of a NIMH-sponsored study investigating the longitudinal development of adolescent women into sexual behaviors. Responsibilities Include: Literature reviews, data analyses and preparation of manuscripts. June 2008 - August 2010 Title: Dissertation, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN. Supervisors: Christopher Agnew, Ph.D. and Judith Conger, Ph.D. Study: Ideal Partner Characteristics and Actual Partner Matching in Predicting Sexual Outcomes among African American Adolescent Girls Research Description: Examining the psychological processes of romantic relationships on the sexual behaviors and sexual outcomes among a community sample of 263 African American adolescent girls across time. Responsibilities Include: Literature reviews, data analyses and preparation of manuscript drafts. January 2007 - January 2009 Title: Investigator, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis Campus, IN. Supervisors: Dennis Fortenberry, M.D., M.S., and Donald Orr, M.D. Study: Young Women’s Project Research Description: A NIMH-sponsored study investigating the longitudinal development of a adolescent women into sexual behaviors. The project also includes monitoring and treating sexually transmitted diseases acquired by the young women and their respective sexual partners. Responsibilities Include: Conducting in-depth clinical interviews with inner city adolescent girls every three months to assess sexual frequency, number of sexual partners, sexual behaviors and feelings about their sexual partners.