Dr. Hubach is the Director of the Sexual Health Research Lab at Oklahoma State University (OSU) and Associate Professor of Rural Health at Oklahoma State University—Center for Health Sciences.  As a behavioral scientist and public health researcher, he has gained a practical understanding of the challenges associated with the delivery of public health programs that are scientifically sound and responsive to the needs of diverse communities. Dr. Hubach’s research interests include using community engaged principles to address sexuality-related health disparities, sexual behavior, LGBT population health, and HIV/AIDS within urban and rural communities.

Research Opportunities with Dr. Hubach

Research Area: Public Health

Project Title: Rural Health and Sexual Health

Project Description: The Sexual Health Research Lab at OSU-CHS actively engages students within our current projects, while providing them research mentorship. Currently, the following projects have openings for students to participate:

1. NIH-funded COVID Rapid Response Project: Interviews will be conducted with active substance users in rural Oklahoma regarding their use, risk behavior, and hard reduction opportunities in an era of COVID. Students will able to assist with qualitative data analysis, literature reviews, and manuscript development.
2. Oklahoma Adult Prevention Needs Assessment: Substance use and mental health data has been collected from 3,400 Oklahomans to assess public health prevention opportunities. Students will be able to assist with qualitative and quantitative data analysis, manuscript development, and development of reports to be disseminated to the funder, stakeholders, and community organizations.
3. OCAST-funded HIV and STI Prevention Program: This program engages men, 18-15 years of age in rural Oklahoma, in an HIV/STI intervention where we seek to: 1) Evaluate the acceptability, uptake, and barriers to: 1) HIV and STI self-sampling in asymptomatic non-routine testers and 2) using telehealth visits to counsel and treat those who test positive for an STI and/or HIV; and 3) Pilot the effectiveness of a mHealth HIV and STI prevention intervention when adapted for and delivered to rural emergent adults. Students will be able to do assist with data collection, data cleaning, and preliminary data analysis.

Currently Seeking Students: Yes

Time Commitment: 5+ hours per week

Possible Coauthorship: Yes

Compensation: Unpaid

Location: OSU-CHS and online

Research Areas: 

A. Medical Students Perceptions of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for the Prevention of HIV

This projects to assess perceptions of and attitudes towards PrEP by medical students. This includes assessing perceived target populations to prescribe PrEP, barriers to prescribing PrEP, sexual health and HIV training, etc. Students would have the opportunity to:

1. Assist in analysis of qualitative data
2. Development of literature review
3. Manuscript writing

B. Use of Telemedicine to Provide Affirming Healthcare to Sexual Minority Individuals in Rural Areas

This project assess perceptions of and attitudes towards the use of telemedicine for medical care. This includes the use of telemedicine for sexual health care, mental health care, and substance use treatment. Participants are rural gay/bisexual/other men who have sex with men residing in rural Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas.
1. Participant recruitment
2. Collection of qualitative interview data
3. Assist in analysis of qualitative data
4. Development of literature review
5. Manuscript writing

C. Secondary data analysis using CDC BRFSS and SAMHSA datasets

1. Assist in data preparation and management
2. Write portions of a manuscript including literature review and methods
3. Develop manuscript ideas using the dataset
4. Preparation of abstracts and poster presentations for conferences

Currently Seeking Students: Yes

Time Commitment: Ongoing

Possible Coauthorship: Yes

Compensation: None

Location: OSU-CHS and online