Nicole Short

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Assistant Professor of Psychology

Expertise: Post-traumatic stress, Substance use, Anxiety disorders, Insomnia, Sexual assault

Biography

Nicole Short is a clinical psychologist whose research focuses on the causes, prevention, and treatment of trauma and anxiety-related disorders.

She is particularly interested in the development and testing of cognitive behavioral digital health interventions delivered in the early aftermath of trauma (such as sexual assault) to mitigate the development of post-traumatic stress symptoms and substance use. Her work focuses on certain risk factors, such as anxiety sensitivity and sleep disturbance, and includes a variety of research methods and designs.

Short joined the faculty at UNLV in 2022 after three years on faculty at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She serves on the associate editorial board of Behaviour Research and Therapy.

Education

Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, Florida State University
Doctoral Internship, Medical University of South Carolina
M.S., Clinical Psychology, Florida State University
B.A., University of California, Berkeley

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Nicole Short In The News

'High January’ fuels cannabis boom as experts flag some serious health dangers

The popularity of cannabis continues to rise in 2026, with statistics showing that around 15% of Americans are current users, and more than 22% have used it sometime in the past year. As more people cut out alcohol amid the Dry January trend, dispensaries have reported a surge in marijuana sales, leading to what some industry insiders and media outlets have dubbed "High January."

Heavy drinkers cut alcohol use by nearly 30% after adopting one new habit, study finds

Certain people who use cannabis tend to drink less alcohol, a new study found.

When Fixation on a Perfect Night’s Sleep Becomes Harmful

WebMD

When Sydney Stern bought an Apple Watch four years ago, she was excited to try out all the new features, especially the sleep tracker. A health scientist, the 27-year-old Maryland resident was well aware of the correlation between sleep and disease prevention. But what Stern thought would be a boon to her health became a harm, leading to anxiety and, in the end, less sleep.

Does Your Mind Race at Night? Here’s How To Slow its Pace and Fall Asleep More Easily

Well + Good

It’s a tale as old as time: You get into bed after a long day, turn the lights off, curl up under the covers, and close your eyes, hoping for a much-needed good night’s sleep. But the second your head hits the pillow at night, it feels like your thoughts start racing a mile a minute. No matter how tired you are, or how much you’ve been craving rest all day, you just can’t seem to figure out how to quiet your anxious thoughts at night for long enough to fall asleep.