Multidisciplinary Training Program in Digital Mental Health
The highlights:
- Work with a cohort of postdoctoral fellows
- Lead self-directed research projects with multidisciplinary teams
- Receive mentorship from both HCI and mental health researchers
- Become a leader in digital mental health research
Northwestern University’s Center for Behavioral Intervention Technologies (CBITs; https://cbits.northwestern.edu/) is seeking applicants for our NIMH T32 postdoctoral fellowship, “Multidisciplinary Training Program in Digital Mental Health.” We currently have one position open for a person with a background in human computer interaction.
This fellowship focuses on the use of technology to support mental health with an emphasis on equity, and brings together a cohort of fellows in psychological science (psychology, psychiatry, and behavioral science) and human-computer interaction (HCI; computer science, communication, engineering, design, and human factors). The program provides fellows with research training and mentorship in both mental health and HCI research with the aim of preparing the next generation of digital mental health researchers. The program is co-led by Drs. David Mohr, PhD and Darren Gergle, PhD. Dr. Mohr is an expert in the use of technology and psychological approaches for the treatment of mental health conditions. Dr. Gergle is a leader in HCI as applied to medical settings with expertise in quantitative and qualitative methods.
CBITs provides a unique scientific home for interdisciplinary scholars working in psychology, HCI, computer science, biostatistics, implementation science, and health disparities. The mission of the center is to design, evaluate, and sustainably implement digital mental health solutions in the context of real world care settings. A core value of the center is that digital mental health technologies should be designed and implemented in a manner that extends these services to those people and communities who are currently underserved by our existing mental healthcare system.
Fellows work in a variety of complementary lines of research focused on digital mental health. This work will include collaborations with specialists in HCI, mental health, implementation science, social influences, and mental health disparities. The successful candidate will take a leadership role, overseeing individual research projects in multidisciplinary teams. Mentorship is available from experienced researchers who have federal and foundation funding including Drs. Mohr and Gergle, as well as a variety of other faculty in both clinical science and HCI ,and psychological and behavioral science. (see https://www.preventivemedicine.northwestern.edu/education/postdoctoral/digital-mental-health/mentors.html).
The primary objective of this fellowship is to prepare the individual for an academically oriented career in fields relevant to technology and mental health. The fellow will have access to data for publications. The successful candidate will have a strong record of peer-reviewed publications and experience in digital mental health research.
CBITs is dedicated to training fellows that will enhance diversity and equal opportunity in higher education and digital mental health research. As our healthcare and academic institutions serve increasingly diverse constituencies, it is vital to understand the ways in which differences in gender, class, race, ethnicity, religious affiliation, and other identities can both divide us and offer us better ways of thinking and working. The CBITs faculty encourage applications from diverse applicants and are committed to training fellows to work in an increasingly diverse society by promoting equity and justice for all individuals, actively working to eliminate barriers and obstacles created by institutional discrimination, particularly in academic and healthcare settings.
To comply with NIMH rules, fellows must be US citizens or have permanent resident status. We currently have one position open for an HCI fellow and reviewing applications on a rolling basis. Appointments are for one year, renewable to two. To apply, please submit a CV, statement of research interests and goals, and three letters of recommendation. You may also include any preprints you would like the committee to see. You may upload your application here: