# Multidisciplinary Training Program in Digital Mental Health

> **NIH NIH T32** · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $276,065

## Abstract

Abstract
This application proposes to establish an innovative, multi-disciplinary postdoctoral research training
program focused on digital mental health) and technology across Northwestern University's Feinberg School
of Medicine, School of Communication, and McCormick School of Engineering. The long-term goal of this
program is to develop the field of digital mental health by providing the first NIMH-supported postdoctoral
training program that integrates mental health (psychology, psychiatry, and behavioral science) and human-
computer interaction (HCI; computer science, communication, engineering, design, and human factors) aimed
at producing successful, independent investigators who will become leaders in this emerging field. Digital
mental health as a field has not lived up to its potential to deliver mental health care cost-effectively to large
numbers of people. Part of this failure is due to the largely siloed approach to research and training. This
program will recruit a mix of fellows in clinical research and HCI. Fellows will develop core competencies in
digital mental health, team science, research ethics, leadership, as well as other topics as needed such as
implementation science or computer science. Fellows will also develop a working understanding of the
methods and principles in the domain that the fellow is learning (e.g. behavioral science for HCI Fellows, HCI
design methods for mental health specialists). Each trainee will be co-mentored by a faculty member who
specializes in clinical mental health research and one specializing in HCI. At least 75% of the fellow's time will
be spent in mentored research. These research experiences will be complemented by a weekly seminar,
professional development activities, problem based learning, and workshops and other didactic experiences to
cover basic knowledge. Fellows will also have access to the rich educational resources made available by
Northwestern, including training in grant writing workshops, paper writing seminars, team science training,
and other resources dedicated to career development. Our participating faculty mentors and advisors are
leaders in their respective fields and come from 9 departments across 3 schools. We will admit 3 fellows each
year for a two year fellowship. This program will be the first in the nation to jointly train mental health and
technology specialists, and will serve as a model for the emerging field of digital mental health.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10167786
- **Project number:** 5T32MH115882-04
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** DAVID CURTIS MOHR
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $276,065
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-07-01 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10167786

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10167786, Multidisciplinary Training Program in Digital Mental Health (5T32MH115882-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10167786. Licensed CC0.

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