ABSTRACT The overall objective of the proposed K23 is to support Dr. Donte Bernard in acquiring the skills necessary to become an independent health disparities investigator with a program of research focused on the explication and reduction of the mental health sequelae associated with identity-based trauma among Black youth. Trauma exposure represents a significant public health concern that is nearly ubiquitous in the lives of Black youth. Yet, there is a lack of research that has disentangled the unique effects of identity-based trauma relative to other traumatic experiences. Moreover, a gap remains in the identification of culturally relevant constructs that may underlie the link between trauma and negative mental health outcomes and may serve as malleable targets for interventions to promote resiliency in the aftermath of trauma exposure. The need for this high impact research—and, as such, highly trained clinical scientists to lead this research—is significant and consistent with NIMHD priorities to scientifically understand the causes of health disparity. The proposed K23 directly addresses these limitations through a promising candidate, a comprehensive Training Plan that is supported by a team of highly successful mentors and renowned research environment, and novel, mixed methods research, leveraging an active NIMH R01-funded longitudinal study on child victimization and mental health, to better understand (a) experiences and responses to identity-based trauma (via qualitative methods); (b) the unique effect of identity-based trauma—above and beyond other psychosocial traumatic events—on internalizing and externalizing mental health sequalae; and (c) how identity-related vigilance and specific dimensions of one’s sociocultural identity influence the relationship between identity-based trauma and mental health outcomes cross sectionally and over time. Findings from these primary study aims will inform a preliminary culturally informed outline for a treatment to promote mental health resiliency in the aftermath of trauma (Exploratory Aim). On-site mentors (Drs. Danielson, Hughes-Halbert, Moreland, and Mueller) have extensive knowledge in child traumatic stress research, including trauma, longitudinal and mixed-methods approaches, and intervention development and evaluation. An off-site mentor (Dr. Joe at Washington University in St. Louis) will provide additional guidance in mechanisms and examinations of externalizing mental health in relation to traumatic experiences. The mentorship, coursework, seminars, workshops, and conference attendance afforded by the K23 will ensure that the candidate achieves numerous training goals, such as enhancing knowledge of trauma; developing expertise in mechanisms that may undergird the relationship between trauma and mental health; and developing competence in qualitative and mixed methods. The K23 activities will prepare Dr. Bernard to lead a program of high impact, rigorously designed mental health ...