# Best Practices in Core Principles of Behavior Change: Development of an Implementation Scientist

> **NIH NIH K02** · BROWN UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $149,610

## Abstract

Project Abstract
This early- to mid-career scientist development award (K02) will provide protected training and research time for
the candidate, Molly Magill, LICSW, PhD. Dr. Magill is a researcher specializing in the study of processes,
ingredients, and mechanisms of behavioral interventions for addictive disorders, and particularly alcohol use
disorder (AUD). The goal of the K02 award is to transition the candidate to a mid-career focus on implementation
science. Specifically, the candidate will develop a common factors practice model, Best Practices in Core
Principles of Behavior Change, for subsequent dissemination to the frontline practice community. To date, Dr.
Magill’s research has focused on secondary analyses of clinical trial data, leading to the identification of key
processes involved in participant behavior change. The K02 will facilitate a transitional period where this
knowledge can be applied to a trainable and actionable clinical practice model. Initial work in the K02 research
trajectory will target social work higher education; a field Dr. Magill has been involved in for over 15 years.
Foundation content in the practice model will include state-of-the-art research findings on mechanisms of
behavior change (MOBC) in AUD and in the Science of Behavior Change (SOBC), more broadly. The practice
model will additionally draw from the fields of education, coaching, and mental health. Protected time afforded
by the K02 will facilitate a transitional period for training in: 1) Implementation Science, 2) Common Factors of
Behavior Change, 3) Curriculum Design, and 4) Research Ethics. Key output from the project include: a) training
of the candidate, b) the Best Practices in Core Principles of Behavior Change Model, c) a training and
implementation protocol for social work education, and d) a series of manuscripts, presentations, and grant
proposal submissions representative of the candidate’s K02 transition. The long term aims of this research
and career trajectory are to utilize ongoing findings in secondary and primary research on MOBC to
inform a behavior change principles approach to training future and practicing community providers.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9913376
- **Project number:** 5K02AA027546-02
- **Recipient organization:** BROWN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Molly Magill
- **Activity code:** K02 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $149,610
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-04-10 → 2024-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9913376

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9913376, Best Practices in Core Principles of Behavior Change: Development of an Implementation Scientist (5K02AA027546-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9913376. Licensed CC0.

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