Postdoctoral Scholar - The BRiTE Center | Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences (PBSCI)

Description

The BRiTE Center in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington School of Medicine is seeking Postdoctoral Scholars interested in digital mental health research. We are looking for individuals with a strong commitment to data-driven digital assessment, monitoring, and treatment of serious mental illness. Individuals with experience in Mobile Health (mHealth) research, texting interventions, fully remote clinical trials, Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA), Natural Language Processing (NLP), digital phenotyping, and other forms of AI and mental healthcare, are particularly encouraged to apply. 

Led by Dr. Dror Ben-Zeev, UW's Behavioral Research in Technology and Engineering (BRITE) Center is a mission-driven, grant-funded research center within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. The BRiTE Center brings together a diverse group of researchers, clinicians, technologists, patients and mental health advocates with a common goal of improving the lives of those suffering with mental illness, their families, and communities. Harnessing the Pacific Northwest’s innovative spirit, we work with industry, healthcare systems large and small, colleagues from low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), paraprofessionals, and individuals invested in developing creative technologies to improve population mental health, in our lifetime. BRiTE is a mission-driven, highly collaborative, fast–paced center that conducts cutting-edge digital health research designed to invent and reinvent the future of mental healthcare using digital technology. 

Postdoctoral scholars will receive intensive mentorship and training in the focused development, study, and implementation of digital mental health assessment and intervention technologies, grant-writing, and a range of academic dissemination activities. Postdoctoral positions at BRiTE will be fully supported with existent center resources. Scholars are encouraged to pursue career development awards (e.g., K awards) focusing on programs of research that are consistent with BRiTE’s mission and objectives, to facilitate their transition to faculty roles within the center. BRiTE postdocs receive substantial mentorship support and coaching from the BRiTE team in their pursuit of these goals. Scholars will have the opportunity to have meaningful roles on projects conducted by multidisciplinary teams (psychology, informatics, computer science, biostatistics, human centered design, global health), gain experience using digital interventions to support care for people experiencing psychiatric symptoms, and engage with colleagues from LMIC settings in trainings and digital health research activities. 

The anticipated start date is Spring or Summer of 2026. The intended start date is negotiable. This is a full-time position for an initial one-year appointment, with the option of renewal. 

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences 

The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences is an integral component of the UW School of Medicine and shares UW Medicine’s mission to ‘Improve the Health of the Public.’ We accomplish this by providing the best care we can today, conducting research to develop better treatments for tomorrow, and inspiring and training the next generation of health care professionals for the Pacific Northwest. Our core values include openness, transparency, integrity, engagement, collaboration, and mutual respect. 

Our department is the third largest within the School of Medicine. As the only academic psychiatry department serving Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho, we are committed to improving access to psychiatric care and consultation throughout the greater Pacific Northwest. Our educational programs include a required medical student clerkship for 260 medical students per year at some 30 sites across the WWAMI region, a nationally competitive psychiatry residency program with more than 90 psychiatry residents in Seattle and in two regional residency tracks in Idaho and Montana, subspecialty fellowships in addictio