Research & Publications

The Vision: Engineering a Future of Proactive and Personalized Mental Health

In response to a growing global mental health crisis, the research conducted in my lab is dedicated to a singular, transformative mission: to pioneer the next generation of human-centered artificial intelligence systems that move mental healthcare from a reactive, clinical model to a proactive, continuous, and deeply personalized paradigm of support. The central vision is not merely to develop new tools for treating mental illness, but to engineer a future where technology can proactively and continuously support human wellbeing in the context of everyday life.

This work sits at the intersection of AI, digital health, and human-computer interaction, leveraging data from ubiquitous, everyday technologies like smartphones and wearables to understand and improve mental health in real-world settings. This approach represents a fundamental shift in how mental health can be assessed and supported. Traditional methods often rely on subjective, episodic self-reports gathered in a clinical setting, providing only brief snapshots in time. By contrast, capturing behavioral data as it unfolds — “capturing life as it happens” — creates a rich, longitudinal, and objective record of an individual’s lived experience. This continuous data stream changes the very nature of assessment from a static picture to a dynamic film, enabling a new class of interventions that are not only more accessible but are also timely, context-aware, and tailored to the fluctuating needs of each individual.

My research program is built upon a systematic, three-part methodology designed to close the loop from data to real-world impact:

• Sensing: Capturing the fabric of authentic human behavior in naturalistic settings through large-scale, longitudinal studies.
• Predicting: Developing advanced AI and machine learning models to transform passive behavioral data into objective, early insights about an individual’s mental state.
• Intervening: Designing and deploying intelligent, adaptive systems — increasingly powered by GenAI (for example, LLMs) that deliver personalized support to actively improve mental health and wellbeing.

This integrated “Understand -> Predict -> Improve” framework guides the lab’s efforts to build systems that can detect early warning signs of distress, offer support in the moments it is most needed, and ultimately empower individuals with a deeper understanding of their own mental health.

Joining the Lab at UVA: Researching at the Frontier of AI and Wellbeing

My lab is actively seeking passionate and creative individuals to join its mission to redefine mental health support through technology. The focus is on building a diverse and collaborative team to tackle the most pressing challenges in human-centered AI.

The Profile of a Future Lab Member
The ideal candidates for this lab are individuals who are not only technically proficient but are also driven by a deep intellectual curiosity about human behavior and a genuine passion for creating technology that serves society. We are looking for students with a strong foundation in AI/ML, data science, mobile/software development, who are excited by the prospect of applying those skills to complex, unstructured, real-world problems. The most successful members of the lab will be builders, thinkers, and problem-solvers who thrive in a highly interdisciplinary environment and are motivated by the potential for societal impact.

As a member of the lab, a student’s work will extend far beyond simply publishing papers. The experience is designed to be a comprehensive apprenticeship in becoming a leader in the field of digital mental health. Members of the lab will:

• Work with unique, large-scale longitudinal datasets that are unavailable at most other institutions, enabling novel research questions.
• Build and deploy cutting-edge AI systems that integrate the latest advances in behavioral sensing, machine learning, and Large Language Models.
• Co-author high-impact publications in premier computer science and clinical venues, including ACM UbiComp, CHI, CSCW, and leading medical journals.
• Collaborate directly with world-leading experts at institutions like Stanford, UCSD, and major clinical centers, building an international professional network.
• Develop research that has a clear pathway to real-world impact, addressing one of the most significant societal challenges of our time.

If this vision of creating a future of more accessible, objective, and personalized mental health support resonates with you, you are strongly encouraged to apply to the University of Virginia’s Computer Science PhD program and mention an interest in working with me in your application materials. Prospective students are also welcome to reach out via email with a CV and a brief statement explaining their background and specific interest in this work. Please note that while I receive a high volume of inquiries and may not be able to respond to every message individually, I genuinely appreciate your interest and the time you take to reach out.

Why UVA?

While domestic students may already be familiar with UVA’s reputation, I understand that institutional prestige and location can be important considerations for international students: founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819, the University of Virginia is consistently ranked among the top universities in the US (#4 public, #24 overall in US News). Our Computer Science department is nationally recognized, ranking in the top #15 for AI, Human-Computer Interaction, Software Engineering and Mobile Computing. Located in historic Charlottesville in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, we’re just two hours from Washington DC, offering an ideal blend of academic excellence, natural beauty, and access to major metropolitan opportunities.

Publications