Han Zhao

 

Research Interests:

Digital mental health interventions, mental well-being, digital nudging, personalization, motivation, engagement, user research.

 

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I completed my bachelor’s degree in Psychological and Brain Science at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a master’s degree in Human Development and Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

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Throughout my academic journey, I have been fascinated by how we can change people’s behaviors to improve their mental wellbeing. My studies have focused on motivational theories, behavior change strategies, and the complexities of decision-making processes. I have also engaged in user research to help design apps that promote emotional support and mental well-being across different developmental stages, from preschool children to adults.

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My overarching research interest lies in promoting public mental health at scale through technology-mediated interventions. In our rapidly advancing digital age, technology provides unprecedented opportunities to deliver effective mental health support to a broad audience. These digital interventions can be convenient, cost-effective, and, importantly, personalized. However, there remains a significant gap between the theoretical potential of these interventions and their practical effectiveness.

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As a PhD student in our lab, I am particularly interested in how digital interventions can be tailored to individual traits and contexts. I also eager to explore innovative ways to enhance people’s engagement with digital mental health interventions. Through both basic and applied research, my ultimate goal is to optimize digital mental health interventions for the general public, ensuring they are grounded in psychological research and customized to individual needs.