Research Expertise and Interest
mobile technology (mHealth) and mental health, digital health, Latino & minority mental health, health disparities, cognitive-behavioral therapy for depression, machine learning, user centered design, implementation science
Research Description
Dr. Aguilera’s research emphasizes digital health equity, utilizing digital technologies to improve health and mental health in low-income and underserved populations, with a specialty working with Latinx populations. He develops, tests and implements digital mental health interventions based in cognitive behavioral therapy with a focus on depression and related chronic illnesses most often treated in primary care and community settings. He utilizes innovative methods such as machine learning and AI to ensure broad applicablity of digital health tools.
In the News
America on edge: Berkeley scholars’ early election thoughts
Berkeley Conversations: COVID-19: Digital and telehealth implications of COVID-19 and social distancing
Text messages - even automated ones - can soothe the disconnected soul
Text messaging often gets a bad rap for contributing to illiteracy and high-risk behavior such as reckless driving. But a Berkeley social-welfare professor has found an upside to texting, especially for people who feel stressed out, isolated and alone.