Devon Sandel-Fernandez, PhD
Dr. Sandel-Fernandez’s research is focused on predicting impulsive and risk behaviors as they occur in people’s daily lives. She has conducted numerous studies using ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and self-monitoring data from therapy to build person-specific models of symptom dynamics including self-harm, substance use, and suicide attempts.
Dr. Sandel-Fernandez often takes an idiographic (person-specific) analysis approach to answer the question of when in time a person is most at risk for engaging in behaviors they would like to avoid, based on their context, emotions, and personal triggers. Her career goal is to improve treatment outcomes by tailoring evidence-based care to people’s diverse symptom experiences.
Dr. Sandel-Fernandez also studies the use of digital tools and AI in mental health research, training, and treatment. This currently includes: prediction of suicide risk from internet (Google, YouTube, and TikTok) use, a pilot of mobile suicide risk monitoring in UW primary care, and development of an AI-supported simulation training laboratory with simulated patients that trainees can use to hone their clinical skills.
Education
PhD, Clinical Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, 2024
Clinical Psychology Internship, VA Puget Sound, Seattle, 2024
MA, Clinical Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, 2020
BS, Biopsychology, University of California, Santa Barbara, 2013
