Jennifer Felder

Jennifer Felder, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine, and a member of the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences. She is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in perinatal mental health with a focus on sleep disorders during pregnancy and depression prevention.

• Ph.D. in Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder (2015)
• Clinical Psychology Predoctoral Internship, Duke University Medical Center (2015)
• B.S. in Psychology, Davidson College (2007)
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Training, UCSF (2021)

Dr. Felder's research centers on developing and evaluating evidence-based interventions to improve mental health during pregnancy and early parenting. Her work focuses on cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia during pregnancy as a means to prevent postpartum depression, with particular attention to digital delivery methods that can increase access to care for underserved populations. She investigates how sleep disturbances during pregnancy relate to adverse birth outcomes and mental health challenges, and develops innovative approaches to integrate mental health services into prenatal care settings. Her research bridges clinical psychology, obstetrics, and digital health technology to address critical gaps in perinatal mental healthcare.

Analysis of Dr. Felder's recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on digital interventions for prenatal insomnia and depression prevention, with increasing focus on health disparities and equity issues. Her work demonstrates a progression from foundational research on sleep-pregnancy relationships to implementation science examining how to effectively deliver evidence-based interventions in real-world settings, particularly for marginalized communities. The publications show interdisciplinary collaboration across psychology, obstetrics, public health, and data science.

• Principal Investigator: Efficacy of digital cognitive behavior therapy for insomnia for the prevention of perinatal depression (NIH/NIMH R01MH126040, 2022-2027)
• Co-Investigator: Comparing Approaches to Enhanced Prenatal Care to Improve Maternal and Child Health in Central California's Medicaid Population (PCORI, 2019-2023)
• Principal Investigator: Optimizing a Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Poor Sleep Quality During Pregnancy (NIH K23AT009896, 2018-2023)

Dr. Felder leads the Felder Lab and the PRISM (Prenatal Risk and Insomnia Screening and Management) Study, which focuses on developing and testing digital interventions for sleep problems during pregnancy. Her team includes psychologists, obstetricians, data scientists, and public health researchers working together to address perinatal mental health challenges through innovative research approaches. The lab emphasizes community-engaged research methods and prioritizes studies that can directly inform clinical practice and health policy.