معرفی
Walter Roberts is an Assistant Professor in the Psychiatry Department at Yale School of Medicine with a secondary appointment in Biomedical Informatics & Data Science. A licensed clinical psychologist specializing in substance use treatment, particularly alcohol and tobacco use disorders, he combines clinical expertise with technological innovation in his research program.
Dr. Roberts received his PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Kentucky in 2016. His research program employs multiple methodologies to identify the causes and consequences of substance use in humans, with a focus on developing mobile biosensor platforms that can passively detect and predict substance use behaviors. These systems, built using machine learning and informatics techniques, aim to improve assessment and targeted delivery of interventions in clinical and research settings. He also investigates risk factors for hazardous alcohol use using clinical and epidemiological data and maintains an active interest in research ethics related to substance use research.
Dr. Roberts' publication record reveals a strong focus on alcohol use disorders, with increasing integration of digital phenotyping and AI technologies in recent years. His work spans from traditional clinical studies to cutting-edge investigations using wearable technology and machine learning. The research shows a clear trajectory toward developing objective, real-time assessment methods for substance use behaviors, with particular attention to sex and gender differences in alcohol-related outcomes. Recent publications demonstrate growing interest in ethical considerations surrounding digital technologies in substance use research.
- MD2K Training Institute Summer Scholar (2023)
- Early Career Scientist Award from CHADD (2015)
- Enoch Gordis Award Finalist from Research Society on Alcoholism (2013)
Dr. Roberts serves as a Sub Investigator on multiple clinical trials related to alcohol addiction and mental health, including studies examining the effects of acute stress and inflammation on drinking behavior, combining varenicline and guanfacine for smoking cessation, and investigating whether propranolol attenuates stress-induced drinking. His collaborative network includes frequent co-authors such as Sherry McKee, Terril Luce, MacKenzie Peltier, Yasmin Zakiniaeiz, and Bubu Banini. His research has been featured in YaleNews, highlighting work on using smartwatches to better understand psychiatric illness.
