Dr. Jacob J. van den Berg's research focuses on the development and evaluation of community-based behavioral and biomedical health interventions for underserved and marginalized groups. He is particularly interested in advancing the integration of health informatics (eHealth/mHealth) and behavioral strategies for preventing HIV/STIs among young men who have sex with men. Dr. van den Berg utilizes both quantitative and qualitative approaches, as well as mixed methodologies in his research.

Biography

Dr. van den Berg received his M.S. in Clinical Psychology from Yale University and his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology with concentrations in Health and Community Psychology from the University of Florida. He completed his pre-doctoral clinical internship at Duke University and his postdoctoral clinical and research training through the Brown University Clinical Psychology Training Consortium. Currently, he is Assistant Professor of Medicine (Research) in the Division of Infectious Diseases at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.

Research Description

Jacob J. van den Berg, Ph.D., M.S., is Assistant Professor of Medicine (Research) in the Division of Infectious Diseases at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Dr. van den Berg is a clinical/counseling psychologist whose research has included HIV prevention work with people of color, sexual minorities, and persons living with severe mental illness. His primary research interest focuses on the development and evaluation of community-based behavioral and biomedical health interventions for underserved and marginalized groups. A central component of his program of research is to advance the integration of health informatics (eHealth/mHealth) and behavioral strategies for preventing HIV and other sexually transmitted infections among young men who have sex with men. He is also particularly interested in conducting research on reducing and eliminating health disparities among minority populations. Dr. van den Berg utilizes both quantitative and qualitative approaches, as well as mixed methodologies in his research.

Awards

2011 - The National Institutes of Health's Health Disparities Research Loan Repayment Program
2007 - Outstanding Graduate Student Award Council of Counseling Psychology Training Programs, Special Recognition
2007 - University of Florida's Department of Psychology Outstanding Counseling Psychology Graduate Student Award
2006 - University of Florida's Department of Psychology Behavioral Medicine Team Outstanding Researcher Award
2006 - Allyn & Bacon/Longman Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award in Psychology
2005 - The Chancellor's List for Academic Excellence
2004 - University of Florida's Presidential Outstanding Student Award for Academic Achievement
2002 - Yale University Commencement Student Grand Marshall
2002 - American Psychological Association's HIV/AIDS Research Fellowship, Honorable Mention
2001 - Yale University Office of Diversity & Equal Opportunity Fellow
2001 - Yale University Bush Center in Child Development & Social Policy Fellow

Affiliations

1997-present - American Psychological Association
2005-present - American Public Health Association
2009-present - Rhode Island Community Planning Group for HIV Prevention

Funded Research

Current Research Support:

2011-2013 - National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities, "Eliminating HIV Health Disparities among African American Men"
2011-2012 - National Institute on Drug Abuse, "The Impact of Food Insecurity on HIV‐Risk among Individuals who are Substance Users and are Homeless in the Providence Metropolitan Area"
2012-2015 - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, "The Lifespan/Tufts/Brown Center for AIDS Research (CFAR)"

Past Research Support (within past 3 years):

2011-2012 - Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, "Cohort Development to Determine Genetic Mechanisms of Protection from HIV-1 Acquisition among Persons At-Risk for HIV Infection"
2010-2011 - National Institute of Mental Health, "Linking Biophysical Functions of Microbicides to User Perception & Acceptability"
2010-2011 - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, "Rational Development of Combination Microbicide Therapies"
2008-2010 - National Institute of Mental Health, "Child/Adolescent Biobehavioral HIV Research Program"

Teaching Experience

Courses Taught:
-Introduction to Psychology
-Abnormal Psychology

Professional Development in Teaching:
-The Harriet W. Sheridan Center for Teaching and Learning at Brown University
-The Graduate Teaching Center at Yale University

Selected Publications

• Rosengard, C, Tannis, C, Dove, DC, van den Berg JJ, Lopez R, Stein, LAR, et al. Family and other sources of sexual health information, main messages, and sexual behavior of at-risk, urban adolescents. Am J Health Educ. 2012;43(2):83-92.(2012)
• Moradi B, van den Berg JJ, Epting FR. Threat and guilt aspects of internalized anti-lesbian and gay prejudice: An application of personal construct theory. J Couns Psychol. 2009;56(1):119-131.(2009)
• Sikkema KJ, Kochman, A, van den Berg JJ, Hansen, NB, Watt, MH. LIFT: Living in the face of trauma - An intervention for coping with HIV and trauma. 2009. Duke University.(2009)
• Tucker CM, Ferdinand LA, Mirsu-Paun A, Herman KC, Delgado-Romero E, van den Berg JJ, et al. The roles of counseling psychologists in reducing health disparities. Couns Psychol. 2007;35(5):650-678.(2007)
• Tucker CM, Mirsu-Paun A, van den Berg JJ, Ferdinand L, Jones JD, Curry RW, et al. Assessments for measuring patient-centered cultural sensitivity in community-based primary care clinics. J Natl Med Assoc. 2007;99(6):609-619.(2007)
• Tate DC, van den Berg JJ, Hansen NB, Kochman A, Sikkema KJ. Race, social support, and coping strategies among HIV-positive gay and bisexual men. Cult Health Sex. 2006;8(3):235-249.(2006)
• Moradi B, van den Berg JJ, Epting FR. Intrapersonal and interpersonal manifestations of anti-lesbian/gay prejudice: An application of personal construct theory. J Couns Psychol. 2006;53(1):57-66.(2006)