Digital Technology Use
We are interested in how living and growing up in a time of rapid digitalisation is influencing individuals and society. To address these questions, we study a range of different digital technologies, for example social media, and the activities they enable. Further, we are developing new methodologies and collaborations to improve the measurement of digital technology use.
Mechanisms & Development
The influence of technologies on mental health and well-being depends on many factors, including how we develop, how we think and the environment we live in. We study such mechanisms, including cognition, puberty and deprivation, using a range of different methodologies and populations, with a specific focus on adolescence.
Mental Health & Well-Being
We want to improve mental health and well-being in diverse populations across the Global North and Global South, and in both clinical and non-clinical settings. Our work therefore uses a variety of designs to capture a wide spectrum of human experiences.
The Team
Dr Amy Orben
Programme Leader Track Scientist
My work focuses on how digital technologies such as social media impact mental health. I am particularly interested in the potential cognitive, biological or social mechanisms that underlie this link, and the influence of individual differences.
Dr Amanda Ferguson
Postdoctoral Research Associate
I am studying how adolescents use and make sense of social media.
Dr Sebastian Kurten
Postdoctoral Research Associate
I use complex survey data to investigate media effects on wellbeing.
Sakshi Ghai
PhD Student; co-supervised with Dr Lee De-Wit
My research focuses on understanding the psychological and social effects of emerging technologies in the context of the Global South. I am particularly passionate about diversifying behavioural science.
Luisa Fassi
MRC-DTP PhD Student; co-supervised with Professor Tamsin Ford
My research examines the relationship between social media use and different mental health conditions during youth.
Georgia Turner
MRC-DTP PhD Student
My research examines the individual differences which lead to different patterns of social media use, and the cognitive mechanisms underlying the effects of social media on mental health.
Lukas Gunschera
Research Assistant
Amelia Leyland-Craggs
Research Assistant
You
Postdoctoral Fellows/PhD Student/Visiting Student
We are always looking for talented and innovative researchers to join our group. If you are interested please contact us.
Past Members
- Tom Metherell: Summer Research Assistant, funded by the British Psychological Society (2021)
- Tara Bhagat: Summer Research Assistant, funded by the G. C. Grindley Fund (2021)
- Faisal Awadh: SSC Research Assistant, as part of the Medical Sciences Tripos (2020/2021)
- Nicole Guo: Research Intern (2020/2021)
- Zoe Rossall: Research Intern (2020/2021)
Group News
- Tom joins UCL Wellcome PhD ProgrammeWe are delighted that our past Summer Research Assistant Tom Metherell has accepted a place on the UCL Wellcome TrustContinue reading “Tom joins UCL Wellcome PhD Programme”
- PhD Positions Starting October 2023We will be imminently advertising PhD positions with our group at the MRC CBU, to start in October 2023. IfContinue reading “PhD Positions Starting October 2023”
Our Funders
Open & Robust Science
Our research aspires to be of the highest scientific standards and applies a variety of Open Science approaches. We actively encourage work that aims to improve research practices and methods.
Inclusive Science
We care deeply about doing science that helps people, whether locally or around the world. This extends beyond studying diverse populations, to studying research questions that diverse populations care about.
Team Science
We work together as a group and care about creating a collaborative, inclusive and creative team environment, both locally at Cambridge and with our collaborators both nationally and internationally.
Digital Mental Health Group
MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge
15 Chaucer Road
Cambridge CB2 7EF
Orben Group 