Youth Mental Health Lab

I believe that student-faculty relationships thrive when there is genuine alignment in research interests. This makes it easier for students to pursue the questions that inspire them while receiving enthusiastic, informed mentorship. My lab explores ways to improve, evaluate, and broadly disseminate Finding Focus—the EdTech intervention we have developed over the last eight years.

My lab is based in the Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Science. Our department’s coursework is focused on understanding why people make the health choices they do—and how to create conditions that make healthy choices easier. It combines psychology, social science, and public health to design and test real-world solutions that help communities thrive. Students learn how behavior, environment, and policy interact, and how to use that knowledge to promote lasting improvements in well-being.

Departmental coursework provides a strong foundation in health promotion theory, program design and evaluation, research methods, and statistics. Within my lab, students gain applied experience in research methods, project management, stakeholder engagement, and effective communication, and develop leadership skills by managing research assistants and supporting real-world partnerships with schools and community organizations. PhD and DrPH students differ mainly in where they put their energy: PhD students focus more on generating new knowledge — designing studies, writing manuscripts and grants, and testing the mechanisms behind effective interventions — while DrPH students focus more on translating that knowledge into practice — leading implementation efforts, evaluating programs in the field, and bringing evidence-based interventions to scale sustainably across diverse systems.

I came to understand the importance of mentorship during graduate school. My advisor, Dr. Jonathan Schooler, deliberately and patiently helped me learn to think like a scientist. He took the time to gauge what I understood and then asked incisive questions that led me to deeper understanding. His mentorship also went far beyond technical training. He embraced my interests and encouraged me to follow them. In the lab, he created a culture of collaboration and transparency where everyone’s perspective was welcomed. And he believed in me, gradually challenging me with increasing independence. To this day, this is the blueprint for the kind of mentor I strive to be.

My lab is located at the Austin location of UTHealth Houston.

While cross-campus advising is possible, I strongly prefer to work with students who are based in Austin.

The School of Public Health has 5 locations throughout TX, and you will take classes with students across all locations. For these hybrid classes, you can choose to either attend virtually or in the designated classroom at the Austin location.

UTHealth Houston’s School of Public Health does not guarantee tuition remission or a stipend for PhD or DrPH students. However, we offer a high value-to-money program. Many students receive partial scholarships that help them qualify for in-state tuition, and top applicants may qualify for a full scholarship. Teaching Assistant (TA) and Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) positions can also be available to help cover tuition and living expenses, though they are not guaranteed by the university upon admission. The availability of GSR positions in my lab varies over time based on active grant funding. I prioritize funding for graduate students in all the grants I submit.

Details about tuition are available here.

Our department requires that incoming students have a relevant masters degree. This allows most full-time students to complete their PhD or DrPH within 3-5 years.

Not all graduates pursue careers as researchers, but developing the ability to conduct rigorous, independent science is a cornerstone of our program. Applicants should have enough research experience to know they enjoy the process of discovery and sustained inquiry.

That typically means meaningful involvement in at least one research project—participating in study design, data collection, and analysis—so that you’ve seen firsthand how evidence is generated. Candidates who haven’t yet had that level of engagement can still be competitive if they clearly articulate how prior experiences have prepared them for doctoral training and how they know a research-intensive path fits their long-term goals.

Practical skills in research methods or statistics is highly valued in applicants but not required. You’ll gain that expertise through our curriculum and lab mentorship.

I am accepting new students for the 2026-2027 academic year, so there’s no need to confirm that. But if you’e unsure whether you’re a good fit, feel free to send a resume and description of your research interests to michael.mazek@uth.tmc.edu. I’ll give you my candid opinion about whether you should apply.

UTHealth Houston’s School of Public Health uses rolling admissions. The priority deadline to qualify for new student scholarships is December 1.

You can apply through the SOPHAS portal. Details on how to apply are described here.

Make sure to apply to the Department of Health Promotion & Behavioral Science and list me as preferred advisor.