Research

Below are grants that IEI faculty have worked on and been awarded.

Ni Gao

Principal Investigator:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research Field Initiated Grant, “Developing A Career Services Toolkit for Individuals with Serious Mental Illness Pursuing Career & Technical Education” September 2020-September 2023, $600,000.

Rutgers University SHP Dean’s Intramural Research Grant, “Usage and Impact of Social Media among College Students with Disabilities”, 7/1/18 – 6/30/20, $15,000.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research Field Initiated Grant, “Evaluating the Impact of Employment Services in Supportive Housing”, October 2013-September 2017, $600,000.

Rutgers University SHP Dean’s Inaugural Intramural Research Grant, “Wellness Coaching Support to Enhance Smoking Cessation Efforts Among Adults Served by the Public Mental Health System”, 7/1/16 – 6/30/18, $20,000.

UMDNJ Foundation, “The Impact of Self-Help Center Characteristics on the Satisfaction and Empowerment of People with Serious Mental Illness”, 07/01/09-6/30/10, $20,000.

Co-Investigator:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research Field Initiated Grant, “Internet Assisted Career-Oriented Soft-skills Training (iCareer) for Transition Age Youth with Mental Health Conditions: A Randomized Controlled Trial”) September 2022-September 2025, $600,000.

New Jersey Health Foundations Research Grant “Investigating Oral Health Disparities Between Dental Patients with and without Mental Health Conditions Using Machine Learning”, 2/15/2022-2/14/2023. $35,000.

New Jersey Health Foundations Research Grant “New Jersey Health Foundations Research Grant “Comparison of Treatments of Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Feasibility Study”, 2/1/2020-1/31/2022, $35,000.

Rutgers University, SHP Dean’s Intramural Research Grant “Soft Skills at Work Program: Removing Invisible Barriers to Employment”, 7/1/17 – 6/30/19, $35,000

UMDNJ, Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation, The Role of Self-Efficacy in Employment Tenure for Individuals with Mental Illness, 2009-2013, $5,000

Gao, N., Eissenstat, S. J., & DeMasi, M. (2022). A One-Year Follow-up Study of Changes in Social Media Use among College Students with Disabilities. Journal of American College Health.  10.1080/07448481.2022.2047707

Eissenstat, S., Gao, N., Kim, B., Brody, R., & Hauck, E. (2023). Behavioral interventions of dietary changes to reduce depressive symptoms: a meta-analysis. Journal of Public Health. Published online first. doi:10.1007/s10389-023-02157-z

Lu, W., Oursler, J., Gao, N., Herrick, S., Mariani, J., Diviney, J., Socha, C., & Beninato, J. (2023). Focus groups on employment related soft skills for transition age youth with disabilities. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 59(2), 123-137. https://doi.org/10.3233/JVR-230033

Lu, W., Oursler, J., Herrick, S. J., Gao, N., Diviney, J., Beninato, J., Minor, T., Wang, K., Santiago, G., & Parrott, J. S. (2023). Comparing telehealth-based vs. in-person soft skills training for persons with disabilities during COVID-19: A pilot study. The Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 48(1), 57-77. https://doi.org/10.1080/01933922.2022.2158973

Lu, W., Oursler, J., Herrick, S. J., Gao, N., Beninato, J., Minor, T., Eissenstat, S., Harosh, A. S., Wang, K., Diviney, J., Schultz, E., Silva, J., Lee, D. (2023). Conversational skills at work: Teaching small talk via tele-health to individuals with disabilities. Journal of Employment Counseling, 60. https://doi.org/10.1002/joec.12217

Lu, W., Oursler, J., Herrick, S. J., Gao, N., Wang, K., Beninato, J., Minor, T., Franco, S., & Jackson, S. (2023). Responding to feedback: Employment-related soft skills for persons with disabilities. Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling, 54(3), 229-247. https://doi.org/10.1891/JARC-2022-0017

A Rapid Response to Training Needs for Rehabilitation Practitioners: An Exploratory Study. Joni Dolce, Ni Gao, Francine M. Bates, Amy L. Banko, Brittany L. Stone, & Ifrah Akhtar. (2022). The Rehabilitation Professional, Vol. 30 (1), pp. 37-48.

Applying implementation science in mental health services: Technical assistance cases from the Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC) network. Gotham, H. J., Cummings, J., Dolce, J. N., Druss, B., Gill, K. J., Kopelovich, S. L., Molfenter, T., Olson, J. R., Benson, F., & Chwastiak, L. (2022). General Hospital Psychiatry, 75, 1-9.

• Nutrient Intake Differences Among Ethnic Groups and Risks of Depression. Eissenstat, S. J., Gao, N., Radler, D., & Oh, T. L. (2020). Nutrient Intake Differences Among Ethnic Groups and Risks of Depression. Journal of Immigrant & Minority Health, 22(6), 1141-1148.

• Hiring and employing individuals with psychiatric disabilities: Focus groups with human resource professionals.Dolce, J. N., & Bates, F. M. (2019). Hiring and employing individuals with psychiatric disabilities: Focus groups with human resource professionals. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 50(1), 85-93.

• Evaluation of an online learning academy of peer specialists. Spagnolo, A. B., Gill, K., Cronise, R., Backs, A., Richards, K., & Kamat, V. (2019). Evaluation of an online learning academy of peer specialists. Psychiatr Rehabil J, 42(2), 132-138.

• Effect of Psychiatric Symptoms on Employment Outcomes for Individuals Receiving Supported Employment Services A Preliminary Study.
  Dolce, J. N., & Waynor, W. R. (2018). Effect of Psychiatric Symptoms on Employment Outcomes for Individuals Receiving Supported Employment Services A Preliminary Study. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing & Mental Health Services, 56(3), 33-38.

• The Role of Educational Attainment in Supported Employment Waynor, W. R., Gill, K. J., Reinhardt-Wood, D., Nanni, G. S., & Gao, N. (2018). The role of educational attainment in supported employment. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 61(2), 121-127.

• Correlates of current smoking among adults served by the public mental health system.
  Swarbrick, M. A., Cook, J. A., Razzano, L. A., Jonikas, J. A., Gao, N., Williams, J., & Yudof, J. (2017). Correlates of Current Smoking Among Adults Served by the Public Mental Health System. J Dual Diagn, 13(2), 82-90. doi:10.1080/15504263.2017.1296603

• Evaluation of a cognitive remediation intervention for college students with psychiatric conditions.Mullen, M. G., Thompson, J. L., Murphy, A. A., Malenczak, D., Giacobbe, G., Karyczak, S., . . . Gill, K. J. (2017). Evaluation of a cognitive remediation intervention for college students with psychiatric conditions. Psychiatr Rehabil J, 40(1), 103-107.
• Jail Diversion for Persons with Serious Mental Illness Coordinated by a Prosecutor’s Office.Gill, K. J., & Murphy, A. A. (2017). Jail Diversion for Persons with Serious Mental Illness Coordinated by a Prosecutor’s Office. Biomed Res Int, 2017.

• The Hidden Barrier to Employment: Untreated and Undiagnosed Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.Weili, L., Yanos, P. T., Stone, B., Giocobbe, G. R., Waynor, W., Reilly, A., & Bazan, C. (2017). The Hidden Barrier to Employment: Untreated and Undiagnosed Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Journal of Rehabilitation, 83(2), 11-16.

• In-vivo job development training among peer providers of homeless veterans supported employment programs.Gao, N., Dolce, J., Rio, J., Heitzmann, C., & Loving, S. (2016). In-vivo job development training among peer providers of homeless veterans supported employment programs. Psychiatr Rehabil J, 39(2), 191-192. doi:10.1037/prj0000196

• The role of work related self-efficacy in supported employment for people living with serious mental illnesses
  Waynor, W. R., Gill, K. J., & Gao, N. (2016). The role of work related self-efficacy in supported employment for people living with serious mental illnesses. Psychiatr Rehabil J, 39(1), 62-67. doi:10.1037/prj0000156

• Impact of peer delivered wellness coaching.Swarbrick, M., Gill, K. J., & Pratt, C. W. (2016). Impact of peer delivered wellness coaching. Psychiatr Rehabil J, 39(3), 234-238.

• Predictors of physical activity in persons with mental illness: Testing a social cognitive model. Zechner, M. R., & Gill, K. J. (2016). Predictors of physical activity in persons with mental illness: Testing a social cognitive model. Psychiatr Rehabil J, 39(4), 321-327.

• Wellness for life: A pilot of an interprofessional intervention to address metabolic syndrome in adults with serious mental illnesses.Gill, K. J., Zechner, M., Zambo Anderson, E., Swarbrick, M., & Murphy, A. (2016). Wellness for life: A pilot of an interprofessional intervention to address metabolic syndrome in adults with serious mental illnesses. Psychiatr Rehabil J, 39(2), 147-153.

• Improving Employment Outcomes in Assertive Community Treatment (ACT): The Role of the ACT Nurse.Waynor, W. R., & Dolce, J. N. (2015). Improving Employment Outcomes in Assertive Community Treatment (ACT): The Role of the ACT Nurse. J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv, 53(7), 31-37. 5

• The role of self-efficacy in managing personal information with employers.Waynor, W., Dolce, J., & Aftab, P. (2015). The role of self-efficacy in managing personal information with employers. Rehabilitation Counselors and Educators Journal, 8(1), 33-44.

• The role of hope in predicting supported employment successWaynor, W. R., & Gill, K. J. (2015). The role of hope in predicting supported employment success. Journal of Rehabilitation, 81(2), 26-31.

• Persons in recovery, family members, and staff perspectives of psychiatric crisis needsBurns-Lynch, B., Murphy, A. A., Gill, K. J., & Brice, G. (2014). Persons in recovery, family members, and staff perspectives of psychiatric crisis needs. American Journal of Psychiatric Rehabilitation, 17(2), 114-127.

• Promoting wellness of peer providers through coaching.Brice, G. H., Jr., Swarbrick, M. A., & Gill, K. J. (2014). Promoting wellness of peer providers through coaching. J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv, 52(1), 41-45.

• Psychiatric/psychosocial rehabilitation (PSR) education: Academic and professional Gill, K. J., & Murphy, A. A. (2013). Psychiatric/psychosocial rehabilitation (PSR) education: Academic and professional. Current Psychiatry Reviews, 9(3), 260-269. doi:10.2174/1573400511309030008

• Psychiatric Rehabilitation: Third Edition
  Pratt, C. W., Gill, K. J., Barrett, N. M., & Roberts, M. M. (2013). Psychiatric Rehabilitation: Third Edition.

• Life events and internalizing problems among Chinese school children: An examination of the cognitive diathesis model Lu, W., Daleiden, E., Pratt, S., Shay, A., Stone, B., & Asaku-Yeboah, M. (2013). Life events and internalizing problems among Chinese school children: An examination of the cognitive diathesis model. Asian Journal of Social Psychology, 16(4), 307-319. doi:10.1111/ajsp.12036

• The Cognitive Apprenticeship Model: Implications for its use in Psychiatric Rehabilitation Provider Training Bates, F. M., Dolce, J. N., & Waynor, W. R. (2012). The Cognitive Apprenticeship Model: Implications for its use in Psychiatric Rehabilitation Provider Training. Journal of Rehabilitation, 78(1), 5-10.

• The paradoxical relationship between hope and the educational level of people in recovery Waynor, W. R., Gao, N., & Dolce, J. N. (2012). The paradoxical relationship between hope and the educational level of people in recovery. American Journal of Psychiatric Rehabilitation, 15(3), 299-311.

• The relationship between hope and symptoms.
  Waynor, W. R., Gao, N., Dolce, J. N., Haytas, L. A., & Reilly, A. (2012). The relationship between hope and symptoms. Psychiatr Rehabil J, 35(4), 345-348.

• A study of the perceived barriers to the implementation of circles of support. Spagnolo, A. B., Dolce, J. N., Roberts, M. M., Murphy, A. A., Gill, K. J., Librera, L. A., & Lu, W. (2011). A study of the perceived barriers to the implementation of circles of support. Psychiatr Rehabil J, 34(3), 233-242.

• Building human capital to increase earning power among people living with mental illnesses.
  Gao, N., Schmidt, L. T., Gill, K. J., & Pratt, C. W. (2011). Building human capital to increase earning power among people living with mental illnesses. Psychiatr Rehabil J, 35(2), 117-124. doi:10.2975/35.2.2011.117.124
• Wellness coaching: a new role for peers.
  Swarbrick, M., Murphy, A. A., Zechner, M., Spagnolo, A. B., & Gill, K. J. (2011). Wellness coaching: a new role for peers. Psychiatr Rehabil J, 34(4), 328-331.

• Educating service providers and researchers in person-centered principles related to serious mental illness. (Book Chapter) Pratt, C. W., & Gill, K. (2011). Educating service providers and researchers in person-centered principles related to serious mental illness. Serious mental illness: Person-centered approaches (pp. 330-339). Milton Keynes, United Kingdom: Radcliffe Publishing; United Kingdom.

• A case illustration of strategies to improve employment outcomes among individuals receiving ACT services Gao, N., & Dolce, J. N. (2010). A case illustration of strategies to improve employment outcomes among individuals receiving ACT services. American Journal of Psychiatric Rehabilitation, 13(2), 94-104.

• A study of the impact of social support development on job acquisition and retention among people with psychiatric disabilities  Roberts, M. M., Murphy, A., Dolce, J., Spagnolo, A., Gill, K., Lu, W., & Librera, L. (2010). A study of the impact of social support development on job acquisition and retention among people with psychiatric disabilities. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 33(3), 203-207.
• The application of human capital theory in vocational rehabilitation for individuals with mental illness
  Gao, N., Gill, K. J., Schmidt, L. T., & Pratt, C. W. (2010). The application of human capital theory in vocational rehabilitation for individuals with mental illness. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 32(1), 25-33. doi:10.3233/JVR-2010-0492