People

Erika E Forbes, PhDErika E Forbes, PhD

Professor of Psychiatry, Pediatrics, Psychology and Clinical and Translational Science

Dr. Forbes earned an AB from Harvard University and an MS and PhD in child clinical and developmental psychology from the University of Pittsburgh. She completed a clinical psychology predoctoral internship and a postdoctoral fellowship at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic (WPIC) before joining the University of Pittsburgh faculty. She is currently Professor of Psychiatry, Psychology, Pediatrics, & Clinical and Translational Science. Dr. Forbes has received awards including a NIMH Mentored Research Scientist Development (K01) Award, a Klingenstein Third Generation Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship, a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, NARSAD Young Investigator and Independent Investigator Awards, and the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology Eva King Killam Award.

Dr. Forbes’s current work investigates the development, pathophysiology, and treatment of depression, anhedonia, and suicidality in adolescents and young adults. She uses a clinical affective neuroscience perspective to examine the role of positive affect and reward processing, employing methods including fMRI, transcranial magnetic stimulation, behavior observation, ecological momentary assessment, and digital phenotyping. Her research also addresses health-risk behavior, sleep, and LGBTQ+ mental health disparities.