Melissa Ertl Named BIRCWH Scholar Recipient

Following a competitive application process, Melissa Ertl was just named a 2026 Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health (BIRCWH) Scholar recipient by the UMN Office of Women’s Health Research, which administers this National Institutes of Health (NIH) training program focused on positioning junior investigators who research women’s health and/or sex difference for competitive NIH awards. Ertl will join the BIRCWH program this July and will be awarded K12 funding to conduct a project titled “Development of a Brief, Online Intervention to Address Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD) in Women Taking Antidepressants.” Ertl’s research fills a critical gap in care; FSD is surprisingly pervasive among women taking antidepressants, yet few sociobehavioral treatment options exist.

As principal investigator of the STRIPE Lab (Social Team Research in Promoting Health Equity), Ertl’s program of research focuses on “preventing health risk behaviors, promoting health equity, and addressing health disparities at the intersections of mental health, substance use, and sexual health.” In particular, she leverages community-based methods to study underserved and marginalized groups, including women, with an emphasis on promoting and improving health and well-being.

Congratulations, Melissa!