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Work-In-Progress: Optimizing Student Mental Health Support through Biomarker-Driven Machine Learning and Large Language Models

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Conference

2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Publication Date

June 22, 2025

Start Date

June 22, 2025

End Date

August 15, 2025

Conference Session

WiP: Student Identity, Support, and Success

Tagged Division

Chemical Engineering Division (ChED)

Page Count

6

DOI

10.18260/1-2--57543

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/57543

Download Count

6

Paper Authors

biography

Yuexin Liu Texas A&M University

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AI/DRL in low Reynolds number hydrodynamics, Stress Management and Well-being

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biography

Behbood Ben Zoghi P.E. Southern Methodist University

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Ben Zoghi is the Associate Dean, Advanced Studies and Industrial Partnerships, Executive Director, Hart Center for Engineering Leadership
Bobby B. Lyle Endowed Professor of Engineering Innovation Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and a faculty Fellow, with Los Alamos National Laboratory. Before joining Southern Methodist University, Ben spent 37 years at Texas A&M University as an educator, researcher, and administrator.

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Abstract

Mental health challenges among students, particularly within graduate programs, have become a pressing concern for higher education institutions. To address this, a hybrid framework has been developed, integrating wearable technology, physiological biomarkers, and advanced Machine Learning (ML) techniques to monitor and enhance students' stress management and overall quality of life. This framework leverages wearable devices to collect critical physiological data, including electrodermal activity (EDA), metabolic equivalent (MET), pulse rate, respiratory rate, actigraphy counts, and temperature. The above biomarkers are crucial markers to assess stress and mental health states. ML algorithms employed to analyze data can offer precise assessments and predictive insights into students' well-being. In parallel, Large Language Models (LLMs) are incorporated to analyze self-reported data from students, including responses to structured prompts and/or questionnaires. This allows the system to interpret subjective input with greater accuracy while subsequently generating personalized mental health support recommendations. The integration of LLMs with biomarker data can significantly enhance the framework’s adaptability and objectivity, thus enabling it to more effectively address students’ individual needs. By combining these technologies, the framework can facilitate healthier academic environments using data-driven interventions. This study demonstrates the model's ability to predict stress by highlighting the important role of biomarkers in developing and enhancing mental health interventions. Additionally, the paper discusses the implications of implementing AI-driven solutions in educational settings, offering a strategic perspective on how emerging technologies can be applied to improve mental health support systems within academic settings.

Liu, Y., & Zoghi, B. B. (2025, June), Work-In-Progress: Optimizing Student Mental Health Support through Biomarker-Driven Machine Learning and Large Language Models Paper presented at 2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition , Montreal, Quebec, Canada . 10.18260/1-2--57543

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