Susan Persky
About Susan Persky
Susan Persky serves as an Associate Investigator and Director of the Virtual Reality Lab at the National Human Genome Research Institute, where she has worked since 2005. She has an extensive background in psychology and virtual environments, holding degrees from Northwestern University and the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Current Role at National Institutes of Health
Susan Persky serves as an Associate Investigator and Director of the Virtual Reality Lab at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI). She has held this position since 2005, contributing to advancements in health communication and behavior through immersive simulation technologies. Her work focuses on integrating virtual reality into research methodologies to enhance understanding of health-related behaviors.
Experience at National Human Genome Research Institute
At the National Human Genome Research Institute, Susan Persky has been the Head of the Health Communication and Behavior Unit since 2011. In this role, she leads initiatives that explore the intersection of genetics and health communication, aiming to improve public understanding of genomic information. Her leadership in the Immersive Simulation Program has been pivotal in utilizing virtual environments for educational purposes.
Educational Background
Susan Persky completed her Bachelor of Arts (BA) at Northwestern University from 1996 to 2000. She then pursued her Master of Arts (MA) at the University of California, Santa Barbara, from 2000 to 2002. Following her master's degree, she continued her studies at UC Santa Barbara, earning a PhD from 2000 to 2004. Her academic background laid the foundation for her research in social and cognitive psychology.
Previous Research Positions
Prior to her current role, Susan Persky held several research positions. She worked as a Research Coordinator in Social and Cognitive Psychology at Northwestern University from 1999 to 2000. She then served as a Postdoctoral Researcher in Social Psychology at Columbia University from 2004 to 2005. Additionally, she was a Graduate Researcher at the Research Center for Virtual Environments and Behavior at UC Santa Barbara from 2000 to 2004.