Heather J. Nuske, Ph.D.

Heather Joy Nuske, PhD is a Research Assistant Professor of Psychiatry in the Penn Center for Mental Health, University of Pennsylvania. Dr Nuske holds a PhD in Psychological Science from La Trobe University, Australia. Her research is dedicated to utilizing digital mental health technology to support the implementation of evidence-based practices for individuals with neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. Dr. Nuske uses community-partnered participatory research and user-centered design methods and conduct mixed-method randomized controlled trials to answer implementation- and efficacy/effectiveness-related questions about the digital mental health technologies and interventions. A particular area of research focus is on measuring and supporting emotion regulation in children on the autism spectrum, using digital mental health platforms combined with wearable biosensors and treatment approaches such as social and emotional learning programs, mindfulness-based approaches and emotion regulation training. She received a career development award from the National Institute of Mental Health to develop an app for educators of students on the autism spectrum, the KeepCalm app, and Dr. Carla Mazefsky is a co-mentor on the project. Dr. Nuske also has 7 years’ experience as a therapist with children and adolescents on the autism spectrum. Her inspiration for research comes from the many wonderful individuals on the autism spectrum she has worked with and from her little brother, who has autism. Fun fact is that during her college days she used to do fire poi dancing!