Jeffrey M. Girard, PhD

I work in clinical psychology and explore the links between mental health and nonverbal behavior. I collaborate with computer scientists and clinicians to develop technologies that support clinical practice.

I use observational methods to quantify facial expressions and other behavioral signals. My main goal is to understand the role that behavioral signals play in emotion and interpersonal communication.

I use data science techniques from statistics, machine learning, and software engineering to address research challenges. I love to develop, share, and teach about tools that increase scientific rigor and openness.

Education

  • Ph.D. 2018

    Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology

    University of Pittsburgh

  • M.S. 2013

    M.S. in Clinical Psychology

    University of Pittsburgh

  • B.A. 2009

    B.A. in Psychology and Philosophy

    University of Washington

Positions

  • present2020

    Assistant Professor, Wright Faculty Scholar

    University of Kansas

  • 20202018

    Postdoctoral Research Associate

    Carnegie Mellon University

  • 20182017

    Psychology Resident

    University of Mississippi Medical Center

  • 20172010

    Graduate Researcher

    University of Pittsburgh

Featured Publications

Reconsidering the Duchenne Smile: Formalizing and Testing Hypotheses About Eye Constriction and Positive Emotion

First-AuthorJournal ArticleOpen Science
Jeffrey M. Girard, Jeffrey F. Cohn, Lijun Yin, Louis-Philippe Morency
Affective Science, Volume 2, Issue 1, Pages 32-47
Publication year: 2021

Interpersonal problems across levels of the psychopathology hierarchy

First-AuthorJournal ArticleOpen Science
Jeffrey M. Girard, Aidan G. C. Wright, Joseph E. Beeney, Lori N. Scott, Sophie A. Lazarus, Stephanie D. Stepp, Paul A. Pilkonis
Comprehensive Psychiatry, Volume 79, Pages 53-69
Publication year: 2017

Large-scale observational evidence of cross-cultural differences in facial behavior

Journal Article
Daniel McDuff, Jeffrey M. Girard, Rana el Kaliouby
Journal of Nonverbal Behavior, Volume 41, Issue 1, Pages 1-19
Publication year: 2017

Spontaneous facial expression in unscripted social interactions can be measured automatically

First-AuthorJournal Article
Jeffrey M. Girard, Jeffrey F. Cohn, Laszlo A. Jeni, Michael A. Sayette, Fernando De la Torre
Behavior Research Methods, Volume 47, Issue 4, Pages 1136-1147
Publication year: 2015

Professional Honors

  • 2017
    Barlow Speakership Award, UMMC
    The David H. Barlow Grand Rounds Speakership Awards were established by the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s grand rounds committee to allow each training program in the department to recognize outstanding trainees by offering them the opportunity to present departmental grand rounds.  The honor also comes with a small award to cover educational or career-development expenses and a certificate.
  • 2017
    Wiggins Student Award, SITAR

    The Jerry S. Wiggins Student Award for Outstanding Interpersonal Research is given annually by the Society of Interpersonal Theory and Research in order to recognize and promote outstanding student research in interpersonal psychology. One award is given for the best student presentation (talk) given at the annual SITAR conference.

  • 2017
    Bassell Student Award, University of Pittsburgh
    The Bassell Student Award is awarded annually by the University of Pittsburgh’s Clinical Psychology Program to a student prior to leaving on internship and recognizes outstanding academic achievement in the program and promise for future accomplishments.
  • 2017
    Outstanding Presenter Award, University of Pittsburgh
    The Grad Expo is an all day event where Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences graduate students from a variety of disciplines present papers to their fellow students, faculty, and other members of the Pitt community. Outstanding papers receive a $100 award towards expenses for attending a conference or for the purchase of research material.

  • 2015
    Outstanding Reviewer Award, IEEE
  • 2014
    E.B. Huey Award, University of Pittsburgh
    Established by Don Routh, PhD, an alumnus of the program and former Director of the Clinical Psychology Program at the University of Miami, in gratitude for the excellence of his graduate education in clinical psychology at the University of Pittsburgh. The award provides a maximum of $1,000 to be used for master’s thesis (approved proposal required), dissertation (approved proposal required), or other research project expenses, including professional travel.