Emily Falk

Emily Falk is a Professor of Communication at the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg School for Communication with joint appointments in Psychology, Marketing, and Operations, Information, and Decisions (OID). She serves as Vice Dean of the Annenberg School, Director of the Communication Neuroscience Lab, and Director of the Climate Communication Division at the Annenberg Public Policy Center.

Her academic foundation includes a Bachelor's degree in Neuroscience from Brown University and a Ph.D. in Psychology from UCLA. This interdisciplinary background fuels her innovative research approach.

Professor Falk pioneers the integration of neuroscience with communication science to decode attitude and behavior change mechanisms. Her work systematically investigates:

• Neural predictors of persuasive message effectiveness
• Social network dynamics in idea diffusion
• Value alignment in interpersonal communication
• Climate communication barriers and solutions

These insights drive evidence-based interventions for public health, environmental action, and social cohesion.

Her exceptional contributions have earned numerous prestigious recognitions including:

• DARPA Young Faculty Award
• NIH Director’s New Innovator Award
• International Communication Association Early Career Award
• Association for Psychological Science Rising Star designation
• Social and Affective Neuroscience Society award
• Fulbright grant

Professor Falk maintains robust research funding through federal grants and strategic partnerships with corporations and NGOs. Her lab operates at the intersection of basic science and real-world application, frequently translating findings into actionable communication strategies. The Climate Communication Division she leads actively develops tools for improving public understanding of climate science.

The Communication Neuroscience Lab provides a dynamic training environment where students master neuroimaging techniques alongside communication theory. Current projects focus on value-based messaging for climate action and neural markers of behavior change susceptibility, positioning trainees at the forefront of communication neuroscience research.