Nejra Van Zalk

Dr. Nejra Van Zalk is an Associate Professor in Psychology and Human Factors at Imperial College London's Dyson School of Design Engineering. She directs the Design Psychology Lab, focusing on psychological mechanisms in product/service design for mental health. Her affiliations include the Human Behaviour and Experience Network and Robotics Forum. She holds a PhD from Örebro University, Sweden, with prior roles as Senior Lecturer and Visiting Scholar at institutions like Cambridge University. Her research spans design psychology, cognitive science, and human-robot interaction. Key articles explore VR therapy for OCD, age-related needle phobia, and social anxiety in adolescents. Her work emphasizes translating psychological insights into practical solutions for health and technology domains.

Research interests include mental health interventions through virtual reality, social anxiety disorders, and human-AI interaction. Notable projects investigate robotic clinical tools and teleoperation interfaces. She has contributed to scoping reviews on cochlear implants and pediatric hearing outcomes. Her work bridges psychology with engineering to enhance human-centered design. Collaborations span robotics, healthcare, and education sectors.

Her articles highlight trends in VR-based therapies and developmental psychology, with a focus on translating research into clinical and technological applications. No scientific awards are explicitly listed, but her extensive publication record reflects academic impact. She advises through the Design Psychology Lab, fostering interdisciplinary innovation in human factors and mental health.