Heather Perkins

Heather Perkins serves as an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Purdue University Northwest, where she investigates the psychological mechanisms of misinformation, inequality-driven mistrust, and the impact of science identity on academic outcomes.

Her educational credentials include:

• Ph.D. in Applied Social and Community Psychology from North Carolina State University
• B.S. in Psychology from the University of Cincinnati

Dr. Perkins' research program centers on two interconnected streams: the cognitive processes underlying misinformation acceptance and mistrust in psychological science, and how science identity development influences student retention and success. She employs advanced quantitative methodologies to analyze social cognition patterns, with publications spanning science education and community well-being domains. Her work bridges theoretical social psychology with practical applications in educational equity.

No scientific awards were documented in the provided materials.

While specific advising details remain unspecified, her teaching portfolio emphasizes quantitative research methods and statistics instruction alongside core social psychology curricula. Her research has secured publication venues including the Journal of Research in Science Teaching and International Journal of Community Well-Being.

Operational details regarding dedicated research laboratories or collaborative teams were not disclosed in the available documentation.