John Michael Falligant

John Michael Falligant is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Auburn University, with a joint appointment previously at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology from Auburn University (2019) and prior degrees from Birmingham-Southern College (BS, 2012) and Auburn University (MS, 2015). His research focuses on translational behavior science, particularly the functional assessment and treatment of challenging behavior in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders. His work emphasizes the microstructure of behavior and neurobehavioral variables influencing persistence and change, supported by grants from the NIH, Brain & Behavior Research Foundation, and Cornelia de Lange Syndrome Foundation. He received the 2025 B.F. Skinner Foundation New Researcher Award.

His clinical expertise includes severe problem behavior management, with a focus on self-injury and autism spectrum disorders. Key contributions include studies on resurgence, schedule thinning, and behavioral phenotyping. Falligant has mentored multiple postdoctoral fellows and graduate students, contributing to over 80 peer-reviewed publications. He also serves on editorial boards for journals like Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and teaches advanced courses in applied behavior analysis.

Notable grants include a NIH R01 studying self-injury subtypes and multiple R21 grants exploring reinforcement optimization and relapse prevention. His work bridges basic and applied research, emphasizing clinical translation and methodological innovation in behavioral interventions.