Julie Schweitzer

Dr. Julie Schweitzer is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of California, Davis, and an affiliated researcher at the MIND Institute. She directs the Attention, Impulsivity, and Regulation (AIR)/ADHD Program, focusing on translational research in ADHD and autism spectrum disorders. Her work integrates cognitive neuroscience, behavioral analysis, and neuroimaging (fMRI, DTI) to study attention, impulsivity, and fidgeting behaviors. She develops tech-based interventions using virtual reality and gamification to improve attention and self-control in children and adults. Dr. Schweitzer also leads the UC Davis Mentored Clinical Research Training Program and the Mentoring Academy for Research Excellence, supporting translational research workforce development.

Her research interests include environmental influences on neurodevelopmental outcomes, leveraging the ECHO Program to explore prenatal exposures and neighborhood factors affecting ADHD and autism. Notable projects include studies on fidget devices for ADHD symptom management and virtual reality classroom simulations to assess attention mechanisms. She has secured NIH grants for projects like the ReCHARGE follow-up study and investigations into locus coeruleus function in sustained attention.

Dr. Schweitzer’s mentoring activities emphasize clinical psychology trainees, postdoctoral researchers, and junior faculty in ADHD and behavioral health research. She collaborates across departments to enhance mentorship practices and improve retention in academic medicine.