Kayla Burd

Kayla Burd, Ph.D., serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Wyoming with a specialized focus on Psychology and Law. Her work bridges cognitive science and legal systems, examining decision-making processes among key legal actors through rigorous experimental methodologies.

• Ph.D. in Psychology, Cornell University (2018)
• M.A. in Psychology, Cornell University (2016)
• M.S. in Psychology, Arizona State University (2013)
• B.A. in Psychology, Hofstra University (2010)

Dr. Burd's research centers on social cognitive mechanisms in legal contexts, specifically analyzing how extra-legal biases distort perception, memory, and reasoning among eyewitnesses, police officers, and jurors. Her work identifies cognitive vulnerabilities in legal decision-making while developing evidence-based interventions to mitigate bias.

She directs the Social Cognition and Law Lab, which employs controlled experiments and field studies to translate theoretical insights into practical legal applications. Current projects examine interventions like purpose in life cultivation and self-affirmation techniques to improve decision accuracy.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals three dominant research trajectories: (1) juror cognition in sexual abuse and adolescent culpability cases, (2) forensic evidence interpretation including ballistic analysis validity, and (3) emerging bias phenomena like pandemic-related discrimination. Her work increasingly integrates developmental psychology with legal scholarship.

Dr. Burd mentors three graduate students—Amanda Anzovino, Olivia Grella, and Jaylan Aliev—guiding research on eyewitness reliability and courtroom accommodations. Her teaching portfolio spans Cognitive Psychology, Psychology and Law, and Judgment and Decision-making courses.

The Social Cognition and Law Lab maintains active collaborations with law enforcement agencies and legal professionals, ensuring research addresses real-world challenges in the justice system through community-engaged science.