Jeremy Bailenson: Pioneer in Augmented & Virtual Reality

Jeremy Bailenson is a world-renowned authority on the psychology of virtual and augmented reality. He serves as the Founding Director of Stanford University’s Virtual Human Interaction Lab, the Thomas More Storke Professor in the Department of Communication, and a Senior Fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment. For over a decade, he has also led as the Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Communication at Stanford.

Professor Bailenson’s groundbreaking research explores how virtual experiences fundamentally alter our perception of self and others. His lab develops cutting-edge systems where individuals interact in virtual spaces, investigating the evolving nature of social interaction. His most recent work focuses on how immersive virtual experiences can transform education, environmental conservation, empathy, and healthcare. In recognition of his excellence, he received Stanford’s Dean’s Award for Distinguished Teaching, and in 2020, he was honored with the IEEE Virtual/Augmented Reality Technical Achievement Award. 

A prolific scholar, Professor Bailenson has published over 200 academic papers across diverse fields including computer science, education, law, medicine, and psychology. His research has been consistently funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) for over 25 years. His first book, Infinite Reality (co-authored with Jim Blascovich), became an Amazon bestseller and was notably cited by the Supreme Court of the United States. His latest work, Experience on Demand, has received critical acclaim from The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Nature, and has also achieved Amazon bestseller status.