Dr. Stefanie Holden is a social psychologist and translational XR researcher at UC San Diego working at the intersection of immersive technology, behavioral science, and the study of imagination. She collaborates with VR and spatial computing partners to rigorously evaluate the psychological impact of immersive experiences using experimental design, mixed-effects modeling, and multimodal measurement approaches.

Her research includes virtual “Overview Effect” simulations examining how awe-inducing space experiences influence prosocial emotion and perception, as well as compassion and perspective-taking environments assessed through biometric and ecological data. Beyond outcome measurement, Dr. Holden investigates how immersive systems engage and expand core imaginative processes such as mental simulation, perspective shifting, and emotional projection that shape empathy, social cognition, and intergroup perception.

Her work bridges social psychological theory and XR innovation, advancing evidence-based frameworks that ensure immersive experiences are not only compelling but measurably transformative. She is particularly interested in how VR and XR can serve as a laboratory for studying imagination and as a tool for unlocking new possibilities for human connection, ethical design, and collective flourishing.