Michelle G. Craske, PhD, is a Distinguished Professor of Psychology and of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Dr. Craske is best known for her foundational contributions to the study of fear learning and extinction, particularly as they relate to the development and optimization of exposure-based treatments. Her work has helped redefine how anxiety disorders are conceptualized, moving the field beyond symptom reduction toward mechanistic, learning-based models of change. Her more recent work targets reward related processes in relation to anhedonia, that has informed new treatment approaches. She has been a pioneer in translating basic science findings into clinical interventions and her research has influenced treatment approaches across a wide range of psychological problems.

Throughout her career, Dr. Craske has secured extensive research funding as a Principal Investigator from major national and international agencies, including the National Institute of Mental Health, the Wellcome Trust, and DARPA. She has led large, multi-site and interdisciplinary projects, including center grants and long-term international collaborations.

Dr. Craske’s scholarly output is broad and influential, encompassing over 650 peer-reviewed journal articles, reviews, and book chapters, as well as books and treatment manuals. Her work is among the most highly cited in psychology and psychiatry, and she has been repeatedly recognized as a Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate/Web of Science. In addition to her research contributions, she has played a major role in shaping the field through editorial leadership, during her tenure as Editor-in-Chief of Behaviour Research and Therapy and holding senior editorial positions at leading journals such as Psychological Bulletin and Journal of Abnormal Psychology.

Beyond research, Dr. Craske has provided extensive academic and professional leadership. She has previously served as Vice Chair of the UCLA Department of Psychology, co-directs UCLA’s Depression Grand Challenge, and held executive and presidential roles in major professional organizations, including the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies and the Society for the Science of Clinical Psychology. She has also contributed to national and international mental health policy through service on DSM-IV and DSM-5 committees and other advisory bodies.

Her contributions have been recognized with numerous honors, including multiple honorary doctorates, major scientific awards, and appointment as an Officer of the Order of Australia.