Dr. Jennifer Pierce

Biography

Jennifer Pierce is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Michigan Medical School. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan-Dearborn and earned her PhD in Social Health Psychology from Wayne State University. Her research primarily focuses on the impact of trauma on pain, particularly how individuals with traumatic experiences exhibit a vulnerable pain phenotype. She is the principal investigator of the Pain Social Experiences Project at the Back & Pain Center, which is currently supported by a Postdoctoral Translational Scholars Award from the Michigan Institute for Clinical and Translational Research. Dr. Pierce aims to characterize trauma exposure and its association with chronic pain, exploring various neurobiological, physiological, and socioemotional mechanisms. As a Center Member of the Eisenberg Family Depression Center, she is actively involved in research that delves into the factors that may either promote or impede positive treatment outcomes for individuals with a history of trauma. Additionally, her publications reflect her research interests, including topics on intimate partner violence and resilience in chronic pain.

Research Interests

Experience