Julie Mollica is a third-year PhD student in the Constructed Environment program (A-School). She studies the impacts of biophilic design on stress. Her research combines portable neuroimaging, heart rate variability, and self-report psychological assessments to explore architectural design as a mental health intervention. 

She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience with minors in Studio Arts and Chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Architecture degree from the University of New Mexico (UNM). Her research experience spans aging, neurodegeneration, addiction, racial/ethnic health disparities, and environmental psychology/neuroscience. While at UNM, she started a Women in Design student chapter and, after graduating, served as the Chair of Women in Design: New Mexico. She also worked as a sustainability consultant in the design and construction industry prior to starting at UVA. Julie recently started a Neuroarchitecture Students and Emerging Professionals Reading Club and currently serves as the President for Constructed Environment Plus (CE+), the student organization for the Construction Environment program.