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Claudia Fernandes Nisa

Assistant Professor of Behavioral Science at Duke Kunshan University
DKU Faculty

Overview


I am a behavioral scientist focused on identifying what works to promote healthy and sustainable lifestyles. My research program is centered on designing, implementing, and evaluating the effectiveness of behavioral interventions to promote the health and sustainability of habitual behaviors (e.g., tobacco control, road safety, responsible consumption, sustainable transportation choices). I translate behavioral science into practice to respond to calls for better (behaviorally) informed interventions and policies. I use a variety of methodological tools including (1) Lab studies testing small-scale psychologically-driven interventions; (2) Large field experiments testing how to scale-up behavioral interventions in natural settings; and (3) Evidence-based policy evaluation, based on meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials and quasi-experiments.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Assistant Professor of Behavioral Science at Duke Kunshan University · 2022 - Present DKU Faculty

In the News


Published September 2, 2025
DKU Professor wins grant from National Natural Science Foundation China
Published December 23, 2019
Can you change for climate change?

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Recent Publications


Eliciting attachment security with social norm messages is linked to reduced energy consumption in extreme heat in the United Arab Emirates

Journal Article Communications Earth and Environment · December 1, 2025 Social norms effectively reduce household energy use, yet research often focuses on moderate climates. Extreme heat could hinder energy-saving behaviors, potentially requiring extra motivational triggers. Here, we examined whether eliciting attachment secu ... Full text Cite
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Education, Training & Certifications


London School of Economics (United Kingdom) · 2014 Ph.D.