Academic Credentials
  • Ph.D., Psychology, Temple University, 2017
  • M.P.H., Public Health, Brown University, 2009
  • B.A., Psychology, Rutgers University, 2007
Licenses & Certifications
  • Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI)
Academic Appointments
  • Lecturer, School of Social Policy and Practice, University of Pennsylvania, 2018-2020
  • Adjunct Faculty, School of Public Health, Drexel University, 2018
  • Graduate Teaching Assistant, Psychology, Temple University, 2012, 2016
Professional Honors
  • Eugene Walker Postdoctoral Fellow Award, Society of Pediatric Psychology, 2019
  • Outstanding Trainee Research Award, Society of Pediatric Psychology, 2019
  • Biomedical Postdoctoral Program Award, University of Pennsylvania, 2019
  • Loan Repayment Award, National Institute of Health, 2018-2020
  • Dissertation Completion Grant Award, Temple University, 2017
  • Tuition Scholarship Award, Brown University, 2007-2009
  • Henry Rutgers Honors Scholar, Rutgers University, 2007
Professional Affiliations
  • Society of Research in Child Development
  • Society of Pediatric Psychology
  • Society of Adolescent Health and Medicine
Languages
  • Spanish

Dr. Karol Silva is a developmental psychologist who specializes in work related to the role of cognition and development in accidents and injuries.

At Exponent, Dr. Silva applies her expertise to the investigation of human factors and human performance in a wide range of contexts and settings, including pedestrian behavior, trip and falls, warnings evaluation, and driver behavior. Dr. Silva also evaluates injuries involving children and adolescents and addresses the role of parenting practices and behavior in child development and injury. Additionally, she has published on the effects of fatigue on decision-making, attention, and reward-seeking behavior and applies this expertise to her evaluation of human factors across different contexts. As a certified playground safety inspector, Dr. Silva is trained to identify hazards in playground and assess and categorize hazards according to injury potential. She conducts similar evaluations of consumer products and conducts product usability studies to examine how children and adult users interact with products and environments. For example, she has assisted clients in determining whether products and/or product packages are child resistant. 

Dr. Silva worked as a public health researcher conducting qualitative and quantitative research on prescription drug misuse, overdose and overdose prevention, and the relationship between surgeons' clinical experience and quality of care and outcomes. She uses her public health background to help clients design and evaluate interventions to address knowledge gaps and operational concerns in healthcare settings.