Chester F. Carlson Professor of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences
University of Virginia Division of Perceptual StudiesConsciousness, Hospice, Mindfulness
Jennifer “Kim” Penberthy, Ph.D., ABPP is the Chester F. Carlson Professor of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, Division of Perceptual Studies, at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. Kim is a board certified clinical psychologist and conducts research, teaches, and provides clinical care at UVA in Psychiatry and the Cancer Center. She obtained her undergraduate and master's degree in psychology from Wake Forest University, her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University, and her Fellowship at the University of Virginia. Her research interests focus on the mind-body relationship and exploring human consciousness as well as extraordinary human experiences, including the impact of such on human abilities and wellness. She is a founding member of the UVA Contemplative Sciences Center and a member of the UVA Academy of Distinguished Educators, the Wisdom & Wellbeing Program, the Leadership in Academic Matters Program, and is a Fellow of Humanism in Medicine at the University of Virginia. She is involved on an international level conducting research and consulting with the Center for Consciousness Research and the Scientific & Medical Network as well as the IANDS Research Network. Dr. Penberthy is interested in the impact of extraordinary human experiences such as Near Death Experiences, Out of Body Experiences, and After Death Communications as well as intentionally pursued altered states of consciousness, such as those resulting from contemplative practices, meditation, and psychedelics. She is also dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion and exploring and honoring contemplative practices from indigenous and native cultures. She is President of the Society of Clinical Psychology, the former chair of the American Psychological Association Society of Clinical Psychology Diversity Committee and is a fellow in the APA Leadership Institute for Women in Psychology. She has published extensively on psychotherapy and mindfulness, including 4 books, and scores of manuscripts and book chapters, and lectures internationally regarding her research. Her most recent book is co-authored with her daughter, Morgan, and is called “Living Mindfully Across the Lifespan: An Intergenerational Guide,” published by Routledge Taylor & Francis in 2020. Her clinical expertise includes: Anxiety Disorders Depressive disorders (including Persistent Depression) Post traumatic stress (PTSD) Cancer-related stress Burnout Mindfulness Meditation Grief and loss Fear of death and dying Extraordinary experiences Altered States of Consciousness After Death Communications Out of Body Experiences.
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences
University of Virginia Division of Perceptual StudiesConsciousness, Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Psychiatry
Marina Weiler, Ph.D., serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. She holds a Ph.D. degree from the University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in Brazil, with her doctoral research focused on fMRI biomarkers in Alzheimer's disease. Her Ph.D. thesis was distinguished with the Best Brazilian PhD Thesis award in the field of Medicine I in 2016, and her contributions were recognized by the Brazilian Academy of Neurology on three separate occasions. In 2016, Marina joined the National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health (NIA/NIH), where she conducted research on the potential of brain stimulation as a therapeutic approach for addressing age-related cognitive decline. During her time at NIA, she was honored with the 2020 NIA Women in Science Excellence in Research Award. Subsequently, at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), she conducted research focused on biomarkers associated with disorders of consciousness following traumatic brain injuries, utilizing fMRI as a key tool. At the University of Virginia, Marina's research interests have evolved to encompass topics such as out-of-body experiences, altered states of consciousness, mediumship, and remote viewing. Her project on out-of-body experiences received recognition and support from the Templeton World Charity Foundation. Additionally, she was a runner-up award recipient in the Bigelow Institute for Consciousness Research (BICS) essay contest in 2021.