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Brian Greer, PhD

Associate Professor

Department(s) Pediatrics

Bio Summary

Brian D. Greer, Ph.D., BCBA-D directs the Children’s Specialized Hospital–Rutgers University Center for Autism Research, Education, and Services (CSH–RUCARES). He is a tenured associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and a core member of the Brain Health Institute at Rutgers University. He received a Bachelor of Science in psychology from the University of Florida, a Master of Arts in applied behavioral science and a Ph.D. in behavioral psychology, both from the University of Kansas. He later completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Dr. Greer is a current associate editor of the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, former associate editor of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, and he has served as an associate editor, guest associate editor, or guest editor for Behavioral Development, Perspectives on Behavior Science, Learning and Motivation, and Behavior Analysis in Practice. He is the 2013 recipient of the Baer, Wolf, and Risley Outstanding Graduate Student Award; the 2019 recipient of the Award of Excellence from the Heartland Association for Behavior Analysis; the 2019 recipient of the B. F. Skinner Foundation New Researcher Award; the 2020 recipient of the Contribution of the Year Award from the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis; and the 2025 recipient of the Mid-Career Faculty “Shining Star” Research Excellence Award from the Brain Health Institute at Rutgers University. Dr. Greer is a former Executive Director of the Society for the Quantitative Analyses of Behavior and a three-time recipient of the Loan Repayment Program Award from the National Institutes of Health. He and his colleagues have received continuous federal funding for their work since 2014.  

Education & Training

A. Undergraduate Graduate and Professional 

University of Florida 

Gainesville, FL 

B.S. (Psychology) May 2008 

 

B. Graduate and Professional 

University of Kansas 

Lawrence, KS 

M.A. (Applied Behavioral Science) August 2011 

 

University of Kansas 

Lawrence, KS 

Ph.D. (Behavioral Psychology) August 2013 

 

POSTGRADUATE TRAINING: 

A. Internship and Residencies 

N/A 

 

B. Research Fellowships 

N/A 

 

C. Postdoctoral Appointments 

University of Nebraska Medical Center 

Omaha, NE 

Behavioral Psychology 

August 2013–July 2014 

Research Interests

Dr. Brian D. Greer’s research focuses on advancing the assessment and treatment of severe destructive behavior (e.g., self-injury, aggression, and property destruction) in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders. His work emphasizes identifying the environmental and behavioral variables that control such behavior through refined functional analysis methods, as well as developing and optimizing evidence-based interventions like functional communication training. A central theme of his research is improving the durability of treatment effects and preventing relapse, often by translating and applying quantitative models of behavior to clinical practice. Additionally, he investigates how caregiver implementation and treatment integrity interact with child outcomes, aiming to enhance the real-world effectiveness and sustainability of behavioral interventions. 

Publications

A. Refereed Original Article in Journal 

  1. 1. Breeman, S. L., Irwin Helvey, C., & Greer, B. D. (in press). Recent developments and future directions for competing stimulus assessments. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. 

  1. 2. Fuhrman, A. M., Angley, S. M., Kurywczak, G. P., & Greer, B. D. (in press). Habit reversal training to reduce skin picking and vocal tics in an autistic adult. Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice. 

  1. 3. Mitteer, D. R., Fisher, W. W., Greer, B. D., & Irwin Helvey, C. (in press). Relative effects of four resurgence-mitigation strategies informed by behavioral momentum theory. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. 

  1. 4. McCabe, L. H., Greer, B. D., Irwin Helvey, C., & Briggs, A. M. (in press). Prevalence of error types of synthesized contingency assessments. Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice. 

  1. 5. Shahan, T. A., Hiltz, J., Avellaneda, M., & Greer, B. D. (2026). Contingency discrimination training: Effects of reduced extinction session durations. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 125(1), e70072. https://doi.org/10.1002/jeab.70072  

  1. 6. Reed, D. D., Greer, B. D., Wenzell, M. L., Balser, S., Devine, J. K., Choynowski, J., Graham, M. E., & Hursh, S. R. (2025). Anxiety and depression affect sleep quality: A preliminary investigation in crowdsourced samples of autistic and non-autistic adults. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 55, 4358–4364. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-025-06735-w  

  1. 7. McCabe, L. H., Greer, B. D., Irwin Helvey, C., & Briggs, A. M. (2025). On the evidence for interactive effects during and following synthesized contingency assessments. Behavioral Interventions, 40(1), e2074. https://doi.org/10.1002/bin.2074  

  1. 8. Marshall, A. R., Mitteer, D. R., Greer, B. D., & Kishel, C. B. (2025). On the prevalence and magnitude of resurgence during delay-and-denial tolerance teaching. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 58(1), 151–163. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.2930  

  1. 9. Retzlaff, B. J., Craig, A. R., Owen, T. M., Greer, B. D., O’Donnell, A., & Fisher, W. W. (2024). Identifying cyclical patterns of behavior using a moving-average, data-smoothing manipulation. Behavioral Sciences, 14(12), 1120. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14121120   

  1. 10. Yassa, R. R., Mitteer, D. R., Greer, B. D., Angley, S. M., McCabe, L. H., & Elwasli, O. M. (2024). Teaching trainees to implement multiple schedule FCT: An evaluation of training effects and durability. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 57(4), 999–1015. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.2915  

  1. 11.  Greer, B. D., Shahan, T. A., Irwin Helvey, C., Fisher, W. W., Mitteer, D. R., & Fuhrman, A. M. (2024). Resurgence of destructive behavior following decreases in alternative reinforcement: A prospective analysis. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 57(3), 599–614. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.1083  

  1. 12. Angley, S. M., Mitteer, D. R., Greer, B. D., Elwasli, O. M., & Fisher, W. W. (2024). A demonstration of incorporating discriminative stimuli into an AAC device during functional communication training. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 40(4), 328–336. https://doi.org/10.1080/07434618.2024.2333380 

  1. 13. Shahan, T. A., Sutton, G. M., Van Allsburg, J., Avellaneda, M., & Greer, B. D. (2024). Resurgence following higher or lower quality alternative reinforcement. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 121(2), 246–258. https://doi.org/10.1002/jeab.904  

  1. 14. Norris, H. M., & Greer, B. D. (2024). Relative preference across functionally equivalent reinforcers maintaining destructive behavior. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 57(2), 358–371. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.1051  

  1. 15. Smith, S., & Greer, B. D. (2023). Translational evaluation of on/off alternative reinforcement cycling. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 120(3), 429–439. https://doi.org/10.1002/jeab.879  

  1. 16. McCabe, L. H., & Greer, B. D. (2023). Evaluations of heart rate during functional analyses of destructive behavior. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 56(4), 777–786. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.1019  

  1. 17. Irwin Helvey, C., Fisher, W. W., Greer, B. D., Fuhrman, A. M., & Mitteer, D. R. (2023). Resurgence of destructive behavior following differential rates of alternative reinforcement. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 56(4), 804–815. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.1010  

  1. 18. Fisher, W. W., Greer, B. D., & Mitteer, D. R. (2023). Additional comments on the use of contingent electric skin shock. Perspectives on Behavior Science, 46, 339–348. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40614-023-00382-1  

  1. 19. Greer, B. D. (2023). Barriers to accessing effective treatments for destructive behavior. Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 10(1), 68–74. https://doi.org/10.1177/23727322221144653  

  1. 20. Kimball, R. T., Greer, B. D., Fuhrman, A. M., & Lambert, J. M. (2023). Relapse and its mitigation: Toward behavioral inoculation. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 56(2), 282–301. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.971  

  1. 21. Greer, B. D., Shahan, T. A., Fisher, W. W., Mitteer, D. R., & Fuhrman, A. M. (2023). Further evaluation of treatment duration on the resurgence of destructive behavior. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 56(1), 166–180. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.956  

  1. 22. Fisher, W. W., Greer, B. D., Shahan, T. A., & Norris, H. M. (2023). Basic and applied research on extinction bursts. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 56(1), 4–28. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.954    

  1. 23. Smith, S. W., & Greer, B. D. (2022). Validating human-operant software: A case example. Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice, 22(4), 389–403. https://doi.org/10.1037/bar0000244   

  1. 24. Haney, S. D., Greer, B. D., Randall, K. R., & Mitteer, D. R. (2022). Relapse during the treatment of pediatric feeding disorders. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 55(3), 704–726. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.913  

  1. 25. Mitteer, D. R., Greer, B. D., Randall, K. R., & Haney, S. D. (2022). On the scope and characteristics of relapse when treating severe destructive behavior. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 55(3), 688–703. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.912    

  1. 26. Greer, B. D., Fisher, W. W., Fuhrman, A. M., & Mitteer, D. R. (2022). Conducting translational research in the context of patient care. Perspectives on Behavior Science, 45, 383–398. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40614-022-00333-2  

  1. 27. Fisher, W. W., Greer, B. D., Mitteer, D. R., & Fuhrman, A. M. (2022). Translating quantitative theories of behavior into improved clinical treatments for problem behavior. Behavioural Processes, 198, 104639. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2022.104639  

  1. 28. Smith, S. W., & Greer, B. D. (2022). Phase duration and resurgence. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 117(1), 91–104. https://doi.org/10.1002/jeab.725  

  1. 29. Mitteer, D. R., & Greer, B. D. (2022). Using GraphPad Prism’s heat maps for efficient, fine-grained analyses of single-case data. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 15, 505–514. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-021-00664-7  

  1. 30. Miller, S. A., Fisher, W. W., Greer, B. D., Saini, V., & Keevy, M. D. (2022). Procedures for determining and then modifying the extinction component of multiple schedules for destructive behavior. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 55(2), 463–480. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.896   

  1. 31. Jarmolowicz, D. P., Greer, B. D., Killeen, P. R., & Huskinson, S. L. (2021). Applied quantitative analysis of behavior: What it is, and why we care—Introduction to the special section. Perspectives on Behavior Science, 44, 503–516. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40614-021-00323-w  

  1. 32. Shahan, T. A., & Greer, B. D. (2021). Destructive behavior increases as a function of reductions in alternative reinforcement during schedule thinning: A retrospective quantitative analysis. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 116(2), 243–248. https://doi.org/10.1002/jeab.708  

  1. 33. Odell, A. J., Greer, B. D., Fuhrman, A. M., & Hardee, A. M. (2021). On the efficacy of and preference for signaling extinction in a multiple schedule. Behavioral Development, 26(2), 43–61. https://doi.org/10.1037/bdb0000104  

  1. 34. Brown, K. R., Zangrillo, A. N., & Greer, B. D. (2021). Development of a systematic approach to identify reinforcer dimension sensitivity. Behavioral Development, 26(2), 62–80. https://doi.org/10.1037/bdb0000102  

  1. 35. Mitteer, D. R., Greer, B. D., Randall, K. R., Kimball, R. T., & Smith, S. W. (2021). Empirically deriving omission and commission errors for relapse tests: A demonstration of reverse translation. Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice, 21(4), 351–363. https://doi.org/10.1037/bar0000218  

  1. 36. Fuhrman, A. M., Lambert, J. M., & Greer, B. D. (2021). A brief review of expanded-operant treatments for mitigating resurgence. The Psychological Record, 72, 319–323. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40732-021-00456-z  

  1. 37. Fuhrman, A. M., Fisher, W. W., Greer, B. D., Shahan, T. A., & Craig, A. R. (2021). Resurgence following traditional and interdependent differential reinforcement of alternative behavior. Behavioral Development, 26(1), 29–42. https://doi.org/10.1037/bdb0000101  

  1. 38. Haney, S. D., Piazza, C. C., Peterson, K. M., & Greer, B. D. (2021). An evaluation of a renewal-mitigation procedure for inappropriate mealtime behavior. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 54(3), 903–927. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.815  

  1. 39. Randall, K. R., Greer, B. D., Smith, S. W., & Kimball, R. T. (2021). Sustaining behavior reduction by transitioning the topography of the functional communication response during FCT. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 54(3), 1013–1031. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.824  

Honors & Awards

Mid-Career Faculty “Shining Star” Research Excellence Award 

Brain Health Institute, Rutgers University 

2025 

 

Society for Pediatric Research (SPR) Membership 

2021 

 

Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis (JABA) Contribution of the Year 

“Resurgence as Choice: Implications for Promoting Durable Behavior Change” 

Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior 

2020 

 

B.F. Skinner Foundation New Researcher Award 

American Psychological Association, Division 25 

2019 

 

Award of Excellence 

Heartland Association for Behavior Analysis 

2019 

 

Loan Repayment Program Award (Renewal) 

National Institutes of Health 

2019–2021 

 

Loan Repayment Program Award (Renewal) 

National Institutes of Health 

2018–2019 

 

Loan Repayment Program Award 

National Institutes of Health 

2016–2018 

 

Baer, Wolf, and Risley Outstanding Graduate Student Award 

University of Kansas, Department of Applied Behavioral Science 

2013 

 

Florida Bright Futures Scholarship 

State of Florida 

2004–2008