Salerno is an extraordinary scholar whose groundbreaking research bridges social psychology and the legal system. She explores how emotion and intergroup dynamics shape legal decisions, uncovers how moral outrage fuels bias against stigmatized groups, and examines how jurors assess scientific evidence presented by expert witnesses. Her work also illuminates the fascinating differences between how individuals and groups make legal decisions, with a particular focus on how deliberation shapes outcomes. Salerno’s innovative insights are transforming our understanding of justice, making her one of the most brilliant minds in the field today. Salerno's work has been published in empirical journals and has been funded by the National Science Foundation, National Institute of Justice, the American Psychology-Law Society, the American Bar Foundation, and the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues. She serves on the editorial board for Law and Human Behavior, and Psychology, Public Policy, & Law. She has won several research awards, including the New College for Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences Outstanding Research Award, the Association for Psychological Science's Rising Star designation, and the American Psychology-Law Society's Saleem Shah Early Career Award.