Shabnam Hakimi, Ph.D.

I'm a Senior Research Scientist in the Human-Centered AI group at the Toyota Research Institute. My work is at the intersection of behavioral science and AI, combining both theory- and data-driven approaches to investigate how context—especially affective context—modulates learning and decision making. I am particularly interested in motivation, flexible self regulation, and leveraging interdisciplinary approaches to develop more effective, personalizable interventions for individual behavior change.

Prior to joining the Toyota Research Institute, I trained at Duke University, the University of Colorado Boulder, Caltech, the National Institute of Mental Health, and Stanford University. I also served as the Director of Behavioral Labs at Welltok, a health optimization company focused on developing engaging interventions for health behaviors.