# Rafael M Batista (@rafmbatista.bsky.social)

Profile: https://sifa.id/p/rafmbatista.bsky.social
Headline: Behavioral Scientist | Postdoctoral Research Fellow @ Johns Hopkins University

## About

I'm a behavioral scientist based in Washington, DC.

I think a lot about thinking and how people make everyday decisions. My research at the moment looks at how AI shapes our thinking and the way each of us experiences the world — how it changes what we believe, how we perceive, and the decisions we make in our day-to-day. I also study financial decision-making, specifically how people spend, save, and borrow.

My research involves running experiments, both in the lab and in the world, but I also lean on other methods to answer questions about human behavior. I have a PhD/MBA from UChicago's Booth School of Business and spent a year as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the [Kahneman-Treisman Center for Behavioral Science & Public Policy](https://behavioralpolicy.princeton.edu/) in Princeton University's School of Public and International Affairs.

I am currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School's [Technology and Society Initiative.](https://carey.jhu.edu/faculty/research-centers-initiatives/tech-society-initiative)​

I also consult. I've worked with international banks, NGOs, social enterprises, organizers, and organizations such as the U.N. and the Gates Foundation. If you are working on a hard behavioral problem, [get in touch.](mailto:rbatista@jhu.edu)​

## Career

- **MBA at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business** (Sep 2023 - Jun 2025)
- **Research Assistant at Baumeister & Tice Social Psychology Lab** (Aug 2011 - Aug 2014)
  Our work ranges in topics including (but not limited to) self and self identity, self-control and self-regulation, ego depletion, judgment and decision making, attitudes and persuasion, subjective well-being and meanings of life.
- **Finance & Economic Analysis Intern at Executive Office of Governor** (Sep 2013 - Dec 2013)
  The Office of Policy and Budget (OPB) provides coordinated planning, policy development, budgeting and evaluation in support of the Governor, State agencies and State Legislature pursuant to authority under the Florida Statutes; as well as providing departmental planning, policy and budgetary analyses and recommendations for the Executive Office of the Governor. OPB is organized into nine units.

## Skills

### Technical
- Data Analysis
- Matlab
- R
- SQL
### Business
- Business Development
- Experimental Design
- Experimentation
- Fundraising
- Management
- Marketing
- Nonprofits
- Public Relations
- Recruiting
- Strategic Planning
### Interpersonal
- Leadership
- Public Speaking
- Qualitative Research
- Research
### Community
- Community Engagement
- Community Outreach
- Event Planning
### Other
- Behavioral Economics
- Behavioral Science
- Communicating Science
- Cross-cultural Research
- Decision Analysis
- Decision Making
- Decision Sciences
- Grant Writing
- International Relations
- Organizational Leadership
- Public Policy
- Social Networking
- SPSS
- Time Management

## Projects

- **WBS International Behavioural Science Networking Event** — http://www.wbs.ac.uk/news/meet-the-leading-names-in-behavioural-science/ (Dec 2014 - Feb 2015)
  Warwick Business School and the University of Warwick's Behavioural Science GRP hosted its inaugural International Behavioural Science Networking Event on Monday, 23 February 2015 at Warwick Business School's new London base at The Shard.
  
  The aim of the event was to connect the top behavioural science students to the leading organizations applying behavioural insights to their practice from around the world.

## Publications

- From: Claude Design; For: Researchers — notes.rafaelmbatista.com (Apr 2026) https://notes.rafaelmbatista.com/3mteb4zyy4c2f
- Trails and public spaces — notes.rafaelmbatista.com (Apr 2026) https://notes.rafaelmbatista.com/3mte6hzpacs2b
- Why we need a global view of human behaviour — World Economic Forum Agenda (Dec 2014) https://agenda.weforum.org/2014/12/why-we-need-a-global-view-of-human-behaviour/
- A Cross-Cultural Look at a Meaningful Life and a Happy Life — FSU Honors Theses (Aug 2014) http://purl.flvc.org/fsu/fd/FSU_migr_uhm-0412
- Self-Other Differences in Perceptions of Wealth — SSRN Working Paper https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3933888
- Misarticulation: Theory and Evidence — SSRN Working Paper https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4164007

## Courses

- Methods & Analysis in Behavioural Science w/ Dr. Neil Stewart
- Issues in Psych Science w/ Dr. Gordon Brown
- Principles of Cognition w/ Dr. Nick Chater
- Psychological Models of Choice w/ Dr. Neil Stewart
- Behavioural Economics w/ Dr. Eugenio Proto
- Experimental Economics w/ Dr. Eugenio Proto
- Neuroeconomics w/ Dr. Elliot Ludvig
- Behavioural Science: Implications & Applications w/ Dr. Gordon Brown
- Culture and Self w/ Dr. Çiğdem Kağıtçıbaşı
- Culture and Behavior w/ Dr. Çiğdem Kağıtçıbaşı
- Behavioural Microeconomics w/ Dr. Graham Loomes & Dr. Andrea Isoni
- Religion, Secularism, and Democracy w/ Dr. Murat Somer
- Behavioral Economics w/ Dr. John Hamman
- Persuasion w/ Dr. Davis Houck
- Collective Action & Social Movements w/ Dr. Deana Rohlinger
- Philosophy of Law w/ Dr. Maria Morales
- Psychology of Women w/ Dr. Joyce Carbonell
- Intercultural Leadership & Dialogue
- Interpersonal Relationships
- History of Happiness w/ Dr. Darrin McMahon
- Econometrics w/ Dr. Carl Schmertmann

## Awards

- Bess H. Ward Honors Thesis Award (Mar 2014)
  The Honors Office offers awards of up to $750 each to support research or creative activity leading to an Honors Thesis for students who are in the Honors in the Major Program. The grants are intended to pay for travel to perform research, or expenditures for expense items, or small equipment items directly related to the thesis research.
  
  honors.fsu.edu
- 2013 Social Science Scholar (Jan 2013)
  The Program was created to select outstanding juniors and provide them with leadership development opportunities and support. Social Science Scholars are chosen through a competitive process. Those selected will participate in a unique, 3-unit leadership seminar during the spring semester of their junior year. The seminar prepares students for projects of their choosing, which are undertaken during the following summer and/or fall semesters. Each Social Science Scholar receives up to $5,000 for approved travel and other expenses related to domestic or international internships, service projects or research. During their senior year, Scholars will present reports on their leadership, attend seminars and symposia and work with mentors to prepare for fellowships, graduate schools and/or careers.

## Languages

- English (native)
- Portuguese (native)
- Spanish (limited working)

## Links

- linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/batistar