I study decision making and behavior change.
Behavior is a function of a person and their environment. To understand how people make decisions, I study how changes in the environment affect behavior, and how this varies based on individual characteristics.
This approach reflects the science of “meeting people where they are to get them where they want to go.” People have unique motivations and barriers to pursuing their goals. My work seeks to improve decision making in critical contexts of finance, healthcare, and education, while understanding how these processes are shaped by individuals’ past experiences, identities, and values.
I specialize in field experiments. When possible, I conduct full-cycle field research, which integrates data from experiments, surveys, archives, and interviews to develop contextualized and generalizable knowledge.
I earned my Ph.D. in Behavioral Decision Making at the UCLA Anderson School of Management. I previously worked in policy research, where I helped design, evaluate, and implement federal and local policies aimed at reducing inequality. Through research and communication, I use evidence to pursue a more empathetic and equitable society.
Ph.D. in Behavioral Decision Making, Anderson School of Management, UCLA
B.A. in Psychology and Economics, University of Virginia.
Ilana Brody 