Steven Boker

Steven Boker is a Professor of Psychology and Professor of Data Science by Courtesy at the University of Virginia, affiliated with the Department of Psychology and the School of Data Science. He directs the Ph.D. program in Quantitative Psychology, the Human Dynamics Laboratory, and the LIFE Academy, focusing on advanced modeling of behavioral and psychological dynamics.

His research centers on quantitative psychology and dynamical systems approaches to understanding human behavior over time. Key areas include modeling longitudinal data, dyadic conversations, mother-infant coupled dynamics, age-related changes in emotional resiliency, and adaptive models of addiction. His work integrates complex systems theory with psychological measurement.

Boker is recognized as a leading scholar in his field, having been elected as a Fellow of both the American Psychological Association and the Association for Psychological Science. These honors reflect his significant contributions to quantitative methods and psychological science.

As an advisor and program director, he plays a central role in training the next generation of quantitative psychologists. He leads the Human Dynamics Laboratory, which develops and applies dynamic models to real-time behavioral data, and is involved with the LIFE Academy, supporting interdisciplinary research on lifespan development.