Zak Witkower

I am an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Amsterdam (UvA). In my research I examine how subtle movements of the body, head, and face communicate social rank, emotion, and personality, influencing decision-making and leadership emergence. My research combines complex quantitative methods, automated and manual behavioral coding, and psychophysiological measurements to reveal how nonverbal behavior shapes social perception and guides social interactions. To ensure the generalizability of my research findings, I conduct research around the globe and across age groups, including recruiting participants from six continents, adults from non-Western and small-scale traditional societies, and children as young as two years old. Alongside my research, I teach research methods and statistics to undergraduate and graduate students. Outside of academia, I enjoy traveling, playing padel and basketball, refining my automated stock trading algorithm, and recording jazz on the trumpet and piano.