Summary
Applied AI and behavioral scientist with a PhD in decision neuroscience, building at the intersection of machine learning, human behavior, and real-world data. Research combines intensive longitudinal sensing (wearables, smartphones), predictive modeling, and behavioral science to develop personalized, data-driven tools for improving goal achievement and well-being. Former documentary filmmaker and artist (Emmy-nominated, FRONTLINE PBS) with a track record of shipping creative products and translating complex ideas for diverse audiences.
Education
Ph.D., Psychology (Decision Neuroscience)
2026
University of Toronto
Dissertation: New Approaches to Understand the Intention-Behavior Gap: Testing the Validity of Domain-General but Person-Specific Models
Technical Skills
- Programming & Data: Python (pandas, NumPy, scikit-learn, SciPy), SQL, R, JavaScript, Git
- ML & Statistics: Elastic Net, PLS regression, PCA, mixed-effects models, Bayesian mixture models, clustering, time-series analysis, causal inference, NLP
- Data & Infrastructure: End-to-end pipelines (collection through modeling), multimodal sensor data, digital phenotyping, EMA, Tableau
- Research Methods: Experimental design (lab & field), intensive longitudinal methods, psychometrics, fMRI, A/B testing
- AI-Assisted Development: LLM-augmented research, coding, and product development workflows
- Languages: English (native), French (native/bilingual), Spanish (conversational), German (basic)
Research Experience
Doctoral Researcher
Graduating March 2026
University of Toronto · Decision Neuroscience Lab
- Designed and led a 12-week intensive longitudinal study (N=184, ~9,200 person-days) combining daily surveys, cognitive tasks, and continuous passive sensing via iPhone and Apple Watch
- Built individualized predictive models of goal achievement using digital trace data, demonstrating that person-specific models outperform population-level approaches
Graduate Research Fellow
2021–2023
Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society
- Conducted interdisciplinary research at the intersection of AI, data governance, and society
- Produced technical reports and decision frameworks used by policymakers and industry stakeholders
Visiting Researcher
2019–2020
University of Pennsylvania · Computational Neuroscience Lab (Konrad Kording)
- Built NLP pipelines to analyze millions of tweets, estimating the causal effect of Instagram’s ad rollout on user well-being using difference-in-differences analysis
Visiting Researcher
2023
Max Planck Institute for Human Development
Research Assistant
2015
Princeton University · Niv Lab
Industry & Applied Experience
Founder
2026–Present
Pairent
- Bootstrapping an AI/behavioral analytics product that helps families capture daily interactions and receive evidence-based, personalized feedback
Co-Founder
2015–2022
minutiae
- Co-created an “anti-social media” smartphone app; press in WIRED, Financial Times; presented at Centre Pompidou; acquired by Columbia University archive
Data Scientist Fellow
2021
Coding it Forward · NYC Mayor’s Office for Economic Opportunity
- Built dashboards and automated reporting pipelines for NYC poverty analysis used to guide government policy
Data Scientist
2020
Data Science for Social Good Foundation
- Built KPIs and an interactive dashboard for Chilean school administrators tracking student outcomes
Editor & Co-Producer
2011–2014
FRONTLINE PBS
- A Death in St. Augustine (FRONTLINE / New York Times, 2013): Co-producer and editor. Emmy-nominated.
Artist & Filmmaker
2010–2016
Self-Employed
- Work covered by New York Times, Wall Street Journal; exhibited at MoMA PS1; acquired by Criterion Collection and Columbia University
Co-Founder
2009–2010
MMX · Non-profit art space, Berlin
Publications
- Wilson, D.J. and Hutcherson, C.A. (2026). Day-to-day fluctuations in cognitive precision predict the domain-general intention-behavior gap. Science Advances, 12(6), eaea8697. DOI
- Wilson, D.J., HajiHosseini, A., and Hutcherson, C.A. (2023). Recruitment of dlPFC during dietary self-regulation predicts the transience of regulatory effects. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 18(1), nsab088.
- Wilson, D.J. and Hutcherson, C.A. (in preparation). A domain-general intention-behavior gap measure: Development, validation, and associations with well-being.
Creative & Media
- minutiae (2015–2022) — Anti-social media app. Press: WIRED, Financial Times. Acquired by Columbia University.
- The Circus (Showtime, 2016) — Editor on weekly documentary series on 2016 US primary campaign.
- Separate and Unequal (PBS FRONTLINE, 2014) — Editor.
- 9Y40 (2013) — Performance artwork centered on NYC yellow cabs. Exhibited at MoMA PS1.
- A Death in St. Augustine (PBS FRONTLINE / NYT, 2013) — Co-producer and editor. Emmy-nominated.
Awards & Honors
| 2018–23 | NSERC Postgraduate Scholarship — Doctoral |
| 2021–23 | Schwartz Reisman Institute Graduate Fellowship |
| 2021–23 | Apple Health Research Partnership |
| 2017–18 | Massey Junior Fellow, Massey College |
| 2017–18 | NSERC Canada Graduate Scholarship — Masters |
| 2018 | NSERC Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement |
| 2023–25 | University of Toronto Doctoral Completion Award |
| 2014–15 | Media Artist and Scientist Collaboration, GRAND NCE & Canada Council ($118K CAD) |
Fellowships & Workshops
| 2024 | NeurIPS Creative AI Reviewer |
| 2023 | Summer Institute on Bounded Rationality, Max Planck Institute |
| 2021 | Oxford Machine Learning Summer School (acceptance rate: 6.5%) |
| 2021 | Civic Innovation Corps Fellow (acceptance rate: 3.6%) |
| 2020 | Neuromatch Academy |
| 2019 | Kavli Summer Institute in Cognitive Neuroscience |
| 2018 | European Summer School on Computational & Mathematical Modeling of Cognition |
| 2017 | Summer School in Social Neuroscience & Neuroeconomics, Duke University |
| 2014–15 | NEW INC, New Museum Incubator — Artist in Residence |
| 2014 | School for Poetic Computation |
| 2013–14 | UnionDocs Documentary Fellowship Program |