Faculty

			Paul J. Zak is a scientist, prolific author, entrepreneur, TV personality, and public speaker. He is the founding Director of the Center for Neuroeconomics Studies and Professor of Economics, Psychology and Management at Claremont Graduate University. Dr. Zak also serves as Professor of Neurology at Loma Linda University Medical Center, and is a Senior Researcher at UCLA. He has degrees in mathematics and economics from San Diego State University, a Ph.D. in economics from University of Pennsylvania, and post-doctoral training in neuroimaging from Harvard. He is credited with the first published use of the term "neuroeconomics" and has been a vanguard in this new discipline. He organized and administers the first doctoral program in neuroeconomics in the world at Claremont Graduate University. Dr. Zak is a recognized expert in oxytocin. His lab discovered in 2004 that oxytocin allows us to determine who to trust. His current research is showing that oxytocin is responsible for virtuous behaviors, working as the brain's "moral molecule." This knowledge is being used to understand the basis for civilization and modern economies, improve negotiations, and treat patients with neurologic and psychiatric disorders. >>Read More About Paul J. Zak

			Richard Peterson, M.D., Senior Researcher and Managing Partner, Market Psychology Consulting. Dr. Peterson was born in Washington D.C. and raised in Texas. He attended the University of Texas where he earned degrees in Electrical Engineering and Arts in 1995. Also in 1995 he co-founded and worked as a partner in Intelligent Investments where he both designed neural network-based stock index forecasting sofware and traded derivatives. Dr. Peterson attended the University of Texas Medical Branch (medical school) from 1996 to 2000 where he received the Ford Award for Excellence in Psychiatry and earned a doctor of medicine degree (M.D.). He completed his four-year psychiatry training in 2004, and at present he continues as a managing partner of Market Psychology Consulting. Dr. Peterson has created four online money psychology tests: "The Money and Investing Personality Test", the "Financial Values Questionnaire", the "Trading Addiction Screen", and an "Inattention Screen". Dr. Peterson has been managing his own stock and commodity investment accounts for the past 14 years, and for the past 6 years the accounts have been managed with psychology-based systems.

			William L. Matzner, MD, Ph. D. , Senior Researcher and board certified in Internal Medicine. He has researched and published extensively on the issue of reproduction and immunology in medical literature. He has been in private practice since 1989, specializing in Reproductive Immunology and Internal medicine. >>Read More About William L. Matzner, MD, Ph. D.

			Robert Kurzban, Ph.D., Senior Researcher and Assistant Professor of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania. >>Read More About Robert Kurzban, Ph.D.

			Moana Vercoe, Ph.D., Moana is a the Program Director for the Center for Neuroeconomics Studies. Moana completed her Ph.D. in Politics and Economics. Her areas of interest include world politics and decision making. Her research concentrates on themechanisms involved in conflict, reconciliation and learning.

			Levan Efremidze, Ph.D., Levan completed his Ph.D. in Economics at Claremont Graduate University. He's currently teaching at Claremont Graduate University (CGU).

			Steve Sapra, Ph.D., Steve completed his Ph.D. in Economicsat Claremont Graduate University. He's currently a an active researcher in the fields of behavioral economics and Neurofinance. Steve's primary interest is in the relationship between human behavior and asset pricing. Specifically, Steve studies how human emotions and non-standard preferences (e.g. Prospect Theory) affect the prices of risky assets such as equities, bonds, and real estate. He is also heavily involved in the development of quantitative investment strategies which capitalize on errors and biases in human decision making. Dr. Sapra has published papers in The Financial Analysts Journal, The Journal of Portfolio Management, and The Journal of Sports Economics and also works as a Portfolio Manager at Analytic Investors, LLC in Los Angeles, CA.