Explore Mindworks
Learn more about our working behavioral science lab and interactive discovery center in downtown Chicago.
Explore Mindworks
About Mindworks
We deliver an immersive experience designed to further the scientific understanding of human behavior and help visitors improve their lives.
Free and open to all, Mindworks is a working laboratory and interactive discovery center that welcomes the public to participate in, and learn about, behavioral science research, findings, and real-world applications.
Mindworks has two primary goals:
-
Better understand human behavior by engaging a large and diverse group of research participants
-
Empower visitors to improve their lives and communities using insights from behavioral science
Mindworks is operated by the Roman Family Center for Decision Research at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and is home to the center's PIMCO Decision Research Laboratories.
In fall of 2018, PIMCO and the Roman Family CDR announced a partnership in support of behavioral science research. In recognition of this investment in research, the center's laboratories were renamed the PIMCO Decision Research Laboratories. The PIMCO Decision Research Laboratories will yield scientific discoveries with the potential to improve individual and social welfare.
Mindworks is made possible by the generous philanthropic support of PIMCO.
Discover More about Mindworks
Mindworks is a one-of-a-kind experience where people can learn more about how their own minds work and, at the same time, contribute to groundbreaking science as participants. It’s a unique hands-on behavioral science lab where you can both study and be studied simultaneously. The center expands research beyond the ivory tower and into our everyday lives.
Visit Mindworks
We are conveniently located on Michigan Avenue in the Loop. Our researchers can’t wait to meet you!
Visit Mindworks
Get Involved with Mindworks
There are many ways for you to help us continue to take Mindworks to exciting new dimensions.
Get Involved with Mindworks
Earn Prizes
Every visitor who participates in a study will earn prizes such as clothing, discounts to museums, and gift cards for local restaurants.
Earn PrizesMindworks Staff
Rebecca White
Labs Director
Rebecca (Becky) oversees the operations of the center's research labs and partnership data-collection sites. Becky has a PhD in quantitative psychology from the Ohio State University, with a focus on the study of judgment and decision-making, and she is also an adjunct professor of behavioral science at Chicago Booth.
Rebecca White
Jasmine Kwong
Director, Mindworks
Jasmine Kwong oversees research operations at Mindworks, the world’s first behavioral science discovery center in the heart of Chicago’s cultural corridor downtown. She leads Mindworks' engagement strategy and programming for students, alumni, and the general public. Jasmine has an MBA and AB from the University of Chicago.
Jasmine Kwong
Brian Ge
Research Professional
Brian works to promote positive visitor experiences at Mindworks and also coordinates with Roman Family CDR faculty collaborators to facilitate research operations. Brian earned an MA in the Social Sciences with a Psychology concentration from the University of Chicago.
Brian Ge
Donald Lyons
Associate Director
Don manages research professionals who carry out research operations in the Mindworks Labs and oversees the operations that support research. Don is a part-time MBA student at Booth and previously served as Lab Manager for Nicholas Epley.
Donald Lyons
Dylan Morrow
Research Professional
Dylan helps to advance research for faculty, researchers, and collaborators at the Roman Family Center for Decision Research. Dylan gained his BS in Psychology (Neuroscience Track) and BA in Philosophy from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and he earned his MA (Psychology Concentration) from the University of Chicago.
Dylan Morrow
Eliana Polimeni
Chief Scientist
Eliana is a Principal Researcher at the Roman Family Center for Decision Research and serves as the Chief Scientist at Mindworks. Eliana studies the ways in which people's beliefs tend to be miscalibrated and how these beliefs might lead people to make suboptimal decisions. Eliana completed her PhD in Management & Organization at the Kellogg School of Management in 2023.
Eliana Polimeni
Andrea Rivera-Martinez
Lab Research Assistant
Andrea supports operations and research projects conducted at Mindworks. Andrea joined the center as a research assistant through the HBCU & HSI Bridge Scholarship Program at the Graham School after graduating from the University of Puerto Rico with a BA in Psychology.
Andrea Rivera-Martinez
Katerina Townsend
Assistant Director
Katerina helps manage the day-to-day operations at Mindworks as well as the research projects that come through the lab. She also manages outreach and communications efforts for the Roman Family CDR labs. Katerina previously worked for the center as a research assistant while completing her MA at the University of Chicago.
Katerina Townsend
Adam Vargas
Senior Web Applications Developer
As the Roman Family CDR's Senior Web Applications Developer, Adam develops and troubleshoots research applications. He focuses on both client- and server-rendered, modern web app frameworks and is lead developer of the MyCDR study management app. Adam received his BA in Psychology from the University of Notre Dame and is a certified professional programmer.
Adam Vargas
Jenna Williams
Research Professional
Jenna supports operations and research projects conducted at Mindworks. Additionally, she assists in centering and supporting the Mindworks visitor experience. Jenna comes from a hospitality background, has her BA in International Relations from Grand Valley State University, and her MA from the University of Chicago.
Jenna WilliamsMedia Contact
Mindworks welcomes visits and inquiries from members of the press. Please contact Mark Temelko, director of operations and external relations at the Roman Family Center for Decision Research: mark.temelko@chicagobooth.edu or 773-834-5284.
Employment Opportunities
If you love behavioral science and are interested in learning about potential employment opportunities at Mindworks, please see How to Get Involved or email us.
Contact Us
The most commonly asked questions are addressed on our Frequently Asked Questions page. If you are still unable to find the answer to your question or would like more information, feel free to contact Mindworks.
Email Mindworks