Our Team
The people behind the data
XandY brings together researchers, strategists, and writers with dozens of peer-reviewed publications and decades of experience moving public opinion on the ideas that matter most.
Matthew Goldberg, Ph.D.
Co-Founder & PartnerDr. Matthew Goldberg is a leading scientific expert on social influence, public opinion, and human behavior. His work focuses on how people form opinions and make decisions, and how evidence-based strategy can change both. He has developed custom research and strategic insights for tech companies, media organizations, political figures, and nonprofits. You may have heard him on Science Friday, or seen his research covered by CNN, Reuters, Scientific American, and the Los Angeles Times. He earned his Ph.D. in social psychology and is currently a faculty member at Yale University, where he serves as Director of Experimental Research at the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication.
Abel Gustafson, Ph.D.
Co-Founder & PartnerDr. Abel Gustafson is a leading social scientist specializing in public opinion, social psychology, behavior change, and communication strategy. His work answers a practical question: why do some ideas win public acceptance while others stall, and what can communication strategy do about it? He has guided market research and behavior change campaigns for global nonprofits, billion-dollar companies, tech startups, media networks, and industry groups. His research has been featured in outlets like The New York Times, The Washington Post, Forbes, and others including The Onion. After earning his Ph.D., he joined Yale University as a postdoc to conduct research on communication strategies related to science, sustainability, and emerging tech. He is currently a professor of public relations at the University of Cincinnati.
Carly Wolfer
Research & Strategy ManagerCarly Wolfer is a social scientist with expertise in human behavior, interpersonal relationships, and health psychology. She has managed a diverse portfolio of qualitative and quantitative research projects backed by both public (NIH, NSF, health clinics) and private (branding & design agencies, health & wellness companies) stakeholders. She graduated from Columbia University with a M.A. in Health Education & Behavior Sciences, and is currently earning her Ph.D. in Social Psychology from The City University of New York.
Vinny Badolato
Director of Strategic PartnershipsVinny Badolato is an organizational builder and growth strategist who has spent the last two decades in a variety of roles from policy and advocacy to strategy and venture philanthropy. He has lobbied state legislatures, built multiple programs from scratch, raised tens of millions of dollars, and advised dozens of organizations. He holds an M.A. in education policy from University of Colorado Boulder and a B.A. in history from The George Washington University.
Caitlin Kossmann, Ph.D.
Senior Science WriterDr. Caitlin Kossmann is a writer, editor, and historian who writes about science and society. Her research areas include scientific communication and community formation, histories of the environmental and life sciences, and intersections between craft and medicine. She has worked at The Yale Review, the nation's oldest literary quarterly, and is a co-founder of the educational nonprofit Saxifrage Institute. She holds a Ph.D. in the history of science, medicine, and technology from Yale University and a BA in ecology and evolutionary biology from Princeton University.
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