SAM GOSLING, Ph.D., is an associate professor of psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. He did his doctoral work at the University of California at Berkeley, where his dissertation focused on personality in spotted hyenas. In addition to his animal work he also does research on Internet-based methods of data collection and on how human personality is manifested in everyday contexts like bedrooms, offices, webpages, and music preferences.

Gosling's environmental research, which is summarized in his book, "Snoop: What Your Stuff Says About You," is based on the idea that the spaces in which we live and work are rich with information about what we are like.

His work has been widely covered in the media, including The New York Times, Psychology Today, NPR, Nightline, and Good Morning America. Gosling is the recipient of the American Psychological Association's Distinguished Scientific Award for Early Career Contribution. He lives in Austin, Texas.