Leon Mait (he/him) | Researcher | lmait@omni.org

As a Researcher, Leon works across OMNI’s content areas, assisting with quantitative analysis, research design and execution, and deliverable creation. Since joining OMNI, Leon has provided technical assistance, data cleaning and analysis, policy analysis, and various other research services across a number of behavioral health and economic security projects. Leon brings methodological expertise in quantitative research methods and advanced statistical analyses.

Prior to joining OMNI in 2024, Leon completed his PhD in Psychology & Social Policy at Princeton University, where he examined public perceptions of DEI in higher education and the impacts of diversity-related discourse and policies on historically underrepresented students.

In his spare time, Leon enjoys going for long runs while listening to podcasts and trying out new baking recipes.

“My north star has always been to increase social well-being. I want the work I do and the research I conduct to improve people’s lives in meaningful ways. ”

EDUCATION

Princeton University
Ph.D., Psychology & Social Policy

Radboud University
Master of Behavioral Science

University of Maryland
B.A., Sociology

+ Certifications, Memberships, Awards, and Service

  • Member of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology
  • Princeton University Center for Human Values Graduate Prize
  • Princeton University G. Mason Morfit ‘97 Fellowship
  • Marion J. Levy, Jr. Award
  • Radboud University Disciplinary Honours Award
  • Princeton University, Scholars Institute Fellowship Program Graduate Fellow
  • Princeton Insights Contributor
  • Princeton RISE (Recognizing Inequities and Standing for Equality) Fellow
  • CITI Research Certification – HIPAA
  • CITI Program (2014)

+ Selected Publications

  • Starck, J. G., Mait, L., Shelton, J. N., Sinclair, S. (under review). Examining partisan support for instrumental and moral university diversity rationales among White Americans.
  • Mait, L., Sinclair, S., & Shelton, J. N. (under review). Not all diversity is created equal: White Americans endorse moral rationales for socioeconomic diversity more than for racial diversity.
  • Haushofer, J., Larreboure, M., Lowes, S., & Mait, L. (2023). Cash Transfers and Social Preferences of Children. http://www.nber.org/papers/w31720
  • Rusz, D., Le Pelley, M. E., Kompier, M. A. J., Mait, L., & Bijleveld, E. (2020). Reward-driven distraction: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 146(10), 872–899. https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000296

How do you take your coffee?
In the morning; black. In the afternoon; iced with oat or soy milk!

One place you’d like to travel to?
Albania— I want to hike the Albanian Alps!

Early bird or night owl?
Early bird.