Dr. Saul Shiffman is a distinguished psychologist renowned for pioneering contributions to behavioral science methodology and tobacco research. He currently holds the position of Emeritus Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh, with additional appointments in Psychiatry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Clinical Translational Research. With a career spanning nearly five decades, Dr. Shiffman previously served as Research Professor at the University of Pittsburgh from 2000 until his transition to emeritus status, following earlier academic appointments at the University of South Florida. His educational background includes graduating Summa Cum Laude with Department Honors and membership in Phi Beta Kappa, Psi Chi, and Sigma Chi societies.
Dr. Shiffman's groundbreaking research has fundamentally transformed real-time behavioral assessment through his development and refinement of Ecological Momentary Assessment methodology, which captures data in natural settings as events occur. His work on behavior change, particularly in smoking cessation and medication adherence, has generated substantial scientific influence with over 66,000 citations according to Google Scholar. As a world-renowned expert on consumer use of non-prescription medications and self-management strategies, his research has provided critical insights into self-control mechanisms across diverse health contexts. His methodological innovations have been widely adopted across multiple disciplines for studying real-world behavior with unprecedented temporal precision and ecological validity.
Beyond his academic contributions, Dr. Shiffman has significantly shaped health policy and pharmaceutical research through his longstanding role as Senior Scientific Advisor at Pinney Associates, a position he has held since 1993. His expertise in behavioral science, study design, and analysis has informed numerous tobacco harm reduction initiatives and pharmaceutical development projects for major industry clients. Dr. Shiffman co-founded invivodata, inc. in 1999, where he served as Chief Science Officer developing electronic patient diary methods for clinical research. His ongoing scholarly activity continues to advance understanding of behavior change processes, with recent work focusing on electronic nicotine delivery systems and their role in smoking cessation across diverse populations, ensuring his enduring influence on both academic research and public health practice.
