Sylvia Vitousek is a Psychology researcher with a passion for empathy and kindness. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Princeton University and earned her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Social Psychology from UCLA. Her professional background includes working as a Product Researcher for Instagram, formerly an Assistant Professor of Psychology & Director of the Empathy and Social Connection Lab at University of Illinois at Chicago, a Science Instructor for Master Designers at Maritz Motivation Solutions, a Senior Researcher at Stanford University, and a Lab Manager of the Lifespan Development Lab at Stanford University. She has also consulted for Adidas.

At Instagram, Sylvia Vitousek is focused on understanding and promoting empathy and kindness in social media interactions. Her work has also explored topics such as improving social connection, reducing loneliness, and enhancing well-being.