Samuel Mehr is a Research Associate in the Department of Psychology at Harvard University, where he directs the Music Lab. The lab's research asks how and why the design of the human mind leads us to perceive, create, and engage with music across human societies and across the lifespan. Originally a musician, Sam earned a B.M. in Music Education from the Eastman School of Music, followed by a doctorate in Human Development at Harvard under the mentorship of Elizabeth Spelke, Steven Pinker, and Howard Gardner.