Dr. Rachel Vanderbilt is a relationship scientist whose research examines how we communicate in our romantic relationships. Specifically, her research examines how we communicate in our romantic relationships as we age and our relationships mature, particularly during conflicts that are difficult to resolve. She has taught at the college level for several years including courses on public speaking, communication research methods, and interpersonal communication.

Her current focus is on making relationship research more accessible, which she started doing through creating TikToks about various topics around romantic relationships. She believes that we can all benefit from evidence-based recommendations about how to have healthy and happy relationships.

Dr. Vanderbilt earned her Bachelor’s degree in Communication and Rhetorical Studies from Syracuse University, her Master’s degree in Interpersonal Communication from the University of Central Florida, and her Doctorate in Communication Arts and Sciences from the Pennsylvania State University. Her day job is as a user experience researcher and data analyst. She lives in Tampa, Florida with her husband, daughter, and four cats.