Former Stanford Professor's Ties to Epstein Revealed in Emails

Emails show close relationship between neuroscientist Stephen Kosslyn and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein over decades.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Newly released emails show that a former Stanford professor and prominent neuroscientist, Stephen Kosslyn, maintained a close friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein over the course of decades. The correspondence details Kosslyn's interactions with Epstein, including career advice, campus visits, and attempts to establish a 'behavior engineering institute' at Stanford.

Why it matters

The revelations about Kosslyn's relationship with Epstein raise concerns about the influence of powerful individuals with questionable backgrounds on academia and research institutions. It also highlights the need for greater scrutiny and transparency around university affiliations and funding sources, especially when they involve individuals with criminal histories.

The details

The emails, released as part of the federal case against Epstein, show that Kosslyn and Epstein stayed in close contact during Kosslyn's time at Stanford, as well as before and after. Epstein had a stated interest in forming a 'behavior engineering institute' on the Stanford campus. The correspondence includes Kosslyn asking Epstein for career advice, inviting him to visit Stanford, and arranging in-person meetings. Some of the emails occurred after Epstein's 2008 conviction on state charges of soliciting prostitution, including one charge of soliciting prostitution with a child.

  • The relationship between Kosslyn and Epstein dated back to at least the 1990s.
  • In 2005, Epstein became a visiting fellow at Harvard's psychology department after Kosslyn recommended him.
  • In 2010, Kosslyn was recruited by Stanford to become director of the school's Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences.
  • In 2012, Kosslyn expressed regret about taking the Stanford job and said he was interviewing for a 'better job' in New York.
  • Kosslyn left Stanford in 2013, and the proposal to turn Stanford's Division of Continuing Education into an 'experimental laboratory' never materialized.

The players

Stephen Kosslyn

A former Stanford professor and prominent neuroscientist who maintained a close friendship with Jeffrey Epstein over decades.

Jeffrey Epstein

A convicted sex offender who had a stated interest in forming a 'behavior engineering institute' on the Stanford campus.

Virginia Giuffre

An Epstein accuser who alleged she was trafficked by Epstein as a minor and forced into sexual encounters with powerful men, including Prince Andrew.

Ghislaine Maxwell

Epstein's longtime associate who was convicted of sex trafficking charges in 2021.

Donald Trump

The former president of the United States, who was mentioned in Epstein's infamous 'birthday book'.

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What they’re saying

“Jeffrey's high level of intellectual acumen and breadth of knowledge is all the more remarkable given his background: He never finished his undergraduate education, and is largely self-taught. Jeffrey has been a spectacular success in business, and it is clear why: He's not just intelligent and well-informed, he's creative, deep, extraordinarily analytic, and capable of working extremely hard.”

— Stephen Kosslyn, Former Stanford professor (Harvard University report)

“I've decided that taking this job was an error.”

— Stephen Kosslyn, Former Stanford professor (Emails)

What’s next

The Justice Department and Stanford University are expected to continue investigating the extent of Kosslyn's relationship with Epstein and any potential implications for the university.

The takeaway

This case highlights the need for greater scrutiny and transparency around university affiliations and funding sources, especially when they involve individuals with criminal histories. It also raises concerns about the influence of powerful individuals with questionable backgrounds on academia and research institutions.