Patty Van Cappellen, Ph.D., is an Assistant Research Professor in the Social Science Research Institute and Psychology and Neuroscience Department at Duke University. She has a dual advanced degree in Biblical Studies and a Ph.D. in Social Psychology received in 2012 from the University of Louvain in Belgium. Her research uses psychological theories and methods to study emotions (e.g., awe and gratitude), religion, and flourishing. She asks questions such as "Does religion lead to individual well-being and social harmony: when, how, and for whom?"

She is the recipient of multiple grants from the Templeton philanthropies to deepen her work on the science of religious practices (e.g., meditation, prayer, worship) and of emotions such as compassion and hope. For her work, Dr Van Cappellen received the Early Career Award from the International Association for the Psychology of Religion in 2017 and the Margaret Gorman Early Career Award from the American Psychological Association Div. 36 in 2019. You can find more information about her Belief, Affect, and Behavior lab here: https://sites.duke.edu/bablab/