Emiliana Simon-Thomas

Emiliana Simon-Thomas serves as Science Director at UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center, where she combines her expertise in neuroscience with a passion for understanding human happiness and social connection. A Berkeley native with a Ph.D. in Psychology studying emotional and cognitive processes, she has built an impressive career investigating the biological foundations of prosocial emotions like compassion, gratitude, and awe. Her journey includes significant roles as Associate Director/Senior Scientist at Stanford's Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education before joining GGSC in 2010. She currently oversees the center's research fellowship program and co-teaches the highly successful Science of Happiness MOOC, which has reached over 600,000 students globally. Her work extends beyond academia through her role as co-editor of the Oxford Handbook of Compassion Science and her frequent lectures on the biological underpinnings of social connection. As a recognized expert in the neuroscience and psychology of compassion, she focuses on translating cutting-edge scientific insights into practical approaches for improving interpersonal dynamics and well-being, while regularly presenting to diverse audiences worldwide, including the Dalai Lama.