Daniel Gilbert

Professor Daniel Gilbert is an award winning psychologist who’s research specialises in happiness and how human’s navigate time and their lives. Current Edgar Pierce Professor of Psychology, Daniel is a renowned researcher on affective forecasting, the study of how people perceive their future emotional states. A dedicated communicator of science and psychology, Daniel is a sought-after speaker with a talent for delivering captivating insights into complex psychological ideas. 

Daniel began his academic career in 1981 when he earned his BA in psychology from the University of Colorado Denver and then went on to get his Ph.D. in social psychology from Princeton University. He went on to join the faculty at the University of Texas, Austin and later moved to Harvard University. 

Daniel is passionate about communicating his ideas on happiness and sharing his research insights into how humans perceive their lives. In 2006, Daniel published “Stumbling on Happiness,” a New York Times Bestseller that has not only been translated into more than thirty languages, but also won the 2007 Royal Society Prize for Science Books. Daniel has also given three popular Ted Talks, one of which spent a long time in the top 25 most-viewed of all time, and was the host and co-writer of the award-winning TV series “This Emotional Life”.

Winner of the Phi Beta Kappa Teaching Prize, and elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Gilbert has won many awards for his teaching and research. In 2019 he received the William James Fellow Award from the Association for Psychological Science for his contributions to social psychology and in 2024 he was elected to the American Philosophical Society. Daniel’s expertise, garnered over an illustrious career, coupled with his engaging and dynamic presenting style make him a sought-after speaker, leaving audiences engaged, informed and inspired.