Angela Duckworth

Angela Duckworth is the Rosa Lee and Egbert Chang Professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. She co-directs the Behavior Change for Good Initiative and Wharton People Analytics, focusing on non-innate factors influencing achievement. A 2013 MacArthur Fellow, she has advised major organizations and authored the #1 New York Times bestseller Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance.

• Education: BA in Advanced Studies Neurobiology from Harvard (magna cum laude), MSc in Neuroscience from Oxford (Distinction), and PhD in Psychology from University of Pennsylvania (NSF Fellow).

Research Interests: Duckworth's work spans psychology, behavioral science, and education, with emphasis on grit, motivation, and interventions to improve student and health outcomes. Key contributions include megastudy methodologies, habit formation via machine learning, and behavioral nudges in vaccination and math education.

• Notable Findings:
  • Personalized email nudges to teachers improved student math achievement by 5.06%.
  • Behaviorally informed text messages increased flu vaccination rates by 21% in pharmacies.
  • Subgoal framing boosted volunteer hours by 8% through granular goal structures.
  • Habit formation timelines vary significantly across contexts (e.g., gym vs. hospital handwashing).

Scientific Awards: MacArthur Fellow (2013), with over 15 recent publications in top journals including PNAS, Nature, and JAMA Network Open. Her work has been featured in Knowledge@Wharton and Wharton Stories.

Teaching & Public Engagement: Currently teaches courses like Grit Lab and Technology and the Good Life. Co-hosts the podcast No Stupid Questions and delivered a TED Talk on grit viewed by millions. She founded a summer school for underserved children and worked as a McKinsey consultant and public school teacher.