Elissa Epel

Elissa Epel, Ph.D., is a Professor and Vice Chair in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco. She serves as Director of the Aging, Metabolism, and Emotions Center (www.amecenter.ucsf.edu), Associate Director of the Center for Health and Community, and member of the National Academy of Medicine. Dr. Epel is also past President of the Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research and Co-Chair of the Mind and Life Institute Steering Council. She currently leads the Climate Resilience Initiative as part of the UC wide Center for Climate, Healthy and Equity.

Dr. Epel received her undergraduate education in psychology and psychobiology at Stanford University, followed by clinical and health psychology training at Yale University. She completed a clinical internship at the Palo Alto Veterans Healthcare System and an NIMH postdoctoral fellowship at UCSF.

Her research focuses on the malleable determinants of healthy longevity, optimal metabolism, and mental health. She explores psychological, social, and behavioral processes related to chronic psychological stress and health, with particular emphasis on processes that accelerate biological aging, including toxic stress, overeating effects on metabolism, and cellular aging (telomere/telomerase maintenance system). Dr. Epel develops and tests interventions combining behavioral, psychological, and mindfulness training to improve stress resilience and slow aging. She co-leads national networks focused on stress and emotional well-being, and has contributed to NIH initiatives on Geroscience, reversibility of early life adversity, and the Science of Behavior Change.

Analysis of Dr. Epel's recent publications reveals a strong focus on the intersection of stress physiology, aging biomarkers, and health disparities. Her work increasingly addresses climate change impacts on mental health, while maintaining her longstanding expertise in telomere biology, metabolic health, and stress-related eating behaviors. Recent studies demonstrate growing attention to intergenerational transmission of stress effects, social determinants of health, and digital interventions for stress management.

• APA Early Career Award
• Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research Neal Miller Young Investigator Award
• Mind and Life Service Award
• 2017 Silver Innovator Award from the Alliance for Aging Research
• Patricia Barchas Award for Sociophysiology research from APS/SBMS
• Highly cited researcher since 2019

Dr. Epel has secured substantial NIH funding for her research, serving as Principal Investigator on multiple R01, R24, and U24 grants totaling millions of dollars. Her current projects examine emotional well-being, optimal longevity, early life adversity, cellular aging, and lifestyle interventions for type 2 diabetes. She has mentored numerous students and collaborators, contributing significantly to the field through her leadership in national research networks and initiatives.

Dr. Epel directs the Aging, Metabolism, and Emotions (AME) Center at UCSF, which focuses on understanding and intervening in processes that influence healthy aging. She also leads the COPE (Coping with Pandemics and Emergencies) initiative, creating evidence-based resources for psychological first aid during crises. Her team has developed innovative digital interventions for stress management, including the Big Joy Project, and has been instrumental in creating climate resilience resources for students and the public.