Frances Chen

Dr. Frances Chen is a Professor and Area Coordinator in the Department of Psychology at the University of British Columbia (UBC), located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Musqueam People. She holds a PhD from Stanford University (2009). Her research integrates health psychology, social psychology, and neuroendocrinology to explore how social experiences influence mental and physical health. Key areas include the physiological impacts of loneliness, social support, and hormonal changes during puberty on adolescent development.

Education:

• PhD, Psychology, Stanford University, 2009

Research Focus:

Dr. Chen investigates how social interactions 'get under the skin' through studies on loneliness, stress, conflict negotiation, and hormonal mechanisms. Her work emphasizes interventions to enhance social connection and reduce health disparities.

Recent Article Trends:

Recent publications highlight interdisciplinary approaches, including genetic influences on depression, effects of near-infrared lighting on cognition, and longitudinal studies on adolescent hormonal contraceptive use. Her work bridges basic science and applied health outcomes.

Awards & Grants:

• Michael Smith Health Research BC C2 Award (2022)
• Killam Faculty Research Fellowship (2019)
• Teaching & Learning Enhancement Fund Grant (2025)
• SSHRC Prosociality Project Funding (2023)

Lab & Mentorship:

Director of the Social Health Lab, she mentors graduate and undergraduate students, prioritizing equity and inclusion. Recent lab achievements include studies on teen health development and interventions to improve student success in psychology programs.

Lab Initiatives:

• UBC Teen Health and Development Study (longitudinal hormonal/mental health tracking)
• NIR lighting health impact research (collaborative interdisciplinary project)
• Prosociality 'in the Wild' SSHRC project