Laurie Santos

Laurie Santos is the Chandrika and Ranjan Tandon Professor of Psychology at Yale University, leading the Canine and Primate Laboratory (CapLab). She holds a Ph.D. from Harvard University (2003). Her work focuses on understanding human uniqueness through comparative studies of non-human primates and domestic dogs, exploring cognition, theory of mind, and decision-making biases. She also pioneered the 'Science of Well-Being' Coursera course, one of the most popular online education programs globally. Santos is the host of the Happiness Lab podcast and creator of Yale’s most popular undergraduate course on happiness.

Research interests span animal cognition, evolutionary psychology, and applying scientific insights to enhance human well-being. Her lab’s projects include investigating how non-human animals navigate social and moral problems, and the role of experience in canine-human interactions. She has contributed to studies on pedagogy, cooperative behavior, and the psychological impacts of pet ownership. Santos’ work bridges basic research and practical applications, emphasizing evidence-based strategies for mental health.

Her educational contributions include designing scalable well-being interventions and analyzing the efficacy of psychoeducational courses. Collaborative projects, such as the ManyDogs replication studies on canine cognition, highlight her commitment to rigorous, reproducible science. Santos advocates for interdisciplinary approaches, blending psychology, neuroscience, and education to address fundamental questions about the human mind and its potential.