Monthly Archives: August 2026

Important Announcement: The IBRC is Hiring!

Dr. Van Cappellen is excited to announce that the Duke Interdisciplinary Behavioral Research Center, of which she is the director, is hiring a new Research Program Coordinator to lead center operations and support the Duke researchers that depend on us every day to help them conduct groundbreaking social and behavioral research.

The IBRC is Duke’s shared research resource for social and behavioral research, supporting researchers across multiple departments and career stages through research space, participant recruitment, and research support services.

This is not a typical pre-PhD lab manager position. We are looking for someone with a background in psychology or another social and behavioral science, experience supporting research, and an interest in research administration. The position is a permanent, full-time role that works closely with me to support the daily operations of the IBRC, participant recruitment, researcher support, communications, and administrative functions of the Center.

The start date is flexible (as early as September 1). Candidates should expect to relocate to North Carolina and work primarily in person (at least 4 days per week) on Duke’s campus. Dr. Van Cappellen will review applications on a rolling basis, with full consideration given to applications received by August 17.

Job posting:
https://careers.duke.edu/job-invite/272963/

Dr. Van Cappellen and Former Lab Post-Doc Kunalan Manokara Co-Chair APS Preconference on Empathy

BABLab PI Patty Van Cappellen and former lab post-doc Dr. Kunalan Manokara co-chaired the full-day preconference, “Empathy: Approaches and Implications for a Divided World,” at the 2026 Association for Psychological Science Annual Convention in Barcelona, Spain.

Empathy: Approaches and Implications for a Divided World

Held on May 28, the preconference brought together more than 20 experts from different
disciplines and geographic regions. Through research presentations and posters, participants explored empathy’s role in early development, interpersonal relationships, and group dynamics, as well as the potential challenges and costs associated with empathic behavior across different contexts.

Patty also presented the keynote address, titled “For Better or Worse: The Role of Religion for Empathy and Intergroup Relations.”

The event was organized in partnership with The Love Consortium.