Madeleine Gross is a leading researcher in the psychology of curiosity, creativity, and personality development. Her work—featured in popular media outlets like the The New York Times, Psyche and the PBS broadcast Closer to Truth—explores how curiosity acts as a catalyst for positive development and human flourishing.

As an Assistant Project Scientist at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Madeleine bridges neuroscience and applied psychology to design interventions that foster curiosity-driven exploration and character growth. By grounding her research in neurobiological processes, she investigates the mechanisms behind individual differences in temperament and character. Her findings suggest that variations in how the brain prioritizes information may shape differences in attention, motivation, and belief systems, which together contribute to the broader patterns of thought and behavior we recognize as personality.

Awarded the APA Dissertation Research Award for this research in 2021, Madeleine’s interdisciplinary approach has helped to shed light on how personality manifests in daily life and how to harness its benefits. Her recent work has focused on promoting curiosity—the eager delight in learning and seeking new experiences.

Building on her earlier findings, she is now developing a smartphone application through the Educating Character Initiative, aimed at encouraging lasting, personality-level changes in curiosity to enhance overall well-being and flourishing. Looking ahead, Madeleine aims to extend her curiosity interventions to support vulnerable populations and older adults, using curiosity as a tool for lifelong resilience.

In a complementary line of research under the Art Seeking Understanding initiative, Madeleine investigates how art and aesthetic experiences impact the mind. Her studies show that brief exposure to experimental films can evoke thought patterns and behaviors typical of curious and open individuals, suggesting that art may serve as a catalyst for activating processes underlying these personality traits.

Through her work, Madeleine aims to encourage individuals across all stages of life to harness curiosity as a lifelong tool for richer experiences, broader perspectives, and lasting personal resilience.