Nursing professor Zhuo Job Chen honored by American Psychological Association for psychology of religion research

September 14, 2026

School of Nursing Professor Zhuo Job Chen is the recipient of the American Psychological Association’s 2026 Margaret Gorman Early Career Award, which recognizes an individual whose research in the psychology of religion is marked by scholarly excellence.

The American Psychological Association is the leading society for psychology in the U.S. To organize its large, diverse membership, the association is broken down into 54 distinct divisions. Chen’s award is issued from Division 36, which promotes research, theory and practice on the role of spirituality and religion.

Chen joined the College of Health and Human Services in 2022 from Clemson University. His research focuses on the intersection of the psychology of religion, spirituality and mysticism with health and well-being. Specifically, he investigates the phenomenology of transcendent human experiences — religious encounters with the divine, spiritual practices and mystical states of consciousness — and the effects those experiences have on psychological and physical health outcomes. 

Currently, his scholarly output exceeds 160 publications, with two monographs. His most original contributions to the psychology of religion and spirituality include theoretical and empirical research on mysticism — transcendent experiences that transform the individual — with numerous articles and a book, “The Psychology of Mysticism,” on the topic.

Chen has received more than $1 million in external research funding, most recently for studying the health and well-being impact of spiritual practices inspired by Daoist traditions and, in nursing science, raising the awareness and readiness among terminally ill adults for palliative care. 

His research excellence was also recognized In 2023 when he received the Early Career Award from the International Association for the Psychology of Religion. The award is given to promising junior researchers in the field of the psychology of religion. 

Chen serves as an associate editor for the International Journal for the Psychology of Religion. He holds a doctorate in psychology and a master’s degree in mathematics from the University of Oregon, a master’s degree in psychology of religion from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Wuhan University.