Boston University School of Theology (BUSTH) is pleased to announce that PhD student Xiaodi Wu (’23,’28) is a recipient of the 2026 Constant H. Jacquet Research Award from the Religious Research Association (RRA). The annual award supports outstanding research that applies social scientific methods to the study of religion, with emphasis on projects that offer practical value for religious organizations and leaders. Wu was recognized for her research project, “Dīgǔ: The Chinese Psychology of the Religiously Unaffiliated in Crisis.”
Wu’s PhD research focuses on the psychology of religion, psychoanalysis, positive psychology, comparative theology, migration, and the experiences of people who identify as spiritually curious, religiously unaffiliated, or as “nones.” This project examines how religiously unaffiliated Chinese individuals navigate psychological and spiritual crises, contributing to a growing body of research on well-being, flourishing, and religious identity in contemporary society. The project reflects the RRA’s commitment to advancing research that informs and strengthens religious practice through social scientific inquiry.
The Constant H. Jacquet Research Award encourages innovative scholarship from emerging researchers, particularly PhD students and early-career scholars, whose work bridges academic research with real-world application. Wu’s recognition highlights both the strength of her interdisciplinary research and the School of Theology’s commitment to advancing scholarship that addresses the complex intersections of faith, psychology, and human flourishing.