Elaine Fox was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland and obtained her PhD in psychology and neuroscience from University College Dublin. Following 5 happy years at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand, she returned to Europe to become a senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Essex in England. Promoted to a full professorship in 2000, she was Head of the Department of Psychology and the Centre for Brain Science at the University of Essex from 2007 until 2010.
Currently a Visiting Research Professor at the University of Oxford, she leads a program of research combining cognitive psychology, neuroimaging, and genetics. Her academic book "Emotion Science" was shortlisted for the 2011 BPS "Book of the Year" award. "Rainy Brain, Sunny Brain" is her first book for a general audience describing the fascinating science and stories behind why some of us are optimistic and resilient while others take a pessimistic slant on things and can be prone to depression and anxiety.