Sophie Grauss obtained her bachelor’s degree in Cultural Anthropology at Utrecht University in 2024. She is pursuing a master’s degree in Theology and Religious Studies at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, specializing in Peace, Trauma and Religion.

Through her master’s thesis, Sophie is involved in the Extreme Beliefs project. In her research, Sophie explores how local governments can counter the process of affective polarization, focused on the municipality of Gouda. Her work contributes both to academic insights into affective polarization and to practical guidance for local policymakers.