Elaine Howard Ecklund (born 16 February 1973) is a published author and professor of sociology at Rice University.

Others are what she calls "spiritual entrepreneurs,” seeking creative ways to work with the tensions between science and faith outside the constraints of traditional religion.

She argues that many are searching for "boundary pioneers" to cross the picket lines separating science and religion and overcome the "conflict thesis.”[citation needed] Ecklund has published over 100 articles in peer-reviewed social scientific, medical, and other journals.

[7] Jason Rosenhouse, an associate professor of mathematics at James Madison University, has been critical of some of Ecklund's summaries and conclusions.

[8] Ecklund founded and served as the director of the Religion and Public Life Program (RPLP) at Rice University from 2010 to 2022.