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20192026

Research activity per year

Personal profile

Biography

In 2020, I completed my Doctor of Philosophy in social psychology at the University of Newcastle under the supervision of A/Prof Mark Rubin, A/Prof Stefania Paolini, and Dr Kylie McIntyre. My PhD investigated sleep as a mediator of the relation between social class and health across four studies of university students around Australia (as well as a small population of students from an Irish university and students from TAFE). My PhD highlighted that improving an individual's sleep could help reduce the impact that being from a lower social class can have on one's mental and physical health. However, it is important that the interventions to improve sleep should be appropriate for people from lower social classes.

From 2019-2021, I worked at Everymind, a mental health and suicide prevention organisation. I worked on various projects including investigating the mental health and wellbeing of small business owners, and evaluating the effectiveness of postvention initiatives in NSW secondary schools. From 2021-2023, I worked as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow with A/Prof Michelle Kennedy on the Murru Minya project at the University of Newcastle. This project aimed to explore the conduct of research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Since 2023, I work as a Postdoctoral Fellow with Prof Elizabeth Rieger, and I am part of the National Network workstream within the Australian Eating Disorders Research and Translation Centre. My research includes investigating the interaction between different interpersonal factors and eating disorders, as well as understanding the experiences of eating disorders within the transgender and gender diverse community.

 

Qualifications

Bachelor of Psychology (Honours), PhD (Psychology)

Research Interests

My primary research interest is in the intersection between social contexts and health. In my research experience, I have been involved in:

  • The mediating effect of sleep on the relation between social class and health,
  • The mental health of small business owners (including subgroups such as family day care educators),
  • Evaluating postvention initiatives in NSW secondary schools,
  • Exploring the ethical conduct of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research.
  • Understanding the interpersonal factors that drive eating disorder symptoms.

My other key research interest is examining research process and exploring ways to improve research methods. I am a mixed methods researcher, and I am constantly developing my skills and understanding in quantitative and qualitative designs.

 

Education/Academic qualification

Psychology, PhD, Sleep tight and don’t let the socioeconomic inequality bite! Relations between social class, sleep, and mental and physical health., University of Newcastle

Award Date: 4 Feb 2020

Psychology, Honours, University of Newcastle

Award Date: 14 Dec 2015

External Scholarly Memberships and Affiliations

Postdoctoral Fellow, Australian Eating Disorders Research & Translation Centre

31 Jul 2023 → …

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