I am a Scientia Associate Professor of Educational Psychology in the UNSW School of Education. I conduct research in the areas of motivation, wellbeing, and social-emotional development using quantitative research methods. My research also encompasses related factors such as adaptability, engagement, interpersonal relationships, and achievement. I examine predictors and outcomes of these different factors among children, youth, and adults in educational settings. Broadly speaking, my resear...
I am a Scientia Associate Professor of Educational Psychology in the UNSW School of Education. I conduct research in the areas of motivation, wellbeing, and social-emotional development using quantitative research methods. My research also encompasses related factors such as adaptability, engagement, interpersonal relationships, and achievement. I examine predictors and outcomes of these different factors among children, youth, and adults in educational settings. Broadly speaking, my research aims to identify how to best support and promote social, emotional, and academic/occupational thriving among students and teachers.
I have been awarded national and international grants, and government and non-government research tenders. My publications include 100+ peer reviewed journal articles and book chapters, 1 co-edited book, along with over 25 publications for professional audiences. My research features regularly in print and online media articles and podcasts, and I have delivered invited/keynote presentations to academic, community, and educational organisations.
My work has been recognised with several honours including an Australian Research Council DECRA Fellowship (2020-2023), the Richard E. Snow Award for Early Career Research Contributions from the American Psychological Association Division 15 (2021), and the Outstanding Early Career Scholar Award from the American Educational Research Association Division C (2020). Prior to that, I was awarded the Young Scientist Award from the International Society for the Study of Behavioral Development (2018), and Outstanding Reviewer for the American Educational Research Journal (2016).
I am an Associate Editor of the Journal of Educational Psychology, Consulting Editor of Educational Psychology, and an Editorial Board Member for Learning and Instruction, Contemporary Educational Psychology, Teaching and Teacher Education, Social Psychology of Education, British Journal of Educational Psychologist, and Theory into Practice. I have held Visiting Research Fellowships at the University of Oxford, Université Laval, and the University of British Columbia.
I completed my doctoral studies at the University of British Columbia in Canada, and previously worked as a primary school teacher in Melbourne.
- Publications
- Media
- Awards
- Research Activities
- Engagement
- Teaching and Supervision
2023: Outstanding Reviewer Award for Learning and Instruction, European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction (EARLI)
2023: Ranked Top 10 of most productive female educational psychology researchers in the world in the 5-yearly International Rankings of Top-Producing Female Educational Psychology Researchers (Source: Griffin et al., Educational Psychology Review, 2023)
2023: Featured in Stanford’s List of Most Cited Researchers (Top 2%) in 2022 – Globally and in Primary Discipline (Education)
2022: Ranked Top 25 of all researchers in 5-yearly International Rankings of the Most Published Educational Psychologists (Source: Fong et al., Educational Psychology Review, 2022)
2022: Ranked Top 5 of early career researchers in 5-yearly International Rankings of the Most Published Educational Psychologists (Source: Fong et al., Educational Psychology Review, 2022)
2022: Featured in Stanford’s List of Most Cited Researchers (Top 2%) in 2021 – Globally and in Primary Discipline (Education)
2021: Richard E. Snow Award for Early Career Research Contributions, American Psychological Association Division 15 (Educational Psychology)
2021: Supervisor Award, Postgraduate Council, University of New South Wales
2021: Featured in “Educational Psychology Early Career Award Winners: How Did They Do It?” (Source: Kiewra et al., Educational Psychology Review, 2021)
2021: Featured in Stanford’s List of Most Cited Researchers (Top 2%) in 2020 – Globally and in Primary Discipline (Education)
2021: Rising Star of Research in “Educational Psychology and Counselling” - Listed as a Top 40 early career researcher in The Australian newspaper’s Research Magazine 2021
2020: Australian Research Council DECRA (Discovery Early Career Researcher Award)
2020: Outstanding Early Career Scholar, American Educational Research Association Division C (Learning and Instruction)
2018: Young Scientist Award, International Society for the Study of Behavioral Development
2018: Supervisor Award, Postgraduate Council, University of New South Wales
2016: American Educational Research Journal Outstanding Reviewer, American Educational Research Association
2016: Supervisor Award, Postgraduate Council, University of New South Wales
2011-2014: Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)
2010-2014: Four-Year PhD Fellowship, University of British Columbia
2013: Dean of Education Scholarship, University of British Columbia
2013: Donald and Ellen Poulter Scholarship, University of British Columbia
2005-2006: Dean’s Honours Award for Academic Excellence, University of Melbourne
Examples of research projects I am currently conducting include:
- Teachers' motivation and wellbeing
- The role of motivation in social and emotional development among children
- Academic resilience among female students
- Academic success among migrant students
Professional Society Memberships:
- Australian Association for Research in Education
- American Educational Research Association, Division C (Learning & Instruction), Motivation SIG
- American Psychological Association, Division 15 (Educational Psychology)
- European Association for Research in Learning and Instruction, Motivation and Emotion SIG
- British Educational Research Association
- International Society for the Study of Behavioral Development
My Research Supervision
Some current/recent topics examined by students I supervise include:
- Teachers' workplace experiences and links with their engagement and wellbeing
- Students' goal setting and adaptability
- Students' academic effort and links with achievement
- Social-emotional motivation and links with students' wellbeing
- The academic transition to high school and post-school