My research primarily revolves around how the policies and practices of organisations can enhance the innovation, performance, integrity, and wellbeing of individuals.  In particular, I investigate which practices inspire people to feel their life and activities now are vital to their future—a feeling that enhances motivation and resilience. For example, I have explored which leadership styles and workplace practices foster a sense of purpose in life. Furthermore, I have investigated with this sense of purpose improves health, wealth, mindfulness, openness to diversity, and openness to change.

Research topics I supervise

I would be willing to supervise a range of projects to answer questions such as  

• Which features of workplaces—such as an egalitarian rather than hierarchical culture—enhance the wellbeing of people who experience various mental health problems?
• Which characteristics of parents—such as their capacity to tolerate ambiguity—shape their interactions with their children?
• Which words or phrases in speeches and articles are most likely to inspire and convince other people?
• Which initiatives at university enable students to feel their activities now are vital to their future—ultimately enhancing their motivation, creativity, integrity, and wellbeing?

Initiatives that I want to explore include an opportunity to observe futuristic roles, a workshop that promotes compassion, a program that fosters critical thinking, an app that helps students manage skill development, and a community wall to collate ideas

Key skills

• Social, personality, emotion, and work psychology
• Multivariate statistics, such as mixed linear models and generalised estimating equations
• Writing skills, such as the psychology of persuasion