What is your role here at Flinders?
I’m an Associate Professor of Psychology, where I teach on topics related to cognitive psychology, neuroscience and AI – and lead the HAVIC Lab for Human, Artificial and Virtual Interactive Cognition. I also help coordinate our undergraduate psychology program, focusing on student partnerships, outreach, and alumni engagement – and sit on the Research Committee for my college and the Institute for Mental Health and Wellbeing.
What initially drew you to psychology? And to your continued research in cognitive psychology?
I decided I wanted to be a psychologist when I was very young, but I’m not sure why. My parents say I talked about it as a child – picking out the chaise longue for my future office every time we were in a furniture store! What really hooked me was a neuropsychology lecture in first year of my undergrad degree. I was fascinated by how the brain shapes the way we experience the world – and how certain injuries could give rise to conditions such as visual spatial neglect, aphasia or body ownership illusions. Later, I worked as an education aid with an autistic child and his family – and this experience inspired my PhD on the cognitive and neural mechanisms of social interaction in autism. That shaped the various research streams in my lab today, where we use virtual and artificial agents to better understand and support social connection, learning and wellbeing across the lifespan.
What is the focus of the HAVIC Lab? How does it support the neurodiverse community? And the wider community?
We explore how people understand and interact with others, both human and artificial. Our projects include co-designing VR tools to support neuroinclusive employment for autistic adults and uncovering and reducing the stigma that autistic people encounter in everyday interactions. As well as developing social robots that help children engage with reading and looking at how robot design can foster trust and collaboration in workplace contexts (e.g. manufacturing). Our broader goal is to advance a human-centred and cognition-informed approach to designing technologies that enhance social interactions, wellbeing, education and inclusion for everyone.
What has been your career highlight to date?
The best part of my job is the people. Weekly lab meetings with my team are a highlight and seeing former PhD students grow into independent researchers is incredibly rewarding. Recently, I’ve been collaborating with a former PhD student on some new projects they have been leading, and it has been a full-circle moment – although I’m aware that says more about their career than mine! Another recent highlight was being invited as a Faculty Member to the 2025 Summer School on Social Connections and Well-being in the Digital Era at the Lake Como School of Advanced Studies. The faculty and students were so bright and enthusiastic, and it was a real gift to discuss emerging research in a beautiful setting (and with good food).
What do you enjoy about working at Flinders University?
In just two years at Flinders, I have met so many partners and friends from all corners of the university – across all colleges and in many professional teams (e.g. operations, marketing, HDR engagement, recruitment, legal, IDS). I’ve never experienced anything quite like it before. I feel like people at Flinders are primed for collaboration and community in a way that isn’t true of most large organisations. It’s made many aspects of my professional life more productive (and enjoyable).
Tell us about your ideal weekend.
A trip to the Willunga markets, a walk from Brighton to Glenelg, and maybe some gardening (with an inevitable visit to Bunnings with my kids!). I love discovering new spots in the Hills or Fleurieu or cooking an unrushed meal for my family.