Find Academic Supervisors

• Clinical Sciences
• Psychology
• Communication and Media Studies
• +3 more

Dr. Vasileios Stavropoulos is the Associate Dean, Higher Degree Research at RMIT University's Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences. His research focuses on behavioral addictions, digital phenotyping, and the psychological impacts of digital media, particularly in gaming and social media contexts. He supervises numerous research projects addressing topics like cyber-phenotyping via text mining, disordered gaming, and the interplay between digital media and mental health. Key research interests include the psychological mechanisms underlying problematic gaming and social media use, network analysis of addiction symptomologies, and the role of user-avatar bonds in behavioral disorders. His work integrates machine learning and behavioral science to predict and analyze addictive behaviors. Dr. Stavropoulos has published extensively on gaming disorder, social media addiction, and the mental health implications of digital media use. His collaborations span clinical psychology, public health, and computational methods, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach to addressing modern behavioral challenges. He is actively engaged in higher degree research governance at RMIT, overseeing doctoral programs and fostering innovation in research methodologies. His contributions include developing scales for measuring addiction behaviors and advancing longitudinal studies on mental health correlations with digital engagement.

Peter ChewView profile

Associate Professor

• Behavioral Addictions
• Internet Gaming Disorder
• Social Media Addiction
• +3 more

Dr. Peter Chew is an Associate Professor of Psychology at James Cook University Singapore (JCUS). He specializes in behavioral addictions, particularly internet gaming disorder, social media addiction, and problematic pornography use. His research focuses on prevalence, correlates, interventions, and effects of these addictions. He also explores Terror Management Theory and psychometrics. Education: PhD in Psychology (2012-2016, JCU), BPsych (Hons I, 2008-2011, JCU), and a Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice (2018-2020, JCU). Research interests include behavioral addiction mechanisms, intervention strategies, and the psychological impact of mortality salience. He has published extensively in journals like Addictive Behaviors and Psychiatric Quarterly . His recent work examines cross-cultural addiction pathways, pandemic-induced death anxiety, and sleep quality mediated by addiction. He mentors both graduate and undergraduate students, co-authoring over 40 publications.

Lik Sam ChanView profile

Lecturer

• Digital Platform Cultures
• Gender and Sexuality Studies
• LGBTQ+ Media Studies
• +5 more

Lik Sam Chan is a Lecturer in Digital Cultures at the University of Sydney's Discipline of Media and Communications , with adjunct positions at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. His work bridges digital platform studies, LGBTQ+ communities, and cultural analysis across Asia-Pacific contexts. PhD in Communication (University of Southern California) MA in Media and Communications (Goldsmiths, University of London) BSc in Communication (The Chinese University of Hong Kong) Research focuses on global dating app cultures and LGBTQ+ digital media use , applying mixed-methods analysis to explore intersections of technology, identity, and socio-political change. Key themes include queer resilience in digital spaces, platform affordances in China, and cross-cultural dating dynamics. Recent publications analyze AI companionship ethics (2025), Queer digital cultures in Asia (2023-2025), and dating app impacts on queer mental health (2023-2025). Book: The Politics of Dating Apps: Gender, Sexuality, and Emergent Publics in Urban China (MIT Press, 2021; Chinese translation 2025). Awards & Grants: 2024 - Chief Investigator, General Research Fund (HKD 613,040, withdrawn) 2022 - Top Faculty Paper, AEJMC LGBTQ Interest Group 2019 - Top Faculty Paper, ICA Communication and Technology Division 2018 - Honourable Mention, IAMCR Journalism Research Section Professional roles: Co-Chair of ICA LGBTQ Studies Division , Associate Editor for Journal of Social and Personal Relationships and Personal Relationships , and member of the Chinese Studies Centre . Media contributions to BBC, Foreign Policy, and academic commentary on platforms like Bluesky (@liksamchan).

Kim M CaudwellView profile

Professor

• Psychology
• Behavioral Addictions
• Health Behavior
• +8 more

Kim M Caudwell is a Professor and Associate Dean for Research and Research Training at the Faculty of Health, Charles Darwin University (CDU), based in the Northern Territory, Australia. She acknowledges the traditional lands of the Larrakia people where she lives, learns, and works. Education: PhD in Psychology from Curtin University of Technology Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) from Curtin University of Technology Her research focuses on understanding the psychological mechanisms underlying harmful health behaviors, particularly in the context of behavioral addictions (gambling, social media, pornography, exercise) and substance use (alcohol, vaping). She integrates theories of social cognition, motivation, volition, and emotion regulation to design behavior change interventions. Her work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to health and wellbeing. Recent publications highlight her expertise in mediation analysis, systematic reviews, and interdisciplinary collaborations, including studies on gambling motives, emotion regulation, and climate change adaptation in agriculture. She leads projects such as the Northern Territory Gambling Prevalence Survey and co-designing social marketing resources to reduce gambling harm among youth. Supervision: She supervises HDR candidates like Blower, J. and collaborates with researchers across psychology, public health, and environmental science.

Nathan HenryView profile

Researcher

• Psychology
• Addiction
• Human Factors
• +6 more

Nathan Henry is a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Western Australia (UWA), affiliated with the School of Psychological Science and the Human Factors and Applied Cognition lab. His work focuses on developing attentional control training paradigms for submarine operators and exploring the psychological impacts of digital technologies like artificial intelligence. Previously trained in physics and medical physics, he holds a BTech from the University of Auckland (2012–2015), an MSc from the University of Canterbury (2016–2019), and a PhD in Psychology & Neuroscience from Auckland University of Technology (2021–2025). His research interests span behavioral addictions, computational modeling, and the intersection of human psychology with digital tools. Key areas include problematic pornography use, ecological momentary assessment for emotional dynamics, and AI ethics. He has contributed to stroke rehabilitation studies, digital transformation of medical research, and interventions for gambling addiction. Nathan has published 18 works in peer-reviewed journals and conferences, focusing on topics ranging from AI safety to clinical trial methodologies. His technical expertise includes R, Python, and statistical analysis frameworks. He maintains an active presence in academic networks and collaborates internationally on human factors and cognition research. His professional history includes roles as a Medical Physics Registrar at Auckland City Hospital and a data analyst at Auckland University of Technology's Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences. He is committed to advancing adaptive digital interventions and ethical AI applications through rigorous empirical methods.

• Behavioural Science
• Problematic Internet Use
• Psychological Flexibility
• +7 more

Kavya Raj is a Lecturer at Monash University, affiliated with BehaviourWorks Australia, where she conducts research at the intersection of behavioural science, mental health, and technology. Her work focuses on understanding and addressing problematic internet use, psychological flexibility, and behavioural change in educational and public health contexts. Her research interests include behavioural interventions , digital mindfulness , impulsivity and compulsivity , and public health applications of behavioural science . She explores how cognitive and emotional factors contribute to addictive behaviours, particularly among university students, and develops technology-informed strategies to promote mental well-being. The recent articles highlight a strong trend in problematic internet use , psychological flexibility , and cognitive inflexibility , with applications in mental health and higher education. Her work bridges clinical psychology, public health, and digital pedagogy, contributing to both theoretical understanding and practical interventions. Associate Fellow Higher Education Academy (11 Feb 2024) Best Oral Abstract (May 2022) One behaviour at a time - transforming the work of Industry through the "Applying Behavioural Science to Create Change" micro-credential (14 Nov 2023) Kavya Raj has been actively involved in research grants and consultancy projects, including Empowering Climate Champions and Scoping vision for forest fires prevention , demonstrating her applied focus on using behavioural science for societal challenges. She has contributed to multiple collaborative initiatives and presented at national and international conferences. She is associated with BehaviourWorks Australia , a leading centre for applied behavioural science, where she collaborates on projects aimed at driving behavioural change in public policy, health, and environmental resilience. Her team-based approach integrates interdisciplinary research with real-world impact.

Wayne A WarburtonView profile

Professor

• Aggressive Behavior
• Media Psychology
• Child and Adolescent Development
• +6 more

Wayne A Warburton is a Professor of Developmental Psychology at Macquarie University’s School of Psychological Sciences and a registered psychologist. His research focuses on aggressive behavior, media impacts on youth, screen disorders, and social equality issues such as homelessness and financial literacy. He has developed programs like the RES@T-A for teens with problematic screen use and the Reboot-Sandbox intervention for families. He holds a PhD from Macquarie University and has received numerous awards, including the Distinguished Scientific Contributions Award from the American Psychological Association (2018) and multiple teaching accolades. His work has been featured on Australian Story and Channel Seven’s Spotlight. Research Interests: Violent/prosocial media effects, screen addiction, body image, cyberbullying, and financial counseling. Projects: Collaborates internationally on topics like video game impacts (with Iowa State University), body-affirming music lyrics (with Brigham Young University), and global cyberbullying (with Gettysburg College). Teaching roles include leading the Psychology Capstone unit and courses on Developmental Psychology and Psychotic Illness. His media engagements include ABC’s Australian Story and interviews on radio and TV.

Malcolm FlackView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Gambling Research
• Emotion Regulation
• Problematic Social Media Use
• +8 more

Malcolm Flack is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the Faculty of Health, Charles Darwin University. He specializes in teaching research methods, psychological assessment, and interventions. Expertise: Gambling research, emotion regulation, mediation analysis Key Contributions: Design of NT Gambling Prevalence and Wellbeing Surveys (2015, 2018, 2023) Current Projects: Supervising postgraduate research on problematic internet use, chronic pain, and behavioral addictions Research Groups: Member of the Behavioural Addictions, Alcohol and Drugs (BAAD) research group His research spans gambling psychology , emotion regulation , problematic social media use , and chronic pain . Recent work explores intersections between mental health , addictive behaviors , and public health outcomes, including applications to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to education and wellbeing. Collaborations include partnerships with Caudwell, K.M., Heirene, R., and other experts in behavioral addictions. His publications demonstrate expertise in mediation analysis , systematic reviews , and meta-analytic techniques .

Sally HuntView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Alcohol and Substance Abuse
• Women's Mental Health
• Psychological Birth Trauma
• +5 more

Dr Sally Hunt is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Newcastle's School of Psychological Sciences, where she serves as the inaugural Convenor of the Master of Professional Psychology Program since 2019. With over 20 years of clinical and research experience in mental health, she specializes in comorbid mental health and substance use disorders, with a specific focus on women's health issues including problematic alcohol use and psychological birth trauma. Dr Hunt's research interests center on developing evidence-based interventions for mental health and substance use problems, particularly those that can reach broad audiences through e-Health platforms. Her work investigates the interconnected nature of mental health and substance abuse, with special emphasis on understanding why women turn to alcohol as a coping mechanism for stress and trauma. She is actively developing assessment tools and interventions specifically designed for women to manage life pressures without relying on alcohol. Her publication record demonstrates consistent focus on women's drinking behaviors, psychological birth trauma, and digital mental health interventions. The research shows evolving trends from foundational work on neurocognitive profiles in comorbid depression and alcohol misuse toward increasingly specialized studies on maternal drinking motives, birth trauma associations with alcohol use, and implementation of digital tools for mental health care. Her work consistently bridges clinical psychology with public health approaches to substance use disorders. 2020 DVC(A) Educator Innovation and Impact Award 2019/2020 Women In Research Fellowship 2018 Australian Rotary Health - Mental Health Impact Award 2017 School of Medicine and Public Health Staff Award for Early Career Research and Innovation Excellence Dr Hunt actively supervises five current PhD students across topics including anxiety in Australian women, psychological birth trauma, domestic violence impacts, digital suicide prevention, and PTSD in children of veterans, while mentoring early-career psychologists. Her substantial research funding portfolio includes over $4.8 million across seven grants, most notably the $2.2 million Supporting Adolescent Boys Trial and the $909,585 NHMRC-funded trial of internet-based treatment for binge drinking and depression in young Australians. Her work with the Priority Research Centre for Brain and Mental Health demonstrates strong translational research connecting clinical practice with population-level interventions.