Hisham Abu-Rayya

Hisham Abu-Rayya is an Adjunct Professor of Psychology at La Trobe University’s School of Psychology. He holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge (2005) and has held prestigious fellowships and grants, including the Australian Research Council’s Discovery Project Grant (2009–2013) and the European Commission’s Marie Curie Fellowship (2019–2020). His research focuses on psychosocial functioning in diverse cultural contexts, including acculturation, inter-group relations, mixed-ethnic marriages, and the intersections of culture, religion, and mental health. Key contributions include studies on maladaptive daydreaming, nostalgia in conflict zones, and strategies to reduce prejudice between social groups.

Education:

• PhD in Social-Cultural Psychology, University of Cambridge (2005)

Research Interests:

• Identity and Acculturation Processes
• Prejudice Reduction and Intergroup Harmony
• Cross-Cultural Mental Health
• Interfaith/Ethnic Relationships
• Psychological Development in Diverse Contexts

Awards & Grants:

• Australian Research Council Discovery Project Grant (2009–2013)
• Israeli Science Foundation Grants (2016–2020; 2024–2028)
• Marie Curie Fellowship (2019–2020)
• University of Sydney Research Fellowship

Advising & Grants:

• Supervised research on intergroup bias reduction via electronic contact experiments
• Conducted longitudinal studies on cultural adaptation and mental health outcomes