معرفی
Dr Kirk N. Olsen serves as Research Centre Manager at the Centre for Healthcare Resilience and Implementation Science within the Australian Institute of Health Innovation at Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. Previously, he held positions as Research Fellow in the Macquarie University School of Psychological Sciences and Centre Manager of the Macquarie University Centre for Elite Performance, Expertise, and Training. He also manages the Macquarie University hub of the Music, Sound and Performance Research Group.
Dr Olsen earned his Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology from Western Sydney University in 2011 and his Bachelor of Psychology (Honors) from the same institution in 2007. His academic journey includes postdoctoral positions at Macquarie University and Western Sydney University, where he contributed to research in auditory psychophysics and music cognition.
Dr Olsen's research combines psychological science with music and sound to investigate the mechanisms underlying human auditory perception, cognition, and emotion, with recent emphasis on the benefits of music for health and well-being across cultures and within subcultures. His work spans several key areas including music and emotional health, psychosocial implications of violent music, social cohesion through intercultural music engagement, music passion and well-being, and the health benefits of physical musicality. His research often explores how music with violent themes can have positive emotional, cognitive, and social consequences for fans, challenging common assumptions about the effects of such music.
His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on cross-cultural music perception, the cognitive benefits of music in therapeutic contexts, and the social-emotional dimensions of musical experience. His work frequently employs meta-analytic approaches, qualitative analysis, and experimental methodologies to investigate the complex relationship between music, emotion, and well-being.
- Executive Dean's Early Career Researcher Award, Faculty of Human Sciences, Macquarie University (2018)
- 10th International Conference on Music Perception and Cognition 'Outstanding Young Researcher Award' (Honourable Mention) (2008)
Dr Olsen has served in various leadership roles including as Web Developer and Social Media Manager for the School of Psychological Sciences, Early Career Researcher Representative on the School of Psychological Sciences Research Committee, and member of the Western Sydney University Low and Negligible Risk Human Research Ethics Review Committee. He is also Co-Editor of the book 'The science and psychology of music: From Beethoven at the office to Beyoncé at the gym' (Greenwood Press/ABC-CLIO). His research group focuses on understanding how music influences psychological processes and how these insights can be applied to improve health outcomes and social cohesion.
