Mikaela Owen

Dr. Mikaela Owen is a Lecturer in the UniSA Justice & Society at the University of South Australia. She holds a PhD in Psychology (2018) and an Honours degree in Psychology (2012), both from UniSA. Her research focuses on the health and well-being of university students, particularly working students, and explores psychosocial risks in workplace and academic environments. She also studies work stress and organizational psychology, emphasizing the role of psychosocial safety climate and effort-reward imbalance theories.

Her work includes collaborations with institutions like Malmo University and the Royal Australia Air Force. Dr. Owen supervises research degree students and has contributed to projects funded by grants such as SafeWork SA and the Australian Research Council. Her research spans diverse domains, including maritime operations, healthcare worker burnout, and AI in education.

Key areas of investigation include the impact of watchkeeping schedules on cognitive performance, the relationship between leadership quality and dental care outcomes, and the ethical implications of AI tools like ChatGPT in academia. She advocates for policies that prioritize both employee well-being and organizational productivity.

Education:

• PhD in Psychology, University of South Australia (2018)
• Bachelor of Psychology (Honours), University of South Australia (2012)

Research Interests:

• University student well-being
• Workplace psychosocial risks and safety climate
• Public sector health outcomes
• Shift work and cognitive performance
• Healthcare quality and staff dynamics

Recent Research Trends:

Her articles highlight interdisciplinary approaches, such as analyzing submarine watch schedules' cognitive impacts, exploring AI ethics in academia, and linking leadership to dental care quality. These studies emphasize practical applications for improving work environments and student support systems.

Grants & Collaborations:

• ARC DP0879007, DP140103429, and LP100100449
• SafeWork SA and DSTG-funded projects

Labs & Teams:

Associated with the Centre for Workplace Excellence, Sleep and Chronobiology Laboratory, and Behaviour-Brain-Body Research Centre at UniSA.