I joined the School of Psychology at the University of Auckland as a lecturer in 2006. Before returning to New Zealand, I was an ESRC postdoctoral fellow at the University of Edinburgh and a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Education at the University of Auckland.

I mostly teach in the developmental programme, where I try to bring a critical and social justice lens to the topics I teach. I get a real buzz out of seeing students’ eyes shine when they connect with the content and start to see the world in different ways.

My research has taken me in multiple different directions, but if I had to pick a theme at its heart, it would be enrichment. Currently, I am particularly interested in the topic of failure (perceived and actual) and how to manage and grow from it. I am also interested in imposter syndrome, which is the belief that someone is going to find out that we lack the skills or competence or don’t belong, and someone is going to find out.

I am also very fortunate to work on Growing Up In New Zealand, a multidisciplinary longitudinal study following approximately 6800 New Zealand children from birth. I have been involved in the study since its inception. Most of my research in this study is focused on trying to understand the factors associated with educational outcomes, socio-emotional and behavioural development, and wellbeing of NZ tamariki.

Outside of academia, Kevin and I have two wonderful boys. I love going for walks in our beautiful forests or along the beach, having yummy kai, or just hanging out with friends and family.

Project: Children’s Responses to Peer Provocation

I grew up in Australia and have lived in Aotearoa New Zealand since 2008. Previously I worked as a research assistant and data analyst with the Woolf Fisher Research Centre, and have now returned to the University of Auckland nearly a decade later to begin my PhD. My doctoral research will combine Education and Psychology and use the Growing Up in New Zealand data. My research interests mostly centre around developmental psychology, particularly in primary school-aged children.

Outside of study, I spend most of my time looking after my two daughters. On the rare occasion that I have free time, I enjoy reading, bush walks and kayaking in our beautiful city.

Project: From Setbacks to Success: Understanding Cultural Influences and Environmental Factors in Students’ Responses to Failure

Project: How students handle failure in the classroom and student perceptions of supportive teachers and schools.

I’m from Malaysia and New Zealand (Timaru) but I grew up in Vietnam so I have quite a multicultural background. I completed a Bachelor of Science majoring in Psychology and Marine Science at the University of Auckland and now I’m working on my Honours project with Dr. Elizabeth Peterson. We’re working with datasets from the Growing Up in New Zealand study and the MBIE funded Our Voices project which worked with the same cohort to look at students’ self-reported fear of failure and their perceptions of supportive teachers and schools. I have an interest in educational psychology and I also work part time as a teacher aide and a hiring manager at a tutoring company. In my spare time, I love painting, lino printing and practicing muay thai.