Cassandra (they/them) is a non-binary researcher and educator in the School of Psychological Sciences.

Research & Teaching Areas of Interest:
Gender, LGBTQIA+, Identity, Intergroup Relations, DEI, Virtual Reality, Computational Social Science, Virtual Embodiment, Social Justice, Prejudice & Discrimination, Embodied Cognition, Intergroup Contact, Perspective Taking, Experimental Psychology, Statistics

My research integrates social psychology, human–computer interaction, machine learning, and AI across basic and applied approaches. My PhD research focused on using virtual reality as an intervention tool to improve intergroup relations, particularly in relation to gender diverse identities, drawing on virtual embodiment and immersive technologies.

LECTURING

Lecturer, PSYU3333: Advanced Topics in Social Psychology

Guest Lecturer, Macquarie University (2024-2025) Virtual Reality, Social Interaction, & Movement Dynamics: What Can We Learn From Avatar Embodiment & Social Identity?

Guest Lecturer, Macquarie University (2022-2024) Human-Machine Interaction: Virtual Embodiment in Social Interaction - The Sense of Embodiment in Virtual Reality 

TUTORING

PSYU3333: Social Interaction in the Modern World/Advanced Topics in Social Psychology (2021-2025)

PSYU3336: Advanced Topics in Personlity and Individual Differences (2025)

PSYU2236: Biopsychology and Learning (2025)

PSYU2234: Social & Personality Psychology (2022-2023)

PSYU1101: Introduction to Psychology 1 (2022)

PSYU2247: Perception (2022)

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

In 2024, I was recognised as a Highly Commended Finalist (Sessional Staff) for the Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence in Education. The awarded work recognised effective communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, as well as my commitment to providing empathetic and supportive guidance for students from diverse backgrounds. Throughout my teaching, I value these principles and remain dedicated to fostering inclusive and equitable student learning and support.

My teaching philosophy is centred on the key goal of integrating knowledge and skills, so that students are equipped to apply psychological science to societal, professional, and personal goals. I scaffold and guide students’ learning by fostering an accessible environment and encouraging them to adopt a DEI mindset by integrating their lived experiences within the classroom.