My research focuses on the socio-motivational factors and processes that impact adolescents’ adaptive engagement, achievement, and development, especially in STEM. Specifically, I examine how high school students' relationships with their teachers impact their academic beliefs, values, and goals, and the multiple processes by which these factors impact their engagement and achievement over time. My research is conducted through the lenses of social cognitive theory, stage-environment fit theory, and goal setting theory, and uses advanced quantitative research methodology, such as latent growth modelling and multi-level structural equation modelling. I examine both primary datasets of Australian adolescents and teachers, as well as large-scale secondary datasets, such as PISA and LSAY.

I am a member of the  Macquarie University Lifespan Health & Wellbeing Research Centre.

I am passionate about engaging students in educational psychology theory and research, as well as quantitative methodologies. I teach on educational psychology units (EDUC2620 and EDST1010) and research methods units (EDUC2920 and EDST8000). I also run a series of workshops regarding quantitative research methods and analysis for higher degree research students. 

I am available to supervise research students who are interested in motivation, teacher-student relationships, sense of beloning, school climate, and quantitative methods.