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Biography

Melanie is a social psychological researcher in the Collaborative Intelligence (CINTEL) and Responsible Innovation Future Science Platforms. Melanie engages in interdisciplinary research investigating the nature and function of human trust in collaborative intelligence systems. These systems will enable humans and machines to work together in ways that complement the strengths of each. Previously, she explored questions of harm and ethics in a range of applied contexts, including systematic review and experimental evaluation of interventions to improve gender equality and recruiting practices in the Victorian Government. As an Emerging Scholar of the Center for the Science of Moral Understanding at the University of North Carolina, she conducted survey and experimental studies to uncover factors contributing to political polarisation and social intolerance in the United States. Melanie is interested in finding practical and impactful pathways for insights from the social sciences, and social psychology in particular, to inform the development, deployment and evaluation of novel technologies.

Academic Qualifications

  • 2022

    Doctor of Philosophy
    The University of Melbourne, Australia

  • 2015

    Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology
    The University of Melbourne, Australia

  • 2013

    Graduate Diploma in Psychology
    Monash University, Australia

  • 2001

    Bachelor of Arts
    Monash University, Australia

Achievements and Awards

  • 2021-2021

    Runner Up - Outstanding Postgraduate Research Award
    Society of Australasian Social Psychologists

  • 2018-2018

    Dean's Prize for Exceptional Distinction in Research Engagement and Partnerships at Level A-C
    Faculty of Business and Economics - Melbourne Business School, University of Melbourne

Current Roles

  • CERC Fellow in Human Trust in Collaborative Intelligence Systems
    CINTEL Future Science Platform | Responsible Innovation Future Science Platform

  • Honorary Research Fellow
    Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne

Community and Corporate Citizenship

  • 2023-present

    Co-Chair, National CERC Fellow Committee

  • 2022-present

    Member, National CERC Fellow Committee

  • 2020-present

    Ad hoc reviewer for Clinical Psychological Science, Journal of Business Ethics, Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, PLOS One, Psychological Science