I am a social and cultural psychologist based in Japan. I am a Senior Lecturer at the Graduate School of Education, Kyoto University. I also have been serving in a few academic societies including the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology as an East Asian regional representative (2024~) and the committee of International Affairs of the Japanese Psychological Association (2023~). I am currently Associate Editor of Personality and Individual Differences and Social Psychological Bulletin.
A diverse cultural background has shaped my academic journey. Born in Adelaide, Australia, I spent my childhood in Gwangju, the Southwest corner of South Korea, before moving to Seoul for my undergraduate study at Korea University. I also had the opportunity to broaden my academic experience as an Exchange Student in the United States where I met with international friends from other countries. I later pursued my research in social and psychology at the University of Melbourne, where I earned a BA (Honours) and a Ph.D. in Psychology.
Since 2011, I have lived in Japan with my family, working in Tokyo, Nagoya, and now Kyoto. I also have residence experiences in Uji City (Kyoto), Asaka City (Saitama), and Tsukuba City (Ibaraki).
I love reading and traveling with my family. Another thing I am very passionate about else than research is music. I enjoy playing the piano (I can’t stop once I start!) or running while listening to my kids’ music playing (e.g., Wienawski’s polonaise D Major).