My interdisciplinary research in human information behaviour brings a critical, social research lens to studies of technology use, from artificial intelligence to social media, smartphones, and other tools.
Areas of Research Expertise
My studies embed social change, focusing on diverse settings and populations, across healthcare, workplaces, schools, and everyday life. A published methodologist, I also conduct research on societal engagement and impact work; I have published evidence-based frameworks and mentored academics across STEM and HASS disciplines on success strategies for working with industry, community, and government partners. I use a range of qualitative and mixed methodologies and methods, including grounded theory, discourse analysis, and survey methodologies, drawing on various theoretical frameworks.
Selected Current Projects:
2025-2030
Australian Research Council, Industrial Transformation Research Hub. $4,750,000 (AUD). Co-Investigator (Lead, Program 1: Socially Responsive, Ethical Design to Support User Adoption of Innovations). “ARC Research Hub for Intelligent Contaminant Sensing in Complex Environments (IC-SensE Hub).” Lead Investigator (ITRH Director): Prof Sumeet Walia, RMIT University. Co-Investigators (Program 1): Prof Rachel Ankeny, University of Adelaide; and, Prof Priya Rajagopalan & Dr Saffron Bryant, RMIT University.
2025
eSafety Commission, Preventing Tech-based Abuse of Women, Grants Program, round 2. $371,000 (AUD). Co-Investigator. “Gendered Norms and Gaming Influencers: Promoting Positive and Respectful Gaming for Tween Boys.” Lead Investigator: Assoc/Prof Lauren Gurrieri (RMIT University); Co-Investigators: Dr Melissa Wheeler, Dr Lukas Parker, Dr Dave Micallef, Prof Emma Sherry (RMIT University).
Selected Past Projects
2021-2025
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Insight Development Grant. $66,661 (CDN). Co-Investigator. “Precarity and information marginalization: Exploring how academic casualization complicates workplace information practices.” Lead Investigator: Dr Rebekah Willson, School of Information Studies, McGill University. Co-investigator: Prof Heidi Julien, Department of Information Science, State University of New York at Buffalo.
2020-2023
Australian Research Council, Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities Scheme. $488,056 (AUD). Co-Investigator. “ACD-Engine: Enriching cultural data for research, industry and government.” Lead Investigator: Prof Rachel Fensham, University of Melbourne.
2015 – 2021
Australian Research Council, Linkage Grant. $219,959 (AUD). Co-Investigator. Assessing Library and Information Studies Research Networks. Lead Investigator: Prof Helen Partridge, Deakin University.
2015 – 2020
Australian Research Council, Linkage Grant. $191,394 (AUD). Lead Investigator. Information seeking & research adoption: Assessing communication strategies. Co-investigator: Prof Alain Deloire, Charles Sturt University.
Research Innovation
My work explores the design of innovative research approaches, with a focus on qualitative inquiry, societal research impact, and technology use.
Project examples:
Investigating qualitative assessment for research impact case studies
Social Media
My research explores social media use across a wide spectrum of sectors including health care, academia, non-profit organisations, the wine industry, and agriculture.
Project examples:
Information practices in non-profits: Knowledge management & technology use