I am currently undertaking my Honours program within the Forensic and Clinical Cognition Lab under the supervision of Professor Melanie Takarangi. I was first introduced to the lab in 2019, when I completed my high school work experience shadowing a PhD candidate. It was during this time that I discovered that working in psychology can extend far beyond clinical practice, and I first considered research as a career. I returned to the lab in 2025 as a third-year placement student, where I was inspired by the passion and collaborative spirit of the lab members. This valuable experience has allowed me to discover my passion for research that not only advances theoretical understanding but also informs evidence-based practice.

My Honours thesis will investigate psychological harm in content moderators who are repeatedly exposed to graphic online material. Previous research suggests that individuals can experience a strong sense of “being present” in such content; my research will explore whether reducing this sense of closeness may serve as a protective intervention. Using a content moderation simulation paradigm developed within the lab, my project will examine whether increasing psychological distance from distressing images can reduce emotional distress and intrusive imagery.