Vivian Mai

Vivian is in her first year of the combined PhD/Masters of Clinical Psychology degree at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). She completed a double degree in Advanced Science (Honours) and Arts at UNSW, and was awarded First Class Honours in 2021 for her thesis on post-trauma guilt and shame. Vivian has worked with the Refugee Trauma and Recovery Program since then as a research assistant.

As a research assistant, she has worked primarily on the Afghan Employment Coaching Program, the RTRP treatment program for PTSD, and a systematic review on protective and promotive factors for refugee mental health. Her involvement in the systematic review is ongoing.

Currently, Vivian is conducting her doctoral thesis under the supervision of Prof Angela Nickerson and Associate Prof Belinda Liddell. Her research is examining the role of cognitive biases, such as justice sensitivity, on refugee mental health and social outcomes. In doing so, Vivian hopes to better understand the ways in which the adversity experienced by refugees impacts their wellbeing and ability to integrate into their host country. Vivian is passionate about knowledge translation and creating tangible impacts in the space of global mental health and human rights.

E-MAIL: vivian.mai@unsw.edu.au

CURRENT PROJECTS: Protective and Promotive Factors Systematic Review