Yanyu Chen

Background

About Yanyu Chen

I’ve been a fan of Sherlock Holmes since I was a kid—not because I wanted to be a detective, but because I’ve always been fascinated by how people think, feel, and make decisions, especially in “extreme” scenarios. Instead of chasing criminals, I ended up choosing the “slightly more scientific” pathway—psychology.I’m currently doing my PhD in Psychology at the University of Western Australia, where my research focuses on prospective memory, workload, multi-tasking, and how these factors interact. Essentially, how people remember to do important things when they’re already overloaded. I enjoy combining cognitive science, human factors, and modeling to understand how people actually function in complex environments.Alongside my research, I work in the disability sector as a Senior Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner and Report Reviewer. I believe that a person’s well-being and quality of life are shaped by both good science and good support. My goal is to bridge the two—grounding practice in evidence while keeping empathy, curiosity, and respect at the centre of my work.Before this, I spent six years doing research across universities, research institutes, and the Department of Health in areas including positive psychology, disaster mental health, self-harm, neurological conditions, and cerebral lateralisation—and you can find the published papers in my Google Scholar profile. I’ve always enjoyed learning widely and following ideas wherever they lead.Outside of work and study, I lift weights, play golf, learn random skills (from coding to graphic design), read far too many journal articles, and spend time with my two cats, Magao and Mimi. Occasionally, you’ll find me on a motorcycle or at the gym trying to balance my academic life with actual life.If you’re working in psychology, research, human factors, mental health, or the NDIS space, feel free to connect—or simply tell me what books or podcasts you’re currently enjoying.Thanks for stopping by :)