Kieran Waitschies

Why I am working at the Research Shop: Throughout my academic career (and my coinciding lived experience outside of academia), I have consistently noticed a large divide between what we as academics “know”, and how the “real world” operates. The Research Shop’s work serves to bridge some of that divide; to better inform non-academics of the existing knowledge that may benefit them and their endeavours, and additionally to inform academic researchers of the real-world challenges that rightly deserve their attention and resources. My work with the Research Shop stemmed from a course-based practicum placement at Hospice Wellington in Guelph, during which I worked to devise a program evaluation framework for their Art Therapy program.

Program of Study: I am a second-year Masters student in the field of Applied Social Psychology. I belong to the Flow of Consciousness lab, focused on experiential psychology and its measurement. Prior to enrolling at the University of Guelph, I completed my BA at King’s University College at Western University, and a graduate program in Human Resources from Fanshawe College.