Research Supervisor Connect
Racial prejudice continues to undermine social cohesion and equality worldwide. A key psychological driver of racism is essentialist thinking—the belief that racial groups possess immutable, defining essences. While previous interventions have focused on replacing biological explanations with sociocultural ones, these approaches often fail to address a critical component of essentialism: the discreteness bias—the perception that racial categories are sharply divided and fundamentally distinct.
This PhD project will investigate whether challenging the discreteness bias can reduce racial prejudice and stereotyping. Using scientifically grounded narratives that highlight genetic admixture, gradual gene frequency clines, and historical shifts in racial categorization, the candidate will conduct pre-registered experiments in Australia and Canada. These studies will assess whether undermining rigid racial boundaries decreases racism, reduces endorsement of stereotypes (including ingroup stereotypes), and fosters greater perceived similarity across racial groups. A longitudinal component will evaluate the durability of these effects over time, while analyses of mediators and moderators will illuminate the psychological processes involved.
The successful candidate will join an international collaboration with experts in cultural psychology and prejudice reduction, gaining experience in experimental design, cross-cultural research, and advanced statistical modeling. This project offers the chance to develop interventions with profound societal impact, contributing to global efforts to combat racism and promote inclusivity. Findings will inform educational programs, diversity training, and public policy initiatives, aligning with national and international priorities for social justice.
This opportunity/project is part of the Faculty of Science Australian Research Council (ARC) Scholarship scheme and is now advertised on the Scholarship Office website. Applications are open and will close on 18 January 2026.
The opportunity ID for this research opportunity is 3726