Hello, I’m Eric.
I’m a PhD candidate in Social and Personality Psychology at York University, where I’m also pursuing a Graduate Diploma in Quantitative Methods. I study how romantic attraction develops between particular people and what happens as they get to know one another. Alongside this work, I contribute quantitative research to child and adolescent mental health studies at SickKids.
My research asks how attraction becomes connection. I use quantitative methods to study these processes across people and over time, and apply related approaches in interdisciplinary mental health research.
Research is collaborative.
I have worked with research teams at York, the University of Toronto, and SickKids. I also contribute to the Aphrodite Project, where I have developed and evaluated dating-matching algorithms that balance opportunities, equity, and match quality. Working across projects has shaped the questions I ask and the methods I use.
Education and research experience.
Academic background.
PhD, Social & Personality Psychology
Dissertation: Catalyst of Connection: Investigating the Role of Romantic Chemistry in Dating and Romantic Relationships. Completing a Graduate Diploma in Quantitative Methods alongside my PhD, under the supervision of Dr. Amy Muise.
MA, Social & Personality Psychology
Thesis on trait charisma, sexual satisfaction, and romantic relationships.
HBSc, Psychology Specialist & Biology Major
Honours thesis on attraction in online speed dating.
Research and applied experience.
Data Analyst · SickKids Research Institute
Statistical analyses, results interpretation, and writing and revision of Methods and Results sections for collaborative youth mental health studies, including longitudinal research.
Graduate researcher · Sexual Health and Relationships Lab
Research on romantic chemistry, partner evaluation, relationship functioning, and dyadic experiences, including a seven-study doctoral program.
Graduate research assistant · Mar Lab
Collaborative research on online dating communication, including analysis of dating-app message data.
Data Scientist & Applied Researcher · Aphrodite Project
Developed and evaluated matching algorithms intended to increase dating opportunities and improve the distribution of matches across ethnic groups. Internal evaluations also identified trade-offs with average match quality.
Funding & recognition.
Mitacs Globalink Research Award
Supports development of a three-date study on early romantic connections with Dr. Amie Gordon at the University of Michigan.
SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarships , Doctoral
Doctoral scholarship from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
SPSP Graduate Student Poster Award finalist
Recognition for a poster on development of the Romantic Chemistry Scale.
Academic CV.
Publications, talks, teaching, research experience, and service.