Dr Ollie Herdson

Dr Ollie Herdson completed a BSc and MSc by Research in Psychology at the University of Kent in 2020 and 2021, before undertaking a PhD at Kent, which he completed in 2026. He joined the University as a Lecturer in 2024. 

Ollie’s research sits at the intersection of cognitive, educational, and mental health psychology. He supervises student projects across these three areas, spanning undergraduate final year projects, MSc dissertations, and PhD students.  

Ollie teaches statistics and research methods across the School's undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. He also serves as Academic Adviser Lead, working closely with students to support their academic development, wellbeing, and future aspirations both during and beyond their studies. 

Ollie’s research spans the fields of cognition, emotion, and mental health, with a particular focus on educational wellbeing and student anxiety. His recent work has explored how students experience and maintain wellbeing throughout higher education, drawing on factors such as belonging, academic self-efficacy, and adaptability. Using advanced quantitative methods, including latent profile analysis, he examines patterns of wellbeing across student populations and identifies factors that contribute to positive educational outcomes. 

His current research investigates the role of educational anxieties and how these intersect with broader dimensions of student wellbeing. This work seeks to better understand the challenges students face and to evaluate interventions that can enhance wellbeing, improve educational experiences, and support student success throughout their degrees. 

• PSYC4004  Making sense of psychological data 
• PSYC5002 Conducting, Using, and Evaluating Research? 
• PSYC7103 Advanced Research Methods and Statistics 
• PSYC7104 Psychological Measurement and Modelling 
• PSYC7008 Research Methods and Statistics  

Current PhD Students: 

• Reiss Cordrey (as second supervisor) 

I would be happy to discuss prospective PhD projects. My primary aim is to look at studies that can establish a foundation for evidence-led educational interventions.