Director
Prof. Saetbyul Kim
Hello! I joined HKU in Fall 2025. My passion lies in investigating, designing, and implementing psychologically informed practices in classroom and community settings.
We are often bombarded and overwhelmed by pressure for academic and career success. In the midst of this, where are our hearts, minds, and beliefs—that is, our social-emotional success?
Drawing on my background as a licensed social worker in Korea and over 15 years of experience as a volunteer and professional educator in K–12 and higher education settings in Korea, the U.S., and now Hong Kong, I aim to promote a spirit of well-being among youth by challenging and encouraging them to think deeply about their values, directions, strengths, and how they fit within their communities and broader societal contexts. As an educational psychology scholar and practitioner, I hope to bridge the knowledge and practice, so that education and psychological science can jointly nurture who we are and how we flourish.
Members and students
See our volunteer students on research projects!
Lab-based Supervisee
Yide (Tony) CHEN
I am interested in family management and education, as well as adolescents’ mental health and behavioral problems. I also hope to further explore the interplay between digital technology, media, popular culture, and psychology, while contributing to and learning from the work of the COMPASS Lab.
"The future is not predetermined; it is shaped by what you do today."
Siyan CHEN
Hi, I’m Siyan! I’m a first-year PhD student in the Department of Psychology at HKU, working with Dr. Saetbyul Kim in the COMPASS Lab. Prior to joining HKU, I earned my master’s degree in Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University, and my bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Syracuse University. My current research interests focus on cultural psychology, culturally responsive teaching (CRT), and adolescent moral development, with a particular interest in exploring brief psychological interventions for youth development across different cultural contexts. Outside of academia, I enjoy writing fiction, swimming, and spending time with my lovely dog.
Research Volunteers
Edith LEUNG
Hello I am Edith! I am a second-year BPsych student, mainly interested in child and adolescent psychology. I joined COMPASS to deepen my understanding of positive development in children and adolescents while gaining practical experience in research methodologies. Currently I am assisting with investigating the intricacies of spirituality and social-emotional learning. I look forward to future research opportunities.
Jaimee LI
I’m Jaimee, a second year BPsych student with interests in educational and clinical psychology. Eager to gain practical research experience, I joined the COMPASS lab, where I contribute to projects on culturally responsive teaching and prosocial behaviour in adolescents.
Adrianne CHEUNG
Currently an IB Diploma student in Hong Kong, I intend to pursue psychology at the university level. I possess a strong academic interest in the fields of experimental and social psychology, and hence I joined Dr Kim’s COMPASS research lab. My primary role is to assist with literature reviews and documenting research information in her ongoing research projects, an opportunity that allows me to contribute meaningfully to research that advances understandings of student wellbeing and educational psychology. Moreover, this experience has cultivated my interest in pursuing psychology and strengthened my commitment to connecting empirical findings to practical applications.
Airene MATHEW
I am an aspiring researcher with a strong interest in psychology, particularly in human behaviour, cognition, and complex social systems. I view positive psychological interventions as a critical path forward in our current climate of global instability, utilizing compassion and empathy to transform systemic chaos into an environment where human potential can truly flourish. I joined the lab as a volunteer to gain hands-on experience in collaborative psychological research work. I currently assist with literature reviews and documentation related to positive psychological interventions.
Cadence KWOK
Hi I am Cadence, a third year undergraduate psychology student interested in research in social and clinical psychology. In particular, I am curious about how our social environment shapes developmental experiences, whether that be during classroom learning, peer interactions, or parenting. I am currently volunteering at the COMPASS Lab to gain hands-on research experience, and learn how meaningful research can shape real-life outcomes!
Doris WANG
I am an undergraduate student in Psychology and Language Sciences at University College London. My interests lie at the intersection of developmental and educational psychology, focusing on children and adolescents' learning processes, well-being, life goals, and experiences within educational settings.
Through my academic studies and volunteer work with young people, I have become interested in how school curricula, social environments, and institutional structures shape youth development. I hope to contribute to research and projects that create more supportive, inclusive, and meaningful learning experiences for children and adolescents.
Hazel, Parampara MAMGAIN
I am an international undergraduate student in my Year 2, pursuing a double major in Psychology and General Linguistics at the University of Hong Kong. My primary areas of interest include clinical and social psychology, and the interplay of Artificial Intelligence in the field of mental health. Growing up constantly changing educational institutions, I became keenly aware of the effects of environment in the positive and socio-cognitive development of individuals, especially adolescents. This sparked my interest in the educational and developmental side of psychology, and consequently, academic research. As a volunteer at the lab, I am interested in exploring this intersection along with the development of my research and analytical skills.
Aster SO
I am currently an A-level student in Hong Kong driven to pursue Psychology at University by the fascination with how human thought and behaviour interact, particularly in children and adolescent development; as well as how it translates from labs to real world contexts. My current work with the COMPASS Lab lies within assisting designs and article documentation, providing me with an invaluable opportunity for hands-on research experience to anchor my interest in Psychology.
Ziqiao XIA
Hi, I earned my bachelor's degree at New York University, majoring in both Psychology and Sociology, and I’m currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Psychology at the University of Hong Kong. My research interests are in developmental psychology, particularly how autistic children adapt to mainstream primary school settings and how teachers and peers respond to their inclusion. I’ve recently joined the COMPASS Lab to gain more research experience with adolescents and learn more about ways to support youth well-being and development.
Janelle Dominique LIM
Hello! I am Janelle, a second-year Bachelor of Psychology student pursuing a second major in Counselling. I am strongly interested in developmental and educational psychology. I joined the COMPASS lab as a volunteer to deepen my understanding of the research process in these fields.
Supervised Students
LIU Meng
(MSoSc in Psychology, Class of ’26)
Hearing “Thank You” in Your Own Child’s Voice: Effects of Gratitude Messages in Cloned Child’s Voice on Parental Stress for First-Time Mothers of 0-3-year-olds in Mainland China
MAI Kexin
(MSoSc in Psychology, Class of ‘26)
After-Hours Work-Related Social Media Use and Teacher Wellbeing: Mediating Roles of Burnout Dimensions
LAU Ho Kiu, Boris
(MSoSc in Psychology, Class of ’26)
A Longitudinal Evaluation of a Mindfulness-Informed Classroom Practice on Emotion Regulation, Belonging, and Prosociality in Primary 2 Boys
HU Jinyan
(MSoSc in Psychology, Class of ‘26)
Social Support and Prosocial Behavior among Chinese College Students: The Parallel Mediating Role of Cognitive Reappraisal and Expressive Suppression.
GE Jingyi
(MSoSc in Psychology, Class of ‘26)
The Impact of AI Dependency on Avoidant Decision-Making Style: The Mediating Role of Decision Fatigue and the Moderating Role of Self-Control
Wai Ching Hei, Edward
(MSoSc in Psychology, Class of ‘26)
The Foreign Language Effect on Moral Judgment: The Role of Emotions in Bilingual Moral Decision-Making.
LAI Ching Ching
(MSoSc in Psychology, Class of ‘26)
The Relationship Between Multidimensional Social Support and the 5Cs of Positive Youth Development Among Hong Kong Secondary School Students