Sophie Potter

Sophie joined the Department of Psychology (Edinburgh) as an Assistant Professor in 2024. She graduated with a first-class honours degree in Psychology at the University of Strathclyde (2016) before completing an MSc (Distinction) in Individual Differences Psychology from the University of Edinburgh (2017). She went on to complete a PhD in 2021 in lifespan development and individual differences at Humboldt University of Berlin, funded by the renowned LIFE scholarship from the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Germany. She thereafter held a faculty position at The University of Leicester (2022-2024).

During her time at the University of Leicetser, Sophie gained AFHEA status along with extensive experience in teaching and research supervision at UG, PG, and PGR levels. She was involved in developing and leading UG course in lifespan development and an MSc course in individual differences. During this time, she also recieved funding for a PhD student on her project 'Coping and Adaption in Old Age' (2023-2026). 

Since joining Heriot-Watt in 2024, Sophie has founded the Well-Being in Context Lab and taken over as coordinator of the CABS and Psychology Research Seminar. She has also taught on numerous UG and PG courses, currently acting as the Local Course Leader for the UG Social Cognition and Personality course, and is set to take over the role as Global Course Leader in 2025.

Sophie is the director of the newly formed Well-Being in Context Lab. She is also a member of the Centre for Applied Behavioural Sciences (CABS) 

Contact to discuss research, collaboration, consultancy, or supervision using: [email protected]

The overarching aim of Sophie's research is to understand and promote human well-being and healthy ageing through interdisciplinary research, mixed-methodologies, and engagement with public, policymakers, and industry partners. Her research can broadly be split into three long-term research agendas: (1) Dynamics of Healthy Ageing, (2) Contexts of Well-Being, and (3) Concepts of Well-Being.

Sophie is in the process of developing a new lab at Heriot-Watt Well-Being in Context which brings together interdiciplinary research on all things well-being related. This includes examining whether and how our understanding of well-being changes in different contexts, from early life to old age, disability, illness, the environment, and beyond. 

Well-being; Lifespan Development; Individual Differences; Healthy Ageing, Resilience; Quantitative Methodology