Choose your avatar: Liz is the cheerleader to PhD candidate Houson's storyteller

Often at the start of a new video game, you’re given the option to choose your character.  

Each has distinct strengths that will help you succeed in the game. These differences enrich the experience and make it more dynamic. 

Dr Liz Clancy and Houson Hu are a duo with different strengths, working together to tackle challenges in both the real and virtual worlds.  

Liz is one of Houson’s PhD supervisory team. They research cyberpsychology together, specifically cyberbullying, which often occurs in online gaming communities, and nonconsensual sexting behaviours.  

While neither expected to study cyberpsychology, both say the decision to focus on it happened organically, much like a cleverly crafted storyline. 

‘The online gaming environment is a research passion for both of us from different perspectives,’ Liz says.

They have similar goals for their research – to create safer and more inclusive online spaces (for gamers and other communities) to embrace the positive aspects of online worlds, including creativity, community and connection, and to minimise the harms. 

Both also recognise the importance of levelling up through professional development.  

This year, Houson competed in Deakin’s 2025 Grand Final of Three Minute Thesis (3MT), a research communication competition, following in Liz’s footsteps.  

It’s not all work though. These two know the importance of a good side quest. Houson is keen to improve his bouldering skills in his downtime and Liz has plans to get back into Dungeons & Dragons. 

Liz: The online gaming environment is a research passion for both of us from different perspectives. 

Houson is an online gamer and is involved in multiple gaming communities. For me, I became interested in the gaming space as another online social community, with unique features around self-presentation and adaptability that can be a great source of support or exclusion.  

I am fascinated by how young adults use online technologies to present, interact, and shape their identities in ways that wouldn’t perhaps have been possible 20 years ago – both the positive and harmful aspects of online behaviours.  

Houson is a highly motivated and disciplined PhD student. As his supervisor, my role is to be Houson’s biggest cheerleader – but also his critical friend, especially when it comes to knowing when to say no.  

I think it’s important for supervisors to be generous with introductions, connections, and opportunities for their PhD candidates. It could lead to something amazing in the future. 

‘I think it’s important for supervisors to be generous with introductions, connections, and opportunities for their PhD candidates. It could lead to something amazing in the future,’ Liz says.

I competed virtually in the Three Minute Thesis competition in 2020 during the pandemic. I enjoyed the challenge of the competition. It helped me develop perspective and recognise the expertise I’ve developed beyond the micro level. My supervisor encouraged me to participate during my PhD, and I did the same with Houson. I encouraged him to see it as a challenge to express his ideas concisely to a non-technical audience.  

We recently attended the British Psychological Society’s (BPS) Cyberpsychology Section Conference together. Houson was the first speaker on the first day. He was a little nervous, but the audience was hooked as soon as he started with ‘Once upon a time, there was a troll under a bridge’. This was his first conference presentation, and he was awarded the best oral presentation for the conference.  

For the rest of the conference, I kept hearing about how much they loved his ability to bring narrative to the presentation and turn it into a memorable journey – a testament to the skills he developed for 3MT.  

Houson’s curiosity, his understanding of the world of gaming and his creativity are inspiring. His ability to craft great narratives around his research is excellent. I’m proud to support Houson in his PhD journey and can’t wait to see where he will go. 

Houson: I’d love to say I was always fascinated by human behaviour, ever since I was a wee lad, but in truth, that awareness came much later.  

Studying psychology at university was more about doing what I knew I was good at. The passion for cyberpsychology kicked in during fourth year when I started my thesis. That’s when I got interested in how people’s behaviour shifts online and how digital spaces are starting to feel more like extensions of “real” life than something separate.  

When it came time to select a PhD supervisor, choosing Liz, along with my primary supervisor Bianca, was a no-brainer. My first impression of Liz was, ‘Why is she so smiley?’. I was also a little intimidated. It can be disarming to see someone who is clearly very good at what they do. I was worried she might have very high standards and that I might disappoint her. But that was all in my head.  

Liz did encourage me to enter, but participation in the Three Minute Thesis competition is mandatory for the School of Psychology, which I’m personally glad about. If it weren’t, I probably wouldn’t have entered and would’ve missed out on a special experience. 

Competing in the 3MT competition has been terrifying and inspiring. When you’re deep into a PhD, it’s easy to feel like you’re stuck in your own little research bubble, so seeing how others approach similar or different problems has been eye-opening.  

‘When it came time to select a PhD supervisor, choosing Liz, along with my primary supervisor Bianca, was a no-brainer,’ Houson says.

Competing in the 3MT competition has been terrifying and inspiring. When you’re deep into a PhD, it’s easy to feel like you’re stuck in your own little research bubble, so seeing how others approach similar or different problems has been eye-opening.  

It can feel overwhelming presenting your research in front of peers, lecturers and heads of school. But once you’re on stage, the three minutes fly by in a blur. Before you know it, people are applauding and you’ll be wondering why you were ever worried.  

We all need to sell our research eventually, one way or another, so we might as well start in a safe, controlled environment. 

Recently, Liz and I went to the BPS Cyberpsychology Conference in Birmingham together. It was my first conference where I presented, so having Elizabeth there was a huge help. She was a calming presence and made me feel more comfortable. It would’ve been really intimidating going on my own.  

It feels like everyone I talk to knows her and she’s involved with so many interdisciplinary departments. Despite everything she juggles, Liz remains incredibly warm and approachable. As someone who struggles with networking, it’s inspiring to see someone for whom that seems to come naturally.  

Honestly, I’m not sure how much of what I feel is inspiration and how much is envy; probably 50/50.