Dr. Catherine Thomas

Biography

Catherine Thomas is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Michigan, specializing in Organizational Studies. Her research focuses on addressing poverty and inequality through the lens of social psychology and cultural psychology. She aims to uncover the social psychological mechanisms that hinder economic mobility for individuals in poverty, as well as those that perpetuate systems of inequality. Her work emphasizes the effectiveness of brief social psychological interventions tailored to culturally specific motivations, which she refers to as 'culturally wise' interventions. Catherine conducts both lab and field experiments in low- and middle-income countries in partnership with nonprofits and government agencies, driven by an interdisciplinary research approach. Prospective Ph.D. students interested in topics such as poverty, inequality, social class, culture, and behavioral science are encouraged to consider joining her lab, as it fosters an environment for field and intervention science research.

Research Interests