PhD Researcher in Psychology, Contemplative Science and Psychometrics, Auckland University of Technology (AUT), New Zealand | Research Associate, ICAMH, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem | Licensed Psychologist |
Officially Authorised Dharma Teacher | M.A. Clinical Psychology | B.A. Psychology; Brain and Mind Program Graduate |
Graduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, School of Clinical Sciences, AUT |
Editorial Assistant, Mindfulness at Springer Nature | Ad hoc Reviewer for Mindfulness at Springer Nature | Ad hoc Reviewer for Journal of Psychology and AI at Taylor & Francis | Interdisciplinary Committee Member, International Society for Contemplative Research (ISCR) | Organising Committee Member, International Conference on Mindfulness Asia–Pacific (ICM-AP) Series
ABOUT SHON PREM BON SOENG
Shon is a PhD researcher, licensed psychologist, Dharma Teacher, and a contemplative with an interdisciplinary background spanning research, clinical, and contemplative domains across Europe, Asia, America, and Oceania. Her international training has shaped an integrative perspective that brings together modern psychological science, including psychometrics, clinical psychology, positive psychology, and neuroscience, with the contemplative wisdom traditions of Buddhism.
Her work is distinguished by a central focus on the psychology of awakening and enlightenment. Rather than treating these as purely philosophical or spiritual ideals, she investigates how they can be rigorously conceptualised, operationalised, and empirically assessed within psychological science. By bridging contemplative insight with empirical methods, she examines the psychological functioning of meditation-induced altered states of consciousness to advance more precise, sustainable, and ethically grounded approaches to mental health, well-being, and human flourishing. She further translates awakening and enlightenment into theoretically grounded and empirically informed psychological frameworks that are accessible and applicable across diverse populations.
Shon is currently pursuing a PhD in Psychology at Auckland University of Technology (AUT), New Zealand, and is a recipient of the Doctoral Fees Scholarship Award from the Faculty of Health Sciences at AUT. Her doctoral research focuses on conceptualising and assessing enlightenment within psychological and contemplative sciences, with an emphasis on developing theoretically coherent and empirically testable frameworks, including the development and validation of psychometric measures.
Alongside her research, Shon has taught across clinical, academic, and contemplative settings to international audiences, including guest lectures for hospital medical staff on compassionate care for cancer patients, workshops on mindfulness for school teachers, seminars on Buddhist wisdom and well-being, meditation retreats, and academic conference presentations. She currently serves as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at AUT, where she contributes to the teaching of Advanced Research Methods in Psychology.
As an authorised Dharma Teacher and a contemplative with over 20,000 hours of formal meditation practice, Shon brings first-person contemplative expertise into dialogue with scientific inquiry. Her work combines empirical rigour with contemplative depth to develop psychologically grounded, ethically informed, and transformative models of human flourishing.
RESEARCH INTERESTS AND AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Clinical Psychology
Integrative Psychotherapy
Positive Psychology
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Psychometrics and Assessment
Psychology of Awakening and Enlightenment
Contemplative Science
Research in Psychology
Brain and Mind Research
Mindfulness Research
Contemplative Psychology
Buddhist Psychology
Contemplative Wisdom
University Teaching
Guest Lecturing
Workshop Facilitation
Buddhist Dharma Teaching
Zen Meditation Teaching
Mindfulness Teaching
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
BPS – The British Psychological Society
Graduate Member, Clinical Psychology Division, GMBPsS, GBC
Membership
APA – American Psychological Association
International Affiliate Membership
ISCR – International Society for Contemplative Research, Link
Member of the ISCR Interdisciplinary Committee
GCC – Global Compassion Coalition
Founding Supporter Membership, Link
EDUCATION, QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE
Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand, 2024-Present
PhD Researcher in Psychology, Contemplative Science and Psychometrics, School of Clinical Sciences, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 2025
Research Associate at the Azrieli Israel Center for Addiction and Mental Health, ICAMH, collaborating with Prof. Mario Mikulincer
Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand, 2025-Present
Academic Role as Teaching Assistant at the Psychology and Neuroscience Department – Advanced Research Methods in Psychology
Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand, 2025
Recipient of the Doctoral Fees Scholarship Award by the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences (FHES), March 2025
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 2025
Visiting Scholar at the Azrieli Center for Addiction and Mental Health, ICAMH, Host: Prof. Mario Mikulincer
Springer Nature, New Zealand, 2025-Present
Editorial Assistant, Mindfulness (Peer-Reviewed Journal)
Reviewer (ad hoc) for Mindfulness
Taylor & Francis, New Zealand, 2025–Present
Reviewer (ad hoc) for Journal of Psychology and AI
Organising Committee Member ICM-AP Series, 2025–Present
Organising Committee Member for the International Conference on Mindfulness Asia-Pacific ICM-AP Series.
International Society for Contemplative Research (ISCR), 2026–Present
Member of the ISCR Interdisciplinary Committee
