Profile
Lukas Wolf
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About Me:
I live with my partner and 3-year old daughter near Bristol/Bath. I love being silly with my daughter, 80s music and going for a run, and I wish I could spend more time skiing!
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My pronouns are:
he/him
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My Work:
I’m a social psychology lecturer at Bath. I study how we can bring people together who are deeply divided (for example, US Republicans & Democrats).
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Read more
I study how we can bring people together because we have previously found that people actually have a lot more in common than they think. So, although we often think that some groups are very different from each other (for example, Republicans and Democrats in the US), we have found that people actually agree on very fundamental things like the importance of helping others. Showing people how similar they actually are has a lot of positive effects, including giving them more hope, making them talk to each other more openly, making them feel happier and more connected to others.
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My Typical Day:
My daughter typically wakes me at 7am and I get her ready for nursery and drop her off. Then I start work at around 9am. My days at work are quite varied which I’m grateful for, because I would get bored easily doing the same thing over and over! For example, I might analyse a study for an hour or two, meet students to discuss their research project, give a one-hour lecture on helping behaviour (and answer a lot of emails in between those things). I finish at around 5pm, pick up my daughter, and relax in the evenings or maybe find the energy for a run!
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What I'd do with the prize money:
Not expecting to win (I’m not in it for the money!) but I would take suggestions from the students if I did unexpectedly win.
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Education:
I went to school in Germany and finished in 2006.
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Work History:
I worked in a retirement centre for a year. At the time, all 18-year old boys/men had to do a year of military service or a replacement. I definitely didn’t want to be a soldier! So I helped out in a retirement centre which was hard work but overall a good experience, and made me want to do (clinical) Psychology.
I then studied Psychology in the Netherlands (Nijmegen) from 2007-2012. After my PhD in Cardiff 2012-2015, I did a postdoc in Bath and started as a lecturer in 2021.
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Current Job:
Lecturer at University of Bath since 2021
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My Interview
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What did you want to be after you left school?
I didn't know what I wanted to do, so first worked for 9 months in a retirement centre. This made me realise that I find people fascinating which led me to study psychology.
Were you ever in trouble at school?
I was always late to class (and won the number 1 latecomer award)
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
I really don't know, maybe an average ski instructor?
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Billy Ocean
What's your favourite food?
chocolate
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
more time in a day, being healthy, (more wishes)
Tell us a joke.
really not good with jokes, sorry!
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