Doctor Kristen Baker

A photo of Kristen Baker

Dr Kristen Baker

Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Population health, donor research and cellular therapies 
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Kristen is an early career researcher in the Donor Research team, investigating various aspects of human behaviour related to blood donation. Her projects include topics such as the emotional experiences of donors and non-donors, the impact of social donations with a friend or groups, the effects of emergency events on donations, and tracking longitudinal behavioural changes in donation.

Kristen was awarded a PhD in Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience from Queensland University of Technology in 2022. Before commencing with Lifeblood, she worked as a registered nurse in multiple Brisbane and Newcastle hospitals. As a regular donor, she loves working on projects to improve the donation experience for all individuals.

Awards
  • Queensland University of Technology - Nomination for Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Award (2022)
  • Australian Government and Queensland University of Technology - Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend and Fees Offset (2018–2022)
  • Queensland University of Technology - Conference Travel Grant (2022)
  • Queensland University of Technology - Best Research Poster, School of Psychology and Counselling (2017)
  • The University of Newcastle - Port Stephens Veterans and Citizens Aged Care Undergraduate Scholarship (2012)
Leadership
  • Peer reviewer for journals including Transfusion Medicine, Vox Sanguinis, Biological Psychology, PLOS ONE, and International Review on Public and Nonprofit Marketing.
  • Higher Education Academy - Associate Fellowship (2021 to present).
  • Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency - Registered Nurse (Non-Practicing, 2023 to present).

Key publications

Donating blood in a team: Investigating social factors as predictors and outcomes of a positive team experience
Baker KS, Chell K, Masser BM, and Welvaert M
2025
Transfusion
65(6):1092–1100
View publication
*Event-related potentials index prediction error signalling during perceptual processing of emotional facial expressions.
Baker KS, Johnston P, Yamamoto N, Pegna AJ
2023
Brain Topography
36(3):419-432
View publication
*Violated expectations for spatial and feature attributes of visual trajectories modulate event-related potential amplitudes across the visual processing hierarchy.
Baker KS, Yamamoto N, Pegna AJ, Johnston P
2022
Biological Psychology
174:108422
View publication
*Attention and prediction modulations in expected and unexpected visuospatial trajectories.
Baker KS, Pegna AJ, Yamamoto N, Johnston P
2021
PLoS ONE
16(10):e0242753
View publication

* This research was completed prior to starting with Lifeblood