Aside

Dr Michael Noetel

Contact Info

Skills

Academic metrics

h-index: 24
Publications: 48
Citations: 2012
Last updated: 25 Apr 2025
via Scopus

Main

Michael Noetel, PhD

Associate Professor, The University of Queensland

I work to reduce catastrophic risks from advanced AI while helping others do the most good they can. My work integrates consensus‑building, evidence synthesis, and scalable public communication to deliver policy‑ready guidance at the pace of frontier AI.

Select AI Governance Contributions

  • SARA Project: Led the Survey of Assessing Risks from AI, which informed Australia’s Safe and Responsible AI in Australia discussion paper.
  • AI Risk Repository: Co‑authored repository of AI risk pathways, which was presented at the Paris AI Action Summit and cited in the International AI Safety Report (2024).
  • Field‑building: Facilitated three cohorts of the AGI Safety Fundamentals Governance Course and supervise graduate research on frontier evals, AI literacy, AI consciousness, and public risk perception.

Teaching & Engagement Impact

  • Award‑winning educator: 9 national & institutional awards, incl. Australian Award for University Teaching & Vice‑Chancellor’s Award for Excellence. Mean student rating 4.8/5 across 2,390 students.
  • Public science communicator: 8 Conversation articles (210K reads); media interviews for CNN, BBC, ABC, The Times, including TV and live radio; invited to brief federal parliamentarians.
  • Chair, Effective Altruism Australia since 2021 — stewarding AU$5M+/yr to cost‑effective global‑health and climate change programs.

Research Excellence

  • High‑impact evidence synthesis: Lead author, network meta‑analysis of exercise for depression (BMJ, Altmetric > 1400; 100M+ media reach). Publications in my fields’ top journals: Nature Human Behaviour, Psychological Bulletin, Review of Educational Research
  • Competitive funding: Chief Investigator on AU$3.7M Category 1 grants (NHMRC, MRFF, ARC).
  • Transparent & truth-seeking: Embed pre-registration, open data/code; lead multi‑institution teams using Agile & Scrum
  • Metrics of excellence: Scopus m‑index 4 (>2 = ‘outstanding scientist’); 53% of papers in top‑10% most‑cited; Field‑Weighted Citation Index = 7.4 (top 1%).

Education

Doctor of Philosophy

Institute for Positive Psychology and Education
Australian Catholic University

North Sydney, NSW

2019

Masters of Applied Psychology

The University of Queensland

St Lucia, QLD

2010

Bachelor of Science (Advanced, Honours)

Double Major: Psychology; Computational Science
University of Sydney

Camperdown, NSW

2008

Academic Experience

Associate Professor - Teaching and Research

School of Psychology
The University of Queensland

St Lucia, QLD

Present - 2025

Affiliate Researcher

FutureTech
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Present - 2025

Senior Lecturer

School of Psychology
The University of Queensland

St Lucia, QLD

2024 - 2022

Senior Lecturer

School of Health and Behavioural Sciences
Australian Catholic University

Banyo, QLD

2022 - 2020

Research Fellow (Secondment; .4 FTE)

Institute for Positive Psychology and Education
Australian Catholic University

North Sydney, NSW

2019 - 2018

Lecturer

School of Health and Behavioural Sciences
Australian Catholic University

Strathfield, NSW

2019 - 2015

Accreditations

Senior Fellow, Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)

AdvanceHE

N/A

Present - 2020

Registered Psychologist

Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency

N/A

Present - 2012

Board Approved Supervisor

Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency

N/A

Present - 2015

Member

Australian Psychological Society

N/A

2021 - 2012

Awards

Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching

Australian Catholic University

N/A

2021

Vice-Chancellor’s Staff Excellence Award: Excellence in Research & Research Partnership

Australian Catholic University

N/A

2021

iPLAY Team

Faculty of Health Sciences Employee Values Award

Australian Catholic University

N/A

2021

Excellence and Innovation in Public Health Education and Research (Team Award)

Council of Academic Public Health Institutions Australasia

N/A

2021

iPLAY Team

Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Learning and Teaching (Team Award)

Australian Catholic University

N/A

2021

Sport and Exercise Psychology Team

Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning

Australian Awards for University Teaching

N/A

2020

Best presentation in Educational Technology theme

2020 Scholarship of Tertiary Teaching Conference, CQUniversity

N/A

2020

Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning

Australian Catholic University

N/A

2019

Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Learning and Teaching (Team Award)

Australian Catholic University, Faculty of Health Sciences

N/A

2017

Citations (Early Career) for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning

Australian Catholic University

N/A

2015

Citations (Early Career) for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning

Australian Catholic University, Faculty of Health Sciences

N/A

2015

Teaching Responsibilities and Evaluations

Psychological Skills Training Techniques in Sport

Course Coordinator

N/A

Current - 2021

Postgraduate, 10 students

Introduction to Applied Practice in Sport & Exercise Psychology

Course Coordinator

N/A

Current - 2021

Postgraduate, 10 students

Master of Psychology Dissertation

Course Coordinator

N/A

Current - 2023

Postgraduate, ~40 students

AGI Safety Fundamentals, Governance Course

Facilitator (3 cohorts)

N/A

2023 - 2022

Volunteered for BlueDot Impact

Leadership and Culture in High Performance Settings

National Lecturer in Charge

N/A

2020

Postgraduate, online, ~90 students

Exercise and Lifestyle Counselling

National Lecturer in Charge

N/A

2020 - 2014

Postgraduate, blended learning, ~30 students / year

Research Design and Statistics

Lecturer in Charge

N/A

2019

Third-year, face-to-face, ~30 students / year

Advanced Topics in Applied Psychology

Lecturer in Charge

N/A

2018

Honors, face-to-face, ~20 students / year

Health and Exercise Psychology

National Lecturer in Charge

N/A

2017 - 2013

Second-year, blended learning, ~150 students / year

Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity

National Lecturer in Charge / Lecturer

N/A

2017 - 2013

First-year, face-to-face, ~350 students / year

Teaching Development Grants

INSPIRE: Initiative to support the integration of research in education

Funded Project from the Australian Catholic University Provost’s Office

N/A

2021

Noetel, M., Mahoney, J., Challinor, K., & Barnett, D.

— $49,750

Enhancing student placement experience through the supervisor relationship

Australian Catholic University Teaching Development Grant

N/A

2019

Spathis, J. Mahoney, J., & Noetel, M.

— $20,000

Improving student engagement through tutor training and support

Australian Catholic University Teaching Development Grant

N/A

2018

Sweeney, M., Noetel, M., & Mahoney, J.

— $20,000

Growth mindset versus direct instruction for persistence and achievement in an undergraduate STEM course

Faculty of Health Sciences Teaching Development Grant

N/A

2018

Moresi, M., Noetel, M., & Taylor, P.

— $5,000

Closing the gap: The effects of good feedback practices on student learning, motivation, and achievement in first year exercise science.

Australian Catholic University Teaching Development Grant

N/A

2017

Mahoney, J., Noetel, M., Wilcox, A., & Sweeney, M.

— $20,000

Flipped, online or face-to-face: A mixed methods, cluster-randomised trial of lecture format

Australian Catholic University Teaching Development Grant

N/A

2015

Noetel, M., Pink, M., Stynes, J., Aumand, E., & Pepping, G.-J.

— $20,000

Publications

Wilhite K., et al. (2025). Movement Mediates the Relationship Between Socioeconomic Position and Socioemotional Outcomes in Youth. Journal of Physical Activity and Health

N/A

N/A

2025

Sanders T., et al. (2024). An umbrella review of the benefits and risks associated with youths’ interactions with electronic screens. Nature Human Behaviour

— 42 citations

N/A

2024

Guo J., et al. (2024). Harnessing Artificial Intelligence in Generative Content for enhancing motivation in learning. Learning and Individual Differences

— 1 citation

N/A

2024

Verdonschot A., et al. (2024). Development and evaluation of the Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation to deliver Physical Activity in School Scale (COM-PASS). International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity

— 1 citation

N/A

2024

Gallardo-Gómez D., et al. (2023). Exercise to treat psychopathology and other clinical outcomes in schizophrenia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. European Psychiatry

— 9 citations

N/A

2023

Wilhite K., et al. (2023). Socioeconomic position as a predictor of youth’s movement trajectory profiles between ages 10 and 14 years. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity

— 4 citations

N/A

2023

Noetel M., et al. (2022). Multimedia Design for Learning: An Overview of Reviews With Meta-Meta-Analysis. Review of Educational Research

— 69 citations

N/A

2022

Lubans D.R., et al. (2022). Scale-up of the Internet-based Professional Learning to help teachers promote Activity in Youth (iPLAY) intervention: a hybrid type 3 implementation-effectiveness trial. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity

— 4 citations

N/A

2022

Parker P., et al. (2022). School Socioeconomic Status Context and Social Adjustment in Children. Developmental Psychology

— 4 citations

N/A

2022

Noetel M., et al. (2021). Video Improves Learning in Higher Education: A Systematic Review. Review of Educational Research

— 177 citations

N/A

2021

Vella S.A., et al. (2021). An Intervention for Mental Health Literacy and Resilience in Organized Sports. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise

— 79 citations

N/A

2021

Lee J., et al. (2021). Influences on User Engagement in Online Professional Learning: A Narrative Synthesis and Meta-Analysis. Review of Educational Research

— 25 citations

N/A

2021

Alex N., et al. (2021). RAFT: A Real-World Few-Shot Text Classification Benchmark. Advances in Neural Information Processing Systems

— 24 citations

N/A

2021

Kennedy S.G., et al. (2021). Evaluating the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation and maintenance of the Resistance Training for Teens program. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity

— 20 citations

N/A

2021

del Pozo Cruz B., et al. (2021). The effects of the Australian bushfires on physical activity in children. Environment International

— 18 citations

N/A

2021

Ahmadi A., et al. (2021). A Systematic Review of Machine Learning for Assessment and Feedback of Treatment Fidelity. Psychosocial Intervention

— 8 citations

N/A

2021

Parker P.D., et al. (2020). The Intersection of Gender, Social Class, and Cultural Context: a Meta-Analysis. Educational Psychology Review

— 38 citations

N/A

2020

Eather N., et al. (2020). Development and evaluation of the high-intensity interval training self-efficacy questionnaire. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology

— 11 citations

N/A

2020

Noetel M., et al. (2019). Mindfulness and acceptance approaches to sporting performance enhancement: a systematic review. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology

— 151 citations

N/A

2019

Valkenborghs S.R., et al. (2019). The impact of physical activity on brain structure and function in youth: A systematic review. Pediatrics

— 132 citations

N/A

2019

Sanders T., et al. (2019). Type of screen time moderates effects on outcomes in 4013 children: Evidence from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity

— 103 citations

N/A

2019

Beetham K.S., et al. (2019). The effects of vigorous intensity exercise in the third trimester of pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

— 100 citations

N/A

2019

Noetel M., et al. (2019). Using genetic algorithms to abbreviate the Mindfulness Inventory for Sport: A substantive-methodological synthesis. Psychology of Sport and Exercise

— 12 citations

N/A

2019

Media coverage

I’ve worked to get my research out into the public to change practice. For example, I was invited on national primetime TV for my paper in Nature Human Behaviour.

Exercise for depression

CNN, The Times, BBC, Good Morning America, The Australian, The Conversation, ABC Radio National, Triple J, Triple M, Hit Radio and more

N/A

2024

Effective altruism

ABC Religion & Ethics, ABC Radio National, 2GB, ABC Radio Canberra, ABC Radio Hobart

N/A

2021

Videos in higher education

Forbes, The Conversation, and others, see Altmetric

N/A

2020

Behavioural response to COVID-19

The Conversation, ABC News, Canberra Times

N/A

2020

Vigorous exercise during pregnancy

The Washington Post, The Conversation, and others, see Altmetric

N/A

2019

Research Supervision

Asghar Ahmadi

Doctor of Philosophy Candidate, Australian Catholic University

N/A

2023 - 2019

Primary Supervisor

Roberta Vasconcellos

Doctor of Philosophy Candidate, Australian Catholic University

N/A

2025 - 2020

Primary Supervisor

Shantell Griffith

Doctor of Philosophy Candidate, The University of Queensland

N/A

Present - 2022

Primary Supervisor

Ghassani Swaryandini

Doctor of Philosophy Candidate, The University of Queensland

N/A

Present - 2022

Primary Supervisor

Gerard Hassed

Doctor of Philosophy Candidate, The University of Queensland

N/A

Present - 2025

Primary Supervisor

Brynlea Gibson

Doctor of Philosophy Candidate, The University of Queensland

N/A

Present - 2025

Associate Supervisor

Anum Urooj

Doctor of Philosophy Candidate, Australian Catholic University

N/A

Present - 2022

Associate Supervisor

Ella Tremaine

Doctor of Philosophy Candidate, Australian Catholic University

N/A

Present - 2021

Associate Supervisor

Team of 20 Honours Students

Honours Thesis, The University of Queensland

N/A

2025

Primary supervisor

Team of 20 Honours Students

Honours Thesis, The University of Queensland

N/A

2024

Primary supervisor

Tabi Ward, Keira Wallace, Jake Morril

Honours Thesis, The University of Queensland

N/A

2023

Primary supervisor

Iris Kucuk and Laura Beddoe

Master of Psychology (Clinical) Research Thesis, Australian Catholic University

N/A

2020

Primary supervisor

Lauren Bischoff

Master of Psychology (Sport and Exercise) Research Thesis, University of Queensland

N/A

2021

Primary supervisor

Simon Pearson

Master of Psychology (Sport and Exercise) Research Thesis, University of Queensland

N/A

2020

Co-supervisor

Research Grants

Promotion of evidence-based physical activity for older adults and people with disabilities by health professionals

National Health and Medical Research Council (PRC1: 2011157)

N/A

2025 - 2022

Sherrington, C., Hassett, L., Tiedemann, A., Harvey, L., Pinheiro, M., Howard, K., Phongsavan, P., Haynes, A., Noetel, M., Reece, L.

— $1,440,375

Protyping a co-designed effective altruism program: Thinking Skills for Global Change

Open Philanthropy

N/A

2023 - 2022

Noetel, M.

— $58,000

Effectiveness and cost effectiveness of a time-efficient school-based physical activity intervention for adolescents living with disability

Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF: 2007095)

N/A

2023 - 2021

Lubans, D., Shields, N., Hillman, C., Lonsdale, C., Eather, N., Smith, J., Noetel, M., Reeves, P., Leahy, A.

— $736,399

Meta-review of what works in institutional decision-making: Campbell Collaboration Evidence and Gap Map

Effective Altruism Infrastructure Fund

N/A

2022 - 2021

Noetel, M., Saeri, A., Slattery, P., Grundy, E.

— $39,654

Square eyes or all lies? Understanding children’s exposure to screens

Australian Research Council Discovery Project (Ref: DP200101912)

N/A

2023 - 2020

Lonsdale, C., Biddle, S., Parker, P., Doherty, A., Signal, L., Baranowski, T., Salmela-Aro, K., Stevens, R., Rissel, C., Sanders, T., del Pozo Cruz, B., Noetel, M.

— $658,544

PLAY for Inclusion — Teachers working with children with intellectual disability

Move It AUS - Participation Grants Program (Ref: PAR006502018)

N/A

2020 - 2019

Noetel, M., Lonsdale, C., Temple, V., Tracey, V., Bennie, A., & Lubans, D.

— $268,802

Engaging students during the early years of secondary school (iTEACH Project)

Australian Research Council Discovery Project (Ref: DP160102625)

N/A

2020 - 2016

Lonsdale, C., Diezmann, C., Ntoumanis, N., Yeung, A., Ryan, R., Beauchamp, M., Maeder, A. & Noetel, M.

— $590,000

iPLAY Sporting Schools

Australian Sports Commission.

N/A

2019

Lonsdale, C., Noetel, M., Sanders, T., Parker, P., Lubans, D., Morrison, R. Boyer, J., & King, L.

— $109,091

Ahead Of The Game: Motivating Queensland swimmers for better health and performance

Sport Performance Innovation and Knowledge Excellence (SPIKE) program
Queensland Academy of Sport

N/A

2020 - 2019

Mahoney, J., Noetel, M., Vella, S., & Lonsdale, C.

— $7,416

iPLAY Sporting Schools pilot

Sport Australia

N/A

2019

Lonsdale, C., Sanders, T., Noetel, M., Parker, P., & Lubans, D.

— $49,587

iPLAY nutrition module

New South Wales Department of Education

N/A

2018

Lonsdale, C., Noetel, M., Sanders, T., Ronto, R., & Parker, P.

— $12,650

Thinking While Moving in English

New South Wales Department of Education

N/A

2018

Lonsdale, C. & Noetel, M.

— $10,000

Service

The University of Queensland

Program Director (Academic), Master of Psychology
School of Psychology

N/A

Current - 2023

The University of Queensland

Postgraduate Training Committee
School of Psychology

N/A

Current - 2023

Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology

Editorial Board Member

N/A

Current - 2025

The University of Queensland

Higher Degree Research Committee
School of Psychology

N/A

2024 - 2023

Australian Catholic University

Steering Committee Chair
INSPIRE Program

N/A

2022 - 2020

Australian Catholic University

Faculty Board
Faculty of Health Sciences

N/A

2021 - 2020

Australian Catholic University

Higher Degree Research Committee
Institute for Positive Psychology and Education

N/A

2022 - 2019

Australian Catholic University

National Team Leader
Sport, Health, and Exercise Psychology Units

N/A

2020 - 2013

Engagement

Australian Institute of Sport

National Quality Assurance Steering Committee

N/A

2022 - 2021

Australian Psychological Society (APS)

College of Sport and Exercise Psychologists (CSEP)

N/A

2021 - 2015

— National Treasurer: 2015-2017; 2019-2021
— NSW Chair: 2015-2017
— QLD Chair: 2019-2021

Effective Altruism Australia

Director and Chairperson

N/A

Present - 2021

Effective Altruism Global x Australia Conference

Organising Committee

N/A

2023

Invited Presentations / Symposia

Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA) Annual Conference

Showcase presentation

N/A

2023

Effective Altruism Global x Australia Conference

Invited workshops x 2, Keynote Coordinator and MC

N/A

2023

Berkeley Effective Altruism Winter Scholars Program

Invited workshop

N/A

2022

Effective Altruism Global x Australia Conference

Invited workshop, Invited presentation, and ‘Fireside chat’

N/A

2022

NASPSPA Annual Conference, Hawaii

Accepted symposia

N/A

2022

Prevention of Falls Injuries Centre of Research Excellence

Invited workshop

N/A

2022

Advance Higher Education Teaching and Learning Conference

Accepted presentation

N/A

2021

Scholarship of Tertiary Teaching Conference, CQUniversity

Accepted presentation

N/A

2020

Sports Medicine Australia Symposia

Invited panellist

N/A

2020

Effective Altruism Global x Australia

Invited keynote

N/A

2019

Association for Contextual Behavioural Sciences World Conference

Ignite presentation

N/A

2015

Australian Psychological Society National Conference

Accepted presentation

N/A

2015

Sports Medicine Australia National Conference

Invited presentation

N/A

2012

Continuing Professional Learning

Governance Foundations for Not-for-Profit Directors

Australian Institute of Company Directors

N/A

2023

Bayesian Statistics: From Concept to Data Analysis (with honors)

University of California, Santa Cruz

N/A

2021

Organizational Leadership Specialization

Northwestern University
- High Performance Collaboration: Leadership, Teamwork, and Negotiation
- Leadership Communication for Maximum Impact: Storytelling
- Leadership Through Social Influence
- Leadership Through Marketing
- Leadership Through Design Innovation
- Organizational Leadership Capstone

N/A

2020

Influencing Specialization: Storytelling, Change Management and Governance

Macquarie University
- Leading transformations: Manage change
- Negotiation skills: Negotiate and resolve conflict
- Storytelling and influencing: Communicate with impact
- Risk governance: Engage the board

N/A

2020

Model Thinking

University of Michigan

N/A

2020

Introduction to Translational Science

University of Rochester

N/A

2020

Psychological First Aid

Johns Hopkins University

N/A

2020

Effective Altruism

Princeton University

N/A

2020

Scrum Fundamentals

Udemy

N/A

2020

A Crash Course in Causality: Inferring Causal Effects from Observational Data

University of Pennsylvania

N/A

2018

Data Science Specialization

Johns Hopkins University
- Data Science Capstone
- The Data Scientist’s Toolbox
- Getting and Cleaning Data
- Reproducible Research
- Developing Data Products
- Practical Machine Learning
- Regression Models
- Exploratory Data Analysis
- Statistical Inference
- R Programming

N/A

2018

Conducting an Intervention Review

Cochrane

N/A

2017

Documentary Masterclass

Australian Film Television and Radio School

N/A

2017

Learning How to Learn: Powerful mental tools to help you master tough subjects

McMaster University & University of California San Diego

N/A

2017

Board Approved Supervisor Training: Refresher and Masterclass

Australian Psychological Society

N/A

2016

Gamification

University of Pennsylvania

N/A

2015

Learning to Teach Online

University of New South Wales

N/A

2014