Karina A. Feng

I am a graduate student in the Population Well-Being Lab in the Department of Psychology at the University of Toronto. My research explores how social and built environments shape well-being, with a focus on housing, third spaces, and community health. As a student in the Collaborative Specialization in Psychology, Psychiatry, and Engineering (PsychEng), I am invested in translating research findings into community-centered interventions that help people build stronger relationships and happier living spaces.

I have contributed to studies on life satisfaction across racial groups in U.S. counties, the impact of demographic shifts on implicit and explicit biases, and the effects of location and social schema retraining on memory recall. Working with large, nationally representative datasets (2M+ participants), I have developed a broad skillset in advanced statistical techniques, including compositional data analysis (CoDA), multilevel modeling, and natural language processing (NLP), bridging psychology with data science, political science, and sociology.

I aspire to advance well-being research to inform evidence-based policies for governments and organizations. How can we build happier workplaces, homes, and communities? How can we develop interventions that are culturally sensitive and center the people they impact? My approach emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and community co-creation.

In my free time, I enjoy taking long walks, photography, and trying out new art mediums. See my CV for more information, or reach out if you’re interested in collaborating!