Dr Kimberley Bartholomew is an Associate Professor in the School of Education and Lifelong Learning. Kim moved from the School of Psychology at UEA to join the School of Education and Lifelong Learning in 2015. Prior to UEA, Kimberley worked as a Lecturer in Psychology at Nottingham Trent University (2010-2013). After completing undergraduate (Loughborough University, First Class) and postgraduate (Nottingham Trent University, Distinction) studies in the areas of sport and social sciences, Kimberley completed her PhD in Sport Psychology at the University of Birmingham under the supervision of Professor Nikos Ntoumanis.

As an applied social psychologist, Kimberley’s research focuses primarily on human motivation, development, and well-being in formal and informal educational settings. Kim regularly engages in consultancy work in this area and is a Non-Executive Director of a social enterprise which supports ‘at risk’ children and young people re-engage in learning activities via music-mentoring.

Kimberley’s research is primarily based within the framework of self-determination theory and aims to (i) accurately measure and map the motivational determinants of adaptive and maladaptive engagement in learning environments; and (ii) utilise this information to inform the implementation and evaluation of intervention programmes designed to facilitate optimal motivation, performance, and well-being in these contexts. Her interests in this area include the use of online platforms for sustainable and scalable intervention work with teachers and young people. Kim’s research also focuses on the way in which children develop digital resilience and the methods via which we can conceptualise and measure this construct. More recently, Kim has begun to explore the links between well-being and early speech, language, and communication skills. Kim has received funding from various research councils and charities including the ESRC, the British Academy, the UKRI eNurture Network, and the Joyce Morris Legacy Fund. She is also part of the International Research Network on Physical Education and Healthy Lifestyle Promotion.

Kim is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) and leads research methods teaching across EDU’s Undergraduate, Masters, and EdPsyD programmes. She also contributes to research methods teaching beyond EDU/UEA via UEA's Online Training Series for PGRs. Kim is responsible for supervising a number of PhD, EdPsyD and EdD research students.