MacKenzie Trupp
Post Doc
MacKenzie Trupp is a postdoctoral researcher at RadboudUMC Donders Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience and at the University of Vienna ARTIS lab. She will defend her PhD in October 2025 at the University of Vienna’s Cognitive, Behavioural, and Neuroscience Doctoral School (CoBeNe).
Her research investigates how viewing art and beauty supports psychological well-being, with a recent focus on whether aesthetic sensitivity serves as a protective factor for highly sensitive individuals. Alongside experimental work, including conducting randomised controlled trials to assess how art and beauty can enhance well-being, she authored a systematic review in 2025 examining the evidence and mechanisms behind art’s positive effects. Previously, she has led cross-disciplinary projects; for example, she received an APA Division 10 microgrant to co-design an art-based intervention at the National Gallery, London, in collaboration with industry partner Kinda Studios.
Her work has received recognition through grants and fellowships from the American Psychological Association, the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research, the University of Vienna, and CoBeNe. She was awarded the 2023 Impact Award from the City of Vienna Cultural Affairs and the 2025 Barron Award from APA Division 10 for her contributions to the psychology of the arts.
