Real-Life Insights, Support and Empowerment (RISE)
Research Lab
Dr Yu-Wei Ryan Chen
Dr. Chen serves as a Senior Lecturer in Occupational Therapy at the Sydney School of Health Sciences, part of the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney. With a clinical and research background in pediatric practice, he worked as a pediatric occupational therapist before relocating to Sydney in 2010.
He earned his PhD from the University of Sydney in 2015, focusing on the everyday social experiences of autistic individuals. Dr. Chen is passionate about researching and addressing the needs of both children and adults, regardless of disability, by examining and prompting their quality of everyday life and psychosocial well-being. Currently, he leads the Real-Life Insights, Support and Empowerment (RISE) Research Lab, aiming to enhance real-life success for individuals, regardless of their disabilities.
Education
2010-2015
The University of Sydney, Australia
Doctor of Philosophy
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Topic: Everyday social experience in individuals with autism spectrum disorders
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Supervised by Professor Anita Bundy, Professor Reinie Cordier, Professor Stewart Einfeld
2002-2007
National Taiwan University, Taiwan
Bachelor of Science (Occupational Therapy)
Services & Appointment
Internal
2024 onwards
Program Director – Master of Occupational Therapy
2023 onwards
Committee member, External Advisory Committee, Discipline of Occupational Therapy
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Honours Coordinator, Discipline of Occupational Therapy
2021 & 2023
Co-convenor of OT Research Symposium, Discipline of Occupational Therapy
2016-2023
International Student Liaison Academic, Discipline of Occupational Therapy
Senior Lecturer in Occupational Therapy
2015-2023
Lecturer in Occupational Therapy
External
2022 onwards
Academic Editor, PLoS One
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Editorial Board of Member, Physical and Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics
Research advisor, SATb2 (Special AT-rich sequence-binding protein 2) Gene Foundation Australia
2023 onwards
2024 onwards
Research advisor, the Shining Child Development Centre, Hong Kong
Research Focus Areas
Experience sampling and quality of everyday life
Dr Chen specialises in experience sampling methodology (ESM) to uncover vital insights into the real-life challenges people face in understanding their health functioning and how it affects their quality of everyday life. This research contributes to the development of targeted interventions and support initiatives.
Service alignment with the real-life needs of people with disabilities
Dr Chen aims to evaluate the extent to which available services meet the real-life needs of individuals with disabilities. His goal is to identify research gaps in order to develop more individualised services that effectively respond to those needs.
