Curriculum Vitae

Training

01/2021 – Present        CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY, Montreal, QC                                                                     

Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Sociology and Anthropology

09/2016 – 10/2020       UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, Vancouver, BC                                                                     

Doctor of Philosophy, Department of Psychology, Cognitive Science

09/2014 – 08/2016       UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, Vancouver, BC                                                                     

Master of Arts, Department of Psychology, Cognitive Science

09/2010 – 04/2014       UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, Vancouver, BC                                                                     

Bachelor of Arts, Department of Psychology, Honours Program

 

Teaching

01/2022 – Present      UBC OKANAGAN, Kelowna, BC

Sessional Lecturer, Department of Psychology

  • PSYO 111 – Introduction to Psychology: Basic Processes

  • PSYO 271 – Introduction to Data Analysis

  • PSYO 372 – Research Methods and Statistics

05/2020 – 12/2020 UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, Vancouver, BC

Graduate Academic Assistant, Department of Psychology Remote Teaching Task Force

09/2014 – 04/2020      UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, Vancouver, BC

Teaching Assistant, Teaching Fellow†

  • PSYC 217 – Research Methods† (2019)

  • PSYC 335 – Gambling and Decision-Making (2016, 2017)  

  • PSYC 218 – Analysis of Behavioural Data†

    (2015, 2016, 2017, 2020)

  • PSYC 309 – Cognitive Processes (2015)

  • PSYC 208 – Special Topics in Social, Developmental, Personality and Clinical Psychology (2014)

 

Awards

04/2022       Golden Apple Award, UBC Okanagan (CA; student-nominated teaching award)

07/2021       Dr. Durand Jacobs Dissertation Award, National Council on Problem Gambling (USA; PhD work)

05/2021       Poster Prize, GAM(BL)ING: Commodification of Leisure in the Digital Era (CA $75; Postdoctoral work)

07/2020       Annual Research Award, National Council on Problem Gambling (USA; PhD work)

05/2017       Coren Prize for Overall Best MA Thesis, UBC Psychology (CA $200; MA work)

02/2016       First-place Poster Prize, New Horizons in Responsible Gambling (CA $1,000; MA work)

05/2014      Canadian Psychological Association Certificate of Academic Excellence (CA; BA work)

 

Funding

12/2023       Postdoctoral Fellowship, Alberta Gambling Research Institute ($120,000 CAD)

09/2022       Concordia University Faculty of Arts and Sciences Top-Up Award ($5,000 CAD)

04/2022       Postdoctoral Fellowship, Canadian Institutes of Health Research ($90,000 CAD)

02/2021       Horizon Postdoctoral Fellowship, Concordia University ($64,000 CAD)

05/2020       UBC President's Academic Excellence Initiative PhD Award ($395 CAD)

09/2019       UBC Psychology Travel Award ($500 CAD)

07/2017       UBC Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Travel Award ($500 CAD)

03/2017       NSERC Doctoral Scholarship (PGS-D; $61,000 CAD)

03/2017       UBC Four-Year-Fellowship Tuition Award (tuition waiver)

07/2016       UBC Department of Psychology Graduate Scholarship ($17,000 CAD)

06/2016       UBC Psychology Travel Award ($500 CAD)

03/2015       UBC Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Travel Award ($500 CAD)

07/2015       UBC Department of Psychology Graduate Scholarship ($16,000 CAD)

Grants

04/2024 – 04-2025      Monson, E., Légaré, A.-A., Morvannou, A., Saint-Jacques, M., Kairouz, S., Murch, W. S., & Hahmann, T. Exploring the relationship between day trading, gambling-related harm, and socio-economic inequalities. Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Catalyst Grant. ($99,670 CAD, submitted)

04/2023 – 04-2026      Savard, A.-C., Kairouz, S., French, M., Monson, E., Biron, J.-F., Costes, J. M. Murch, W. S., Rocha, N., & Vézina, S. La publicité et la promotion des jeux de hasard et d'argent en ligne au Québec: Portait d'exposition et d'influence. Programme de recherche sur les jeux de hasard et d’argent et autres dépendances du Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture. ($154,776.88 CAD)

03/2023 – 03/2024      Murch, W. S., Kairouz, S., French, M., Savard, A.-C., & Rocha, N. Cocreating New Best Practices for the Detection, Referral, and Treatment of At-Risk Online Gamblers. Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Partnership Engage Grants. ($23,499 CAD)

01/2023 – 12/2023      Monson, E., Légaré, A.-A., Morvannou, A., Savard, A.-C., Murch, W. S., Palmer du Preez, K., & Reynolds, J. Futures of gambling studies: Supporting early career research and networking. Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Connection Grants. ($49,956 CAD)

Publications

Murch, W.S., Ferrari, M.A., & Clark, L. (2024). Post-Reinforcement Pauses During Slot Machine Gambling are Moderated by Immersion. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology (IF = 1.70). doi: 10.1177/1747021824123905.

Murch, W.S., Kairouz, S., Dauphinais, S., Picard, E., Costes, J.M., & French, M. (2023). Using Machine Learning to Retrospectively Predict Self-Reported Gambling Problems in Quebec. Addiction (IF = 7.26). doi: 10.1111/add.16179.

Kairouz, S., Costes, J. M., Murch, W. S., Doray-Demers, P., Carrier, C., & Eroukmanoff, V. (2023). Enabling New Strategies to Prevent Problematic Online Gambling: A Machine Learning Approach for Identifying At-risk Online Gamblers in France. International Gambling Studies (IF = 2.54). doi: 10.1080/14459795.2022.2164042.

Cnuddle, K., Kim, G., Murch, W. S., Handy, T. C., Protzner, A. B., & Kam, J. W. Y. (2023) EEG complexity during mind wandering: A multiscale entropy investigation. Neuropsychologia (IF = 3.05). 180, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2023.108480.

Kim, A. J., Murch, W. S. (as equal first authors), Limbrick-Oldfield, E. H., Ferrari, M. A., MacDonald, K. I., Fooken, J., Cherkasova, M. V., Spering, M., & Clark, L. (2022). Do pupillary responses during authentic slot machine use reflect arousal or screen luminance fluctuations? A proof-of-concept study. PLOS ONE (IF = 3.75), 17(7), 1-21. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272070.

Murch, W. S., & Clark, L., (2021). Understanding the Slot Machine Zone. Current Addiction Reports. 8, 214-224. doi:10.1007/s40429-021-00371-x.

Murch, W. S., Ferrari, M. A., McDonald, B. M., Clark, L. (2020). Investigating Flow States and Cardiac Pre-Ejection Period during Electronic Gaming Machine Use. Frontiers in Psychology: Performance Science (IF = 2.13). doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00300.

Murch, W. S., Limbrick-Oldfield, E. H., Ferrari, M. A., MacDonald, K. I., Fooken, J., Cherkasova, M. V., Spering, M., Clark, L., (2020). Zoned In or Zoned Out? Investigating Immersion in Slot Machine Gambling using Mobile Eye Tracking. Addiction (IF = 7.26). 115, 1127-1138. doi: 10.1111/add.14899.

Kennedy, D., Goshko, C., Murch, W. S., Limbrick-Oldfield, E. H., Dunn, B. D., Clark, L. (2019). Interoception and respiratory sinus arrhythmia in gambling disorder. Psychophysiology (IF = 3.46). 56(6), e13333. doi: 10.1111/psyp.13333

Murch, W. S., & Clark, L. (2019). Effects of bet size and multi-line play on immersion and respiratory sinus arrhythmia during electronic gaming machine use. Addictive Behaviors (IF = 3.20). 88, 67-72. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2018.08.014

Ferland, J.N., Adams, W.K., Murch, S., Wei, L., Clark, L., Winstanley, C.A. (2018). Investigating the influence of ‘losses disguised as wins’ on decision making and motivation in rats. Behavioral Pharmacology (IF = 1.79). 29(8), 732-744. doi: 10.1097/FBP.0000000000000455

Chu, S., Limbrick-Oldfield, E. H., Murch, W. S., & Clark, L. (2017). Why do slot machine gamblers use stopping devices? Findings from a “Casino Lab” experiment. International Gambling Studies (IF = 2.54). 18(2), 310-326. doi: 10.1080/14459795.2017.1413125

Murch, W. S., Chu S. W. M. & Clark, L. (2017). Measuring the slot machine zone with attentional dual tasks and respiratory sinus arrhythmia. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors (IF = 2.97), 31(3):375-384. doi: 10.1037/adb0000251

Murch W. S. & Clark L. (2016). Games in the brain: Neural substrates of gambling addiction. The Neuroscientist (IF = 5.92). 22(5), 534-545. doi: 10.1177/1073858415591474

Cocker, P. J., Hosking, J. G., Murch, W. S., Clark L. & Winstanley C. A. (2016) Activation of dopamine D4 receptors within the anterior cingulate cortex enhances the erroneous expectation of reward on a rat slot machine task. Neuropharmacology (IF = 4.37), 105, 186-195. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2016.01.019

Silveira, M. M., Murch, W. S., Clark L. & Winstanley C. A. (2016). Chronic atomoxetine treatment during adolescence does not influence decision-making on a rodent gambling task but does modulate amphetamine's effect on impulsive action in adulthood. Behavioral Pharmacology (IF = 1.79), 27 (4), 350-363. doi: 10.1097/FBP.0000000000000203

 Other Outputs

Murch, W.S. (2023). An Interactive ‘Co-Laboratory’ Manual for Undergraduate Statistics using R. Available from: https://www.spencermurch.com/r-manual-alpha

Murch, W. S., & Clark, L. (2019). Commentary on Graydon et al. (2019): Realistic simulations and nudging gambling policy. Addiction (IF = 7.26). 114(1), 125-126. doi: 10.1111/add.14493

Invited Presentations

( * indicates presenting author)

10/2023    Murch, W.S.* “A Pre-Registered Analysis to Develop Fairer Machine Learning Models for Detecting At-Risk Online Gamblers.” RANGES Futures of Gambling Studies, Montréal (CA). Symposium talk.

05/2023    Murch, W.S.*, Baran, S.*, Golab, L.*, Tremblay, N.* “AI Risk and Reward: Considerations Throughout the Development Pipeline.” 18th International Conference on Gambling and Risk Taking, Las Vegas (USA). Panel.

05/2023    Murch, W.S.*, Kairouz, S., Dauphinais, S., Picard, E., Costes, J.M., French, M. “Development and 30-Month Revalidation of a Machine Learning System for Detecting Self-Reported Gambling Problems on an Online Gambling Platform.” 18th International Conference on Gambling and Risk Taking, Las Vegas (USA). Symposium talk.

05/2023    Murch, W.S.* “Auditing AI Methods; The Social Life of Artificial Intelligence.” Concordia University Applied AI Institute. Hybrid symposium.

12/2022    Murch, W. S.*, & Edson, T.* “Identifying and responding to gambling risk markers: New ideas from data science.” Technology, Risk and Gambling Seminar Series, Sydney University (AUS). Online symposium.

06/2022    Murch, W. S.* “Machine Learning for Discovery and Prevention: Identifying behavioural markers of self-reported gambling problems in France and Quebec.” Alberta Gambling Research Institute Annual Conference: Back to the Centre: Back to the Future of Gambling Research, Banff (CA). Symposium talk.

10/2021    Murch, W. S.* “Enabling New Strategies to Prevent Online Gambling Harm: Machine Learning Approaches for Identifying At-Risk Gamblers.” Discovery Responsible Gambling Conference (CA). Online symposium.

05/2021    Murch, W. S.*, Dauphinais, S., Picard, E., French, M., & Kairouz, S., (2021). “Development of a Detection System for Problematic Online Gambling in Quebec.” GAM(BL)ING: Commodification of Leisure in the Digital Era (CA). Online poster.

11/2020    Murch, W. S.* “What is Slot Machine Immersion: How does it affect our experiences and behaviours?” Safer Gambling Forum, eGaming Review (UK). Online symposium.

10/2020    Murch, W. S., Limbrick-Oldfield, E. H., Kim, A. J., Ferrari, M. A., MacDonald, K. I., Fooken, J., Cherkasova, M. V., Spering, M., Clark, L.* “Risky Business: Using Psychophysiology to Understand Risk and Reward in Health and Illness.” Society for Psychophysiological Research, Vancouver (CA). Online symposium.

06/2020    Murch, W. S.*, & Schluter-Dixon, M. G.* “Immersion and Dissociative Experiences in Gambling” Technology, Risk and Gambling Seminar Series, Sydney University (AUS). Online symposium.

03/2020    Murch, W. S.* “Subjective Immersion in Slot Machine Gambling Affects Physiological and Behavioural Responses to Real Slot Machine Outcomes.” Alberta Gambling Research Institute Annual Conference, Banff (CA). Online poster.

06/2019    Murch, W. S.*, Limbrick-Oldfield, E. H., Ferrari, M. A., MacDonald, K. I., Fooken, J., Cherkasova, M. V., Spering, M., Clark, L. “Zoned-In or Zoned-Out? Investigating Slot Machine Immersion with Mobile Eye Tracking.” 17th International Conference on Gambling and Risk Taking, Las Vegas (USA). Symposium talk.

05/2018    Murch, W. S.* “Your Attention Please: Eye tracking slot machine play to inform gambling policy.” BC Science and Policy Conference, Vancouver (CA). Symposium talk.

02/2018    Murch, W. S.* “Eyes on the Prize: Predicting player immersion using a mobile eye tracker during slot machine play.” New Horizons in Responsible Gambling, Vancouver (CA). Symposium talk.

07/2017    Murch, W. S.*, Ferrari, M. A., McDonald, B. M., Clark, L. “Subjective, Behavioural and Physiological Correlates of Social Slot Machine Gambling.”   National Conference on Problem Gambling, Portland (USA). Poster.

02/2017    Murch, W. S.*, Ferrari, M. A., McDonald, B. M., Clark, L. “Solitary Play leads to greater Immersion in Slot Machine Gambling.” New Horizons in Responsible Gambling, Vancouver (CA). Poster.

06/2016    Murch, W. S.*, Chu, S. W. M., Clark, L. “The Cost of Getting Lost: Measuring the slot machine zone with attentional dual tasks.” 16th International Conference on Gambling and Risk Taking, Las Vegas (USA). Symposium talk.

02/2016    Murch, W. S.*, Chu, S. W. M., Clark, L. “The Cost of Getting Lost: Measuring the slot machine zone with attentional dual tasks.” New Horizons in Responsible Gambling, Vancouver (CA). Poster.

03/2015    Murch, W. S.*, Chu, S. W. M., Clark, L. “Physiological Arousal and Behavioural Measures of Immersion during Slot Machine Gambling.” Alberta Gambling Research Institute Annual Conference: Critical Issues in Gambling Research, Banff (CA). Poster.

02/2015    Murch, W. S.*, Clark, L. “Measuring Player Immersion in a Hybrid Casino Laboratory.” New Horizons in Responsible Gambling, Vancouver (CA). Poster.

 

Institutional Service

09/2018 – 09/2020     UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, Vancouver, BC

Graduate Ombudsperson, Liaison to the Graduate Coordinator

10/2019 – 02/2020     UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, Vancouver, BC

Member, Faculty Search Committee

10/2019 – 04/2020     UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, Vancouver, BC

Member, Teaching Assistant Development Committee

09/2016 – 04/2018     UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, Vancouver, BC

Chair, Cognitive Area Workshop

04/2016 – 10/2016     UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, Vancouver, BC

Member, Cognitive Area Retreat Committee

 

Professional Service

01/2024 – 01/2024   Member, CIHR Doctoral Awards Adjudication Committee

10/2023 – Present      Ad-hoc reviewer, Brain and Behavior (1 Review)

10/2023 – Present      Ad-hoc reviewer, BMC Psychology (2 Reviews)

09/2023 – Present      Ad-hoc reviewer, Journal of Affective Disorders Reports (3 Reviews)

07/2023 – Present      Ad-hoc reviewer, International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice (1 Review)

04/2023 – 05/2023   Merit reviewer, SSHRC Partnership Engage Program

04/2023 – Present      Ad-hoc reviewer, Behaviour & Information Technology (2 Reviews)

04/2023 – Present      Ad-hoc reviewer, Addictive Behaviors Reports (1 Review)

01/2023 – 01/2023   Conference Abstract Adjudicator, Canadian Psychological Association

10/2021 – Present      Ad-hoc reviewer, BMC Public Health (2 Reviews)

10/2021 – Present      Ad-hoc reviewer, SAGE Open (2 Reviews)

05/2021 – Present      Ad-hoc reviewer, Journal of Behavioral Addictions (3 Reviews)

02/2021 – Present      Ad-hoc reviewer, Frontiers in Physiology (1 Review)

10/2020 – Present      Ad-hoc reviewer, PLOS One (1 Review)

10/2020 – Present      Ad-hoc reviewer, Journal of Gambling Issues (2 Reviews)

04/2020 – Present      Ad-hoc reviewer, Nature Scientific Reports (5 Reviews)

03/2020 – Present      Ad-hoc reviewer, Psychology of Addictive Behaviors (2 Reviews)

12/2019 – Present      Ad-hoc reviewer, International Gambling Studies (20 Reviews)

09/2019 – Present      Ad-hoc reviewer, Psychophysiology (7 Reviews)

09/2019 – Present      Ad-hoc reviewer, Addiction (4 Reviews)

 

Additional Training

10/2021      Deemed Employee Onboarding, Statistics Canada. A one-on-one training session focused on the secure handling of Canadian federal microdata accessible to researchers (‘Deemed Employees’) granted access to Statistics Canada’s secure Research Data Centers.

03/2020      Instructional Skills Workshop, UBC. A 3-day intensive course intended to improve teaching effectiveness.

07/2019      Institute for Future Legislators, UBC Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions. A six-week training program providing knowledge and practical skills for legislation and governance in Canada.

12/2016      UBC Media Training Workshop, UBC Public Affairs. A UBC initiative that provides researchers with speaking and presentation skills to better disseminate their work.

05/2016      UBC Positive Space Workshop, UBC Equity and Inclusion Office. A UBC initiative to raise awareness, safety, and visibility for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and two-spirit students, faculty, and staff.

 

Interviews and Media Relations

09/2023      "Marketplace". CBC. (Consulted)

07/2023      "John Oakley Live". Global News 640 Toronto. (Radio)

05/2023      "John Gormley Live". 980 CJME Regina, 650 CKOM Saskatoon. (Radio)

09/2022      "ON Point with Guest Host David Peck". Global News 640 Toronto. (Radio)

02/2021      "Total Immersion: The psychology of slot machines". Jeff Does Vegas. (Podcast)

10/2017      "Rick at UBC". CBC Rick Mercer Report. (Television)

02/2017      "Slot machines really do lull gambling addicts into a trance, researchers find". The Daily Mail. (Online)

02/2017      "Redesign slot machines to be less attractive to problem gamblers, UBC researcher says". CBC. (Online, Radio)

02/2017      "Problem gamblers enter a trancelike 'zone' when they play slots, UBC study finds". The Province, Vancouver Sun. (Print news)

02/2017      "UBC study connects slot machines to addictions". Global News. (Television, Online)

11/2014      "Tackling problem gambling". CBC News Vancouver. (Television)

11/2014      "New research centre tackling gambling opens at UBC". Global News. (Television, Online)