Curriculum Vitae
Training
09/2024 – Present UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY, Calgary, AB
Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Psychology
01/2021 – 08/2024 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
09/2024 Poster Prize, Canadian College of Neuropsychopharmacology Annual Meeting (CA $125; Postdoctoral work)
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
01/2025 – 12/2026 Murch, W. S., Kim, A. H. S., McGrath, D. S. AI for RG: Leveraging emerging artificial intelligence technologies towards the next generation of responsible gambling tools. Request for Applications on Responsible Gambling and Prevention, International Center for Responsible Gaming. ($253,299.81 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
Gooding, N.B., Sinclair, E.S-L.L., Murch, W.S., Kim, H.S., & Hodgins, D.C. (submitted). Correlates of Problem Gambling in Canada: The Moderating Effect of Sex.
Kairouz, S., Savard, A.-C., Murch, W.S., Blanchette Martin, N., Brodeur, M., Dauphinais, S., Dufour, M., Ferland, F., French, M., Hamel, D., Morvannou, A., Van Mourik, V., & Monson, E. (submitted). A Portrait of Online Gambling: A Look at a Transformation amid a Pandemic.
Murch, W.S., French, M., & Kairouz, S. (submitted). Online Gamblers’ Preferences for Performance and Fairness in Artificial Intelligence Systems for Gambling Harm Detection.
Murch, W.S., Scheurich, R., Monson, E., French, M., & Kairouz, S. (submitted). Distinguishing Persistent Versus Episodic Clusters of At-risk Respondents on the Problem Gambling Severity Index.
Murch, W.S., French, M., & Kairouz, S. (2024). Comparing ‘Fair’ Machine Learning Models for Detecting At-Risk Online Gamblers. International Gambling Studies (IF = 2.54). doi: 10.1080/14459795.2024.2412051.
Murch, W.S., Kairouz, S., & French, M. (2024). Establishing the Temporal Stability of Machine Learning Models That Detect Online Gambling-Related Harms. Computers in Human Behaviors Reports (IF = 4.10). doi: 10.1016/j.chbr.2024.100427
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)
11/2024 Murch, W.S.* “Emerging Artificial Intelligence Technologies for the Detection and Prevention of Gambling Disorder” UBCO Department of Psychology, Kelowna (CA). Symposium.
11/2024 Murch, W.S.* “Emerging Artificial Intelligence Technologies for the Detection and Prevention of Gambling Disorder” University of Calgary Department of Psychology, Calgary (CA). Symposium.
09/2024 Murch, W.S.*, French, M., Kairouz, S. “Developing Artificial Intelligence Systems to Detect and Prevent Online Gambling Addictions.” Canadian College of Neuropsychopharmacology Annual Meeting, Calgary (CA). Poster.
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
Advisory boards
09/2024 – Present Member, Advisory Board On Safer Gambling, UK Gambling Commission.
Grant review
01/2025 – 01/2025 Member, CIHR Doctoral Awards Adjudication Committee
09/2024 – 09/2024 Merit reviewer, Large Grant Adjudication Committee, International Center for Responsible Gambling (USA)
01/2024 – 01/2024 Member, CIHR Doctoral Awards Adjudication Committee
04/2023 – 05/2023 Merit reviewer, SSHRC Partnership Engage Program
Peer review
12/2024 – Present Ad-hoc reviewer, Computers in Human Behaviour Reports (1 Review)
05/2024 – Present Ad-hoc reviewer, Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews (1 Review)
10/2023 – Present Ad-hoc reviewer, Brain and Behavior (1 Review)
10/2023 – Present Ad-hoc reviewer, BMC Psychology (4 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 – 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 (5 Reviews)
10/2021 – Present Ad-hoc reviewer, SAGE Open (2 Reviews)
05/2021 – Present Ad-hoc reviewer, Journal of Behavioral Addictions (4 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 (4 Reviews)
04/2020 – Present Ad-hoc reviewer, Nature Scientific Reports (7 Reviews)
03/2020 – Present Ad-hoc reviewer, Psychology of Addictive Behaviors (2 Reviews)
12/2019 – Present Ad-hoc reviewer, International Gambling Studies (23 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)