Mx Stella Kulesza

Higher Degree by Research Candidate

School of Psychology

College of Education, Behavioural and Social Sciences


I am a PhD candidate in the School of Psychology. My research is focused on exploring queer and trans experiences utilising critical and reflexive qualitative research methodologies. Transness is a fundamental aspect of my life, and I incorporate it through prioritising trans voices, advocating for community collectivism, and decolonising our ideas of transness and gender through my writing and research practices. My honours thesis explored the experiences and perceptions of LGBTQIA+ students at the University of Adelaide and whether students felt supported, accepted, and safe as a social minority in this tertiary context. My PhD project is focused on investigating the facets of 'gender euphoria' for trans people in Australia. I have published a gender euphoria meta-synthesis and trans-led focus group paper with the International Journal of Transgender Health as part of this project.I am non-binary and use they/them pronouns.

Date Position Institution name
2025 - ongoing Casual Academic - Tutoring & Marking Flinders University
2024 - 2024 Casual Academic - Marking University of Adelaide

Date Institution name Country Title
2024 - 2027 University of Adelaide Australia PhD in Psychology
2019 - 2023 University of Adelaide Australia Bachelor Degree of Psychological Science (Honours)

Year Citation
2026 Kulesza, S. (2026). “Nothing about us, without us”: Rethinking gender euphoria research through trans-led conversations with community. International Journal of Transgender Health, 13 pages.
DOI
2025 Kulesza, S., Riggs, D. W., & Dahlenburg, S. C. (2025). Exploring understandings of trans people’s experiences of gender euphoria: A systematic review and metasynthesis. International Journal of Transgender Health, 1-16.
DOI Scopus9 WoS9
2025 Kulesza, S. (2025). Researching without erasure: Critical reflections on gender euphoria research paradigms. International Journal of Transgender Health, 3 pages.
DOI Scopus1 WoS1

Date Topic Presented at Institution Country
2025 - 2025 “Nothing about us, without us” Rethinking gender euphoria research through trans-led conversations with community International Society of Critical Health Psychology University of Galway Ireland

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