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. |
| 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. Scopus9 WoS9 |
| 2025 | Kulesza, S. (2025). Researching without erasure: Critical reflections on gender euphoria research paradigms. International Journal of Transgender Health, 3 pages. 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 |