Melanie conducts research on important times of life for the development of interpersonal problems and psychopathology, as well as for mental health, growth, resilience and recovery - working with children, teenagers, young adults, families and peer groups. This research concentrates on the impact of social relationships (online or offline) and the development of coping, emotion regulation, rejection sensitivity and other social cognitive beliefs. Melanie also concentrates her research on some of the major concerns of adolescents: appearance, social media and immersion in technology, virtual worlds, parents and friends. Other primary areas of expertise are how intimate relationships, sexuality, identity and autonomy develop; and the impacts of offline and cyber rejection experiences, aggression and abuse on the development of problems and resilient responding. Finally, Melanie directs the Family Interaction Program (FIP). Established in 2002, FIP is a center providing critical parenting and support programs for vulnerable families and children (Phone: (07) 56789105), and a source of evidence on the effectiveness of parenting support programs, such as Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, PC-Care, and Circle of Security. Originally from the US, Melanie has attracted more than $12 million in external research funding since coming to Australia in Sept 2001. She has published more than 250 books, book chapters, and journal articles; and has supervised more than 40 PhD candidates to the completion of their Dr. degree. She has also supervised more than 50 honour's and master's degree students in the School of Applied Psychology at Griffith. She currently supervises 13 PhD candidates, 4 postdoctoral fellows, and holds grants from the ARC, NHMRC, MRFF, Rotary, and the Federals and QLD Government. She is a collaborator on research underway in Switzerland, Belgium, USA, Indonesia, and The Netherlands. She has received multiple awards for research: an Excellence in Research Supervision Award in 2013 and 2018, a Research Excellence Award in 2014 and 2020, and High Impact Publication Awards.