Personal profile
Biography
Kiran is a Associate ProfessorSenior Lecturer in Psychologyon the Doctorate inClinical Psychology training programme. He is aChartered Psychologist, Forensic Psychologist (Psychological Society of Ireland) and psychotherapist (IACP).He is a graduate (BA, PhD) of the Department of Applied Psychology, University College Cork, School of Psychology, University of Leicester (MSc Applied Forensic Psychology) and Dublin City University (MSc Integrative Psychotherapy). Prior to taking up a post at NUI Galway, heworked with An Garda Síochána (the Irish Police)as a lecturer in forensic psychology and crime analyst (2000-2004).Kiranleads the Risky and Extreme Behaviours Research Group (REX-GROUP) at the School of Psychology, conducting research on a range offorms of risky and violent behaviour ranging from road safety to violent extremism and terrorism. He works as an advisor to the Road Safety Authority, Irish Water Safety, Defense Forces Ireland, the European Commission and industry.Information on the group, and its research actives, can be found here. In addition to his academic work, Kiran works professionallyclinically as a forensic psychologist and psychotherapist.
Research Interests
Area 1: Social Forensic Psychology.Kiranis the lead investigator on the Risky and Extreme Behaviour Research Group (REX-Group) at the School of Psychology. The group explores the basic psychologicalscience that can informrisky and violent behaviour.In the applied area of risk mitigation, he islead investigator on projects funded by the Road Safety Authority, Irish Water Safety andthe Royal National Lifeboat Institution. In the area of violence and aggression, he is a senior consultant for the European Commissions Radicalisation Awareness Network Centre of Excellence (RAN-CoE) and a member of the European Expert Network on Terrorism Issues (EENeT). He has collaborated with statutory bodies in both Northern Ireland and the RePublic - No restriction of Ireland on issues relating to security and counter-terrorism. His research on counter-terrorism has been funded bythe Irish Research Council and Enterprise Ireland.Kiran is interested in hearing from potential PhD candidates who may wish to pursue research in these areas (risk-taking and terrorismsupport for terrorism) at doctoral level.Area 2: Clinical and Clinical-Forensic Psychology. Through his role as Research Director on theDoctorate in Clinical Psychology, Kiran is involved in research on arange of clinical and clinical forensic topics (see Public - No restrictionation page for examples).Kiran is a member of the Mental Health Tribunals as administered by the Mental Health Commission (2007-2019).
Teaching Interests
Social PsychologyForensic PsychologyClinical Research Methods
Education/Academic qualification
BA(Psych),MSc(Applied Psych),PhD(Psych)
External positions
Lecturer in Psychology and Research Director D.Psych.Sc, NUI Galway
1 Sep 2007 → …
Accepting PhD Students
- Accepting PhD Students
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
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SDG 5 Gender Equality
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SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
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SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
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SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Designing a pre-deployment resilience building programme for military peacekeeping personnel. A Delphi technique study with military and civilian subject matter experts
Doody, C. B., EGAN, J., Bogue, J. & Sarma, K., 7 Feb 2026, In: Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health. p. 1555 5240 p.Research output: Contribution to a Journal (Peer & Non Peer) › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Protocol: Understanding the Content, Context, and Impact of Far-Right Extremist Propaganda Disseminated Online: A Systematic Review
Doolan, M., Cox, K. & Sarma, K. M., Dec 2025, In: Campbell Systematic Reviews. 21, 4, e70076.Research output: Contribution to a Journal (Peer & Non Peer) › Review article › peer-review
Open Access -
THE ROLE OF ADULT ATTACHMENT STYLE AND THE SUBJECTIVE BIRTH EXPERIENCE IN PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA FOLLOWING CHILDBIRTH
Lonergan, A., Coffey, A. M., Hennessey, M., Pilch, M. & Sarma, K. M., Aug 2025, In: Clinical Psychology Today. 9, 1, p. 111-141 31 p.Research output: Contribution to a Journal (Peer & Non Peer) › Article › peer-review
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Dark personalities and their sympathies towards state-sponsored extremism
Tetreault, C. & Sarma, K. M., 2024, In: Behavioral Sciences of Terrorism and Political Aggression. 16, 1, p. 1-20 20 p.Research output: Contribution to a Journal (Peer & Non Peer) › Article › peer-review
Open Access7 Citations (Scopus) -
The Morality Behind Supporting Crowdfunding Campaigns for Eco-Hacktivists
Tetreault, C. & Sarma, K. M., 2024, In: Deviant Behavior. 45, 5, p. 621-641 21 p.Research output: Contribution to a Journal (Peer & Non Peer) › Article › peer-review
Open Access1 Citation (Scopus)
Activities
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Mia Doolan
Sarma, K. (Primary Supervisor)
2024Activity: Other › Current Postgraduates (Research) Supervised
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Terrorism and Social Media TASM) International Conference
Sarma, K. (Other)
5 Jun 2017 → 7 Jun 2017Activity: Talk or presentation (Unpublished) › Oral Presentation
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40th Annual International Society of Political Psychology ISPP) Conference
Sarma, K. (Other)
1 Jun 2017 → 2 Jun 2017Activity: Talk or presentation (Unpublished) › Oral Presentation
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Comparative approaches to understanding violent and non-violent online extremism
Sarma, K. (Other)
29 May 2017 → 31 May 2017Activity: Talk or presentation (Unpublished) › Invited Talk
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C-Pen Collaborating to Prevent Extremist Narratives) Opening Seminar
Sarma, K. (Other)
8 Mar 2017 → 10 Mar 2017Activity: Talk or presentation (Unpublished) › Oral Presentation