Associate Prof Oliver Baumann
Associate Dean - Learning & Teaching
Level 3, Building 1a, Faculty of Society & Design, Bond University
Accepting PhD StudentsContact details
Professional biography
Dr Oliver Baumann is an experimental psychologist and cognitive neuroscientist whose research explores how environments shape cognition, memory, and emotional wellbeing. He joined Bond University in 2018 and currently serves as Associate Dean, Learning & Teaching in the Faculty of Society & Design.
Dr Baumann holds a Master of Psychology from Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg and a PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience from the University of Regensburg. He has held academic positions at Aalborg University (Denmark), University of Oslo (Norway), University of Glasgow (UK), and the University of Queensland (Australia).
His work has been supported by competitive funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC) and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), as well as recognition through research excellence awards.
Dr Baumann’s research has had real-world impact, shaping workplace design, education, and police investigative training. His work on office acoustics, biophilic design, and cognitive load in high-stakes environments has been featured in leading journals and global media outlets.
Research interests
Dr Oliver Baumann is an experimental psychologist and cognitive neuroscientist researching how environments—both built and natural—shape cognition, memory, and emotional wellbeing. His work integrates human behavioural testing, electrophysiology, neuroimaging, and virtual reality to address both fundamental and applied psychological questions.
His research spans three key areas:
•Environmental psychology – Exploring how indoor and outdoor spaces influence cognitive performance, mood, and physiological stress responses, with applications in workplace design, urban planning, and education.
•Memory and spatial cognition – Investigating the mechanisms underlying wayfinding, spatial memory, and the impact of environmental factors on navigation.
•Applied cognitive science – Examining attention, decision-making, and memory retention in high-stakes environments, including law enforcement and healthcare.
Dr Baumann’s work has been widely cited, has influenced real-world applications in urban design, workplace performance, and investigative procedures, and has been featured in leading academic journals and international media outlets.
Teaching expertise
Dr. Baumann has taught in the areas of Emotion & Motivation, Cognitive Psychology, Research Methods, Statistics, and Ethics.
Qualifications
- Psychology, PhD, University of Regensburg, Award Date: 6 Dec 2006
- Psychology, Master, University of Regensburg, Award Date: 2 Dec 2003
Fields of Research
- Applied and developmental psychology
Statement for HDR students
Dr Oliver Baumann supervises research projects across environmental psychology, applied cognitive science, and workplace psychology, examining how physical and social environments influence cognition, wellbeing, and behaviour. His projects integrate methodologies such as behavioural testing, neuroimaging, virtual reality, and psychophysiological measures.
He is particularly interested in how built and natural environments affect memory, attention, stress, and decision-making. Recent projects have explored biophilic design, open-plan office acoustics, urban density and psychological wellbeing, and psychosocial aspects of the workplace, including employee wellbeing, decision-making under stress, and the impact of environmental design on performance and engagement.
Dr Baumann welcomes discussions with prospective PhD students interested in interdisciplinary and applied research at the intersection of cognitive psychology, neuroscience, environmental design, and workplace studies, including those with industry collaborations or real-world applications.