Murphy is the founder of the Equity Accelerator at Indiana University, a research, practice and policy organization focused on creating more equitable learning and working environments through social and behavioral science. In the realm of education, her research illuminates the situational cues — like faculty and institutional mindset — that influence students’ academic motivation and achievement with an emphasis on understanding when those processes are similar and different for structurally advantaged and disadvantaged students. She develops, implements and evaluates interventions that reduce identity threat and spur students’ motivation, persistence and performance.
In the realm of organizations and tech, her research examines barriers and solutions for building gender and racial diversity and inclusion in STEM fields. In particular, she examines the role of organizational mindset in companies’ organizational culture, employee engagement and performance, and diversity, equity and inclusion.
Murphy completed a National Science Foundation postdoctoral fellowship at Northwestern University. In 2012, she joined the faculty of Indiana University and, in 2013, was named a Rising Star by the Association for Psychological Science. In 2019, she was awarded the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers — the highest honor bestowed on early career scientists by the U.S. government.
She is the recipient of over $9 million in federal and foundation grants, including a $2.2 million NSF CAREER award for her research on strategies to improve diversity in STEM. Her new book on organizational mindset, “Cultures of Growth,” is set to be published by Simon & Schuster in 2023.