Dr Ashling Bourke is an Assistant Professor in Psychology and Human Development at the Institute of Education. Her research and teaching interests include the processes that impact on child and adolescent wellbeing, with a particular focus on education, children's rights, child abuse and the psychological impact of the climate crisis. 

She is the cross-faculty subject representative for Human Development  (PSP). She is a Steering Group member of the Centre for Human Rights and Citizenship Education and an Ethics Convenor for the School of Human Development. Ashling also  acts as an IoE representative on the University Quality Promotion Committee.

Ashling has experience in a wide range of research topics and research methodologies. In 2023 she was awarded a University Research Impact Award. She has an active research profile the intersection of Psychology, Rights, and Education, with a specific interest in wellbeing, children's rights, Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE), the climate crisis and developmental forensic psychology.

Her current research projects and teaching interests focus on the psychological impacts and correlates of the climate crisis, including examining processes underlying climate change attitudes, the impact of climate change on child and adolescent wellbeing, and Climate Change and Global Citizenship Education

Ashling completed her BA (hons) in Psychology at the National University of Ireland, Galway, a Masters in Forensic Psychology at University College Cork, and a PhD at Trinity College Dublin. She has held a number of academic posts in Trinity College Dublin, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, and Dublin City University, as well as advocacy roles with children and vulnerable populations in Irish and UK NGOs.