Prof. Karin Sanders | Strategic HR Management | Best Researcher Award

Deputy Dean | UNSW Business School | Australia

Prof. Karin Sanders is a preeminent scholar in Human Resource Management and Organisational Psychology, currently serving as Senior Deputy Dean Research & Enterprise and Interim Director of the UNSW Business Insights Institute at UNSW Sydney. With an illustrious international career including professorships in the Netherlands (Groningen, Utrecht, Tilburg, Twente), as well as visiting appointments in China, the UK, Finland, and Jordan, she is widely respected for her global academic influence. Her leadership extends across supervising and numerous postdoctoral researchers, and spearheading interdisciplinary, cross-national projects. Prof. Sanders has secured significant funding from competitive agencies such as the Australian Research Council, NWO (Netherlands), and SSHRC (Canada), supporting pioneering work in HRM systems, employee well-being, workplace diversity, and hybrid work arrangements. She holds senior editorial roles in leading HR journals, contributes actively to the Academy of Management, and organizes key international HRM conferences. Her contributions reflect deep scholarly rigor, an expansive collaborative network, robust institutional leadership, and a dedication to inclusive, high-impact HRM research.

Professional Profile

Scopus | ORCID

Education

Prof. Karin Sanders earned her Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Groningen, The Netherlands, focusing her dissertation on gender differences in the early stages of career development. Prior to that, she completed her BA and MA in Psychology at the same institution, majoring in Personality Psychology and the Methodology of Social Scientific Research. Her formative academic training was under the guidance of scholars such as Prof. Dr. S.M. Lindenberg and Prof. Dr. J. van Doorne-Huiskes, shaping her strong foundation in quantitative modeling, sociological methods, and empirical research design. This robust educational background empowered her to pursue a distinguished international academic trajectory.

Professional Experience

Prof. Karin Sanders’s career features a remarkable succession of academic appointments. She began her academic journey as a postdoctoral researcher  at Utrecht University’s ICS, investigating demographic cohort effects. She quickly rose to become an Assistant Professor, then Associate Professor at the University of Groningen .she served as Full Professor of Human Resource Studies at Tilburg University, as Full Professor of Work & Organisational Psychology at the University of Twente. She has held visiting professorships at Beijing Normal University, Renmin University of China, Nottingham Business School, and Hanken Business School, Helsinki. Currently based at UNSW Sydney, she is Senior Deputy Dean Research & Enterprise, Interim Director of the UNSW Business Insights Institute, and Professor of HRM & Organisational Psychology, with an Honorary Professorship at the University of Jordan. Her career trajectory reflects her growth as a researcher, mentor, and academic leader across diverse cultures and institutions.

Research Interests

Prof. Sanders’s research interests span several core HRM and organisational psychology domains. She focuses on HR process theory and HR system strength, investigating how perceptions of HR systems drive employee commitment, innovation, and adaptive behavior. Her work often adopts a multilevel modeling approach to unravel the interplay between individual, team, and organizational dynamics. Additional emphases include gender, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace; cross-cultural organisational dynamics; hybrid and alternative work arrangements; and resilience in times of change. Her research also addresses workplace incivility, leadership effectiveness, and well-being during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. She actively engages in comparative and international projects, exploring how HRM practices function across varied national and organisational settings.

Research Skills

Prof. Sanders brings advanced methodological and analytical capabilities to her work. She is an expert in multilevel modeling, quantitative research design, and empirical HRM analysis, grounded in her rigorous sociological and psychological training. Her methodological proficiencies are enhanced by extensive experience as a PhD and postdoc supervisor, and by her ability to manage complex, interdisciplinary research projects across continents. Her grant-winning, team-based research underscores strong project leadership, collaborative coordination, and cross-cultural management capabilities. She is also adept at academic writing, editorial guidance, and conference leadership, supporting research dissemination and capacity building. Her skillset is well-suited to advancing theoretical development, translating insights into practice, and leading inclusive, high-impact research networks.

Awards and Honors

Prof. Karin Sanders has garnered substantial recognition over her career. she co-authored a chapter in Research in Personnel and Human Resources Management that won the Best Chapter Award (Elsevier). two of her publications ranked among the Top 10 most cited papers in Human Resource Management and the Asia-Pacific Journal of HRM. One of her recent articles was among the most downloaded in Human Resource Management within its first year. She was nominated for the  Rosabeth Moss Kanter Award for excellence in work–family research. she received the Excellence in Reviewing Award from Human Resource Management Review. Her papers and student research have earned multiple “Best Paper,” “Best Publication,” and high commendation awards at international conferences and academic venues—including the Academy of Management and British Academy of Management. She has also consistently received competitive research grants and fellowships, including the prestigious PluS Fellowship (UNSW, King’s College, Arizona).

Publication Top Notes

• Women’s authorship in international human resource management research: Implications for responsible management education and emerging scholars –  2025

• Entrepreneurial Pathways to Sustainability: A Theoretical Paper on Green Human Resource Management, Green Supply Chain Management, and Entrepreneurial Orientation

• A cross-lagged study investigating the relationship between burnout and subjective career success from a lifespan developmental perspective – 2024

• Kick me while I’m down: Modeling employee differences of the impact of workplace incivility on employees’ health and wellbeing – 2024

• Attribution theory

• International HRM

• Human resource management system strength in times of crisis –  2024

Conclusion

Prof. Karin Sanders exemplifies the highest standards of academic excellence, leadership, and global impact in HRM and Organisational Psychology. Her extensive research, teaching, and mentorship have significantly shaped the field, particularly through her pioneering studies on HR process theory and workplace diversity. She has carved out a legacy of cross-border collaboration, capacity building, and scholarly rigor. Her award-winning scholarship, strong methodological foundation, and leadership in securing major grants underscore her influence and promise. With her ongoing contributions to inclusive HRM practices, research development, and organizational resilience, Prof. Sanders is exceptionally deserving of any distinguished academic award. Her future leadership continues to inspire innovation, scholarly excellence, and positive societal change.