Thandi Lyew

Thandi Lyew’s research investigates the effects of message framing on environmental decisions and health behavior. She evaluates the factors that contribute to message effectiveness, such as curiosity, empathy, attitudes, and beliefs.

Thandi Lyew's research aims to explore the ways in which messaging can target cognitive barriers (i.e. coping with uncertainty, discounting, affective predictions) that influence decisions regarding health and sustainability. She uses a mixed-methods approach, including fMRI, actigraphy, behavioral tasks, and standardized assessments.

Lyew holds a B.A. in Psychology from Florida International University, with minors in Communication Science and Disorders and Behavior Analysis, as well as a graduate certificate in Cognitive Neuroscience. Prior to joining Annenberg, she worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator in several research labs within the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh.