Dr Sam McKay is a postdoctoral researcher at Orygen, and the Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne where he currently leads the education research stream in the Suicide Prevention research group. His work is supervised by Associate Professor Jo Robinson.

Sam's research interests center on youth mental health and the factors that promote healthy development during adolescence and emerging adulthood. He is currently leading the NHMRC funded Multi Modal Approach to Preventing Suicide in Schools (MAPSS) trial that is running across high schools in North West Melbourne.

His other research explores the ways adapting to other countries and cultures influence international students' identities, skill development, mental health, and wellbeing.

Sam Completed his PhD as part of a partner program through Swinburne University and the University of Bordeaux. His doctoral research assessed the outcomes and underlying change mechanisms of university exchange programs with Australian and French students.