Hi there!

I am Aiste. I recently completed my psychology PhD at the University of Zurich in the Motivation, Volition, and Emotion lab, in May 2025. My research primarily focuses on choice and evaluation in the context of long-term and hedonic goals. I have a background in applied and experimental research and have worked as clinical outcomes measurement consultant. Beyond goal-pursuit, I am broadly interested in well-being and policy, decision making, and measure development. I also enjoy big data and data visualization.

My Google Scholar

Education

PhD Psychology (2025), University of Zurich
    Dissertation: Combining Long-Term and Hedonic Goals: Experience, Evaluation, and Choice

MSc Applied Social Research (2015), Trinity College Dublin
    Thesis: A qualitative exploration of methadone maintained patients’ experiences of treatment and recovery

BA Psychology (2013), Maynooth University

Publications

Bernecker, K., Becker, D., & Guobyte, A. (2025). High Self-Control Individuals Prefer Meaning over Pleasure. Social Psychology and Personality Science. https://doi.org/10.1177/19485506251323948

Becker, D., Bernecker, K., Guobyte, A., & Ganama, D. (2024). 'Pleasureful self-control'? A new perspective on old problems. Current Opinion in Psychology, 101888. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2024.101888

Bernecker, K., Becker, D., & Guobyte, A. (2023). If the party is good, you can stay longer—effects of trait hedonic capacity on hedonic quantity and performance. Motivation and Emotion, 47(5), 711-725. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-023-10021-6

Dubinsky, M. C., Newton, L., Delbecque, L., Hunter, T., Guobyte, A., Naegeli, A. N., ... & Lewis, J. D. (2022). Exploring disease remission and bowel urgency severity among adults with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis: a qualitative study. Patient Related Outcome Measures, 287-300. https://doi.org/10.2147/PROM.S378759

Hudgens S., Gugiu, C., Guobyte, A., Soliman, A. M., Fitzgerald, K. A., Barcomb, L. M., Eldred, A. K., & Okun, M. M. (2022). Validation of the Physician's Global Assessment of Fingernail Psoriasis by Rheumatologists Treating Psoriatic Arthritis. Value in Health, 25(9), 1582-1589. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jval.2022.04.1727

Randall, J. A., Guobyte, A., Delbecque, L., Newton, L., Symonds, T., & Hunter, T. (2020). Qualitative research to explore the symptoms and impacts experienced by children with ulcerative colitis. Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes, 4(1), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41687-020-00238-1

Collage of Work

I plan to upload some of my work in the future (following manuscript review periods, completion of projects, etc.)