Karen Blair is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia, Canada and Chair of the Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity Issues (SOGII) Section of the Canadian Psychological Association. Her research examines the social determinants of health throughout the lifespan within the context of social relationships.

Drawing on intersections between developmental, social, LGBTQ and health psychology, Dr. Blair's work focuses on questions related to how individuals and their romantic relationships falter or thrive within broader social networks of friends, family and society at large. Specifically, Dr. Blair examines the roles that social support, social prejudices, and affection play in contributing to the relational, mental and physical health of individuals of diverse sexual and gender identities. To do so, she rely on a variety of research methodologies, including: daily diaries, online surveys, qualitative and quantitative analyses, psychophysiological measurement, hormone analysis, experimental designs and longitudinal studies.

Dr. Blair also works as a research consultant, providing services related to online research design, implementation, and management. Services include web design, survey design, online participant recruitment, social media management, social media advertising/recruiting, statistical analyses, and report and grant writing.