Marylène Gagné has established herself as a world-renowned expert in work motivation. In recognition of her significant contributions to the field of organisational psychology research, she was awarded the Curtin University 2024 Research Engagement Awards (People category). She is also a Fellow of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) and the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia, an Associate Editor for Motivation Science and Motivation and Emotion, and a member of the Australian Research Council (ARC)’s College of Experts.

At the Future of Work Institute, her research investigates how organisational structures, cultures, rewards, tasks and management practices influence workplace motivation and impact employee performance and well-being. Her work has been instrumental in advancing Self-Determination Theory and applying it to real-world workplace challenges. Through close collaboration with industry partners, her research has shaped company reports, leadership training programs, volunteer management frameworks and recruitment strategies—helping organisations improve workplace practices and enhance the employee experience.