David B. Glover, PhD
Researcher / Adjunct Faculty / Scholar-Practitioner
I research how disciplined practice trains perception. I work with universities, research centers, doctoral students, and practitioner communities to turn embodied expertise into rigorous scholarship and applied insight.
My work bridges scholarly theory and practitioner-based inquiry, drawing on ecological approaches to learning to understand adaptation, perceptual refinement, and adaptive expertise in complex, real-world environments. Rather than separating theory and practice, I treat practice as inquiry and theory as a means of clarifying, testing, and refining what practice makes possible.
Research
I am available for commissioned research, applied consultancy, and visiting scholar appointments at the intersection of ecological learning, embodied practice, and qualitative inquiry. Recent peer-reviewed work spans self-defense pedagogy, movement science, and high-stakes learning environments.
Teaching
I teach qualitative research methods, ecological approaches to perception and learning, and martial arts as a site of transformation. I am open to invited adjunct positions, guest lectures, and curriculum design conversations with interdisciplinary graduate programs.
Doctoral Coaching
Each year, I work with a small number of doctoral students on conceptually ambitious dissertations. Coaching is offered on a limited, application-based basis.
Currently
Teaching:
- PSY 791 Research Colloquium — California Institute for Human Science, Spring, 2026
- TSD 6135 Martial Arts as Transformation — California Institute of Integral Studies, Fall 2026.
Recent Publications: Three co-authored peer-reviewed papers in 2026 on asymmetrical self-defense and ecological psychology; pedagogical design and psychological safety; and biotensegrity in cross-cultural martial arts learning.
Available for: commissioned research engagements, consultancy in learning design and high-stakes training environments, visiting scholar appointments, and invited graduate-level teaching for the 2026–2027 academic year.