Profiles

Dr. Mary Ardren   08 May 2024
Dr Mary Ardren is an early career research fellow at the Bionics Institute and holds an honorary appointment at the Medical Bionics Department at The University of Melbourne. Her research involves using electrical and optical stimulation of peripheral nerves to manage chronic health conditions (e.g., chronic pain). She is particularly interested in how pain signalling is altered in the periphery during disease/disorder states, and how this alters central nervous system activity. Her expertise lies in cellular and sensory neuroscience, electrophysiology and optogenetics.

Dr. Ronak Reshamwala   08 May 2024
Dr Ronak Reshamwala is a research fellow with the Clem Jones Centre for Neurobiology and Stem Cell Research at Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Australia. He is a medical doctor trained in India and has received his PhD from the Griffith University, Australia in 2020. Ronak’s main research interests include translational research, regenerative neurology, spinal cord injury, neurodegenration and pain perception.

Dr. Louisa Selvadurai   01 May 2024
Dr Louisa Selvadurai is a Research Fellow at the School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, and a psychologist (clinical neuropsychology registrar). Dr Selvadurai’s research focuses characterising and tracking cognition, mood, and behaviour in cerebellar disorders, in particular degenerative ataxias. She has a particular interest in understanding how non-motor features play a role in the day-to-day experience of individuals with these disorders, which are primarily known for their motor symptoms.

Dr. Annabel Short   10 Oct 2023
Dr Annabel Short is a Senior Research Fellow at the Telethon Kids Institute. Her research focus is identifying molecular mechanisms promoting vulnerabilities to chronic diseases of the brain.

Dr. Elysia Sokolenko   10 Oct 2023
Dr Sokolenko is a research coordinator and lecturer at the University of Adelaide. She has a particular interest in exploring differences in the electrical activity of the brain underlying cognitive impairment in psychiatric disorders. Elysia is currently the local site coordinator for a national trial using transcranial magnetic stimulation in autism. She is also leading the design of a research skills development program in the University of Adelaide’s Bachelor of Medical Studies/Doctor of Medicine.

Dr. Kristin Barry   10 Oct 2023
Dr Kristin Barry is an auditory neuroscientist at the University of Western Australia and Ear Science Institute Australia. Dr Barry’s expertise lies using electrophysiology, behavioural neuroscience, calcium imaging and translational animal models to investigate hearing loss, cognition, tinnitus, and neuronal excitability.

A/Prof Carolyn Semmler   11 Sep 2023
A/Prof. Carolyn Semmler leads the Applied Cognition and Experimental Psychology (ACEP) research group at the University of Adelaide, focusing on the application of theories and models of cognition, judgement and decision-making to legal and medical contexts.

Researcher profile: Isabella Bower   10 Sep 2023
Dr Isabella Bower is an emerging leader in environmental cognitive neuroscience. Isabella’s work explores whether we can improve brain functioning and mental health through built environment design.

Dr. Heidi Walkden   21 Jun 2022
Dr Walkden’s research identified a new path by which bacteria can move from the nasal cavity to the brain and spinal cord, all within 24 hours. She has also shown that an injury to the inside of the nasal cavity can increase the bacterial invasion of the brain via the nose-to-brain pathway. Alongside her research, Dr Walkden is also an award-winning science communicator. She has won numerous awards for her oral presentations, scientific photos, and poster prizes. Notably, she reached the grand final of the International Asia-Pacific Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition in 2017.

A/Prof. Simon Conn   11 Oct 2021
A/Prof Simon Conn is an NHMRC Investigator Leadership fellow and runs the Circular RNAs in Cancer Laboratory at Flinders University. His laboratory has a particular strength and focus on RNA splicing in brain cancer and is a proud founding member of the Australian Brain Alliance, EMCR Brain Science Network, which supports interdisciplinary research among Australian EMCRs.

Dr. Scott Kiel-Chisholm   11 Oct 2021
Dr. Scott Kiel-Chisholm is a researcher at the School of Law, Faculty of Business and Law at Queensland University of Technology (QUT). He is also a researcher in the Datafication and Automation of Human Life Research Program at the Faculty of Law, QUT, focusing on Regulating Life Sciences, Robotics, Neural Interface and the Law.

Dr. Brenton Hordacre   10 Sep 2019
Dr Brenton Hordacre is an NHMRC early-career research fellow in the Body in Mind Group at the University of South Australia. Excitingly, a major study of Brenton’s is due to wrap up at the end of the year. Launched in 2018, this study attracted much media attention at its debut as it featured the country’s first in-home brain stimulation rehabilitation program for people who have suffered a stroke.

A/Prof. Tara Hamilton   10 Jun 2019
Tara Hamilton is an Associate Professor in the School of Engineering at Macquarie University. She currently holds an ARC Discovery Grant which explores auditory perception using neuromorphic systems and an ARC Linkage Grant which focuses on the development of novel music compositions using a deep-net partner. Tara works with leading health, defence, and technology companies and she is focused on developing innovative solutions to real-world problems.

Dr. Kristi Griffiths   10 Jun 2019
Dr Kristi Griffiths is a current NHMRC Early Career Research Fellow based at the Brain Dynamics Centre, Westmead Institute for Medical Research and The University of Sydney, investigating brain circuits associated with impaired goal-directed behaviour in ADHD

Dr. Adam Hamlin   10 Apr 2019
Dr. Adam Hamlin is a neuroscientist working at the University of New England, focusing on pre-clinical studies of anxiety and depression.

Dr. Ann-Maree Vallence   10 Apr 2019
Dr. Ann-Maree Vallence co-leads the Action and Cognition Research Group at Murdoch University, and is a DECRA researcher. She is studying connectivity in the aceing brain and how this relates to the control of movement.

Dr. Deborah Apthorp   10 Apr 2019
Dr. Deborah Apthorp is a senior lecturer at the University of New England. She is a cognitive neuroscientist interested in measuring and tracking neurodegeneratative processes in Parkinson’s disease using new, objective measures.

Dr. Sarah Stephenson, Queers in Science   10 Apr 2019
Dr. Sarah Stephenson is a neuroscientist working in the area of brain nevelopment and neuroplasticity. She’s also also the co-founder of an organisation called QueersInScience, which aims to foster and champion the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ professionals within STEMM organisations.