Exposure to infection in utero is a known risk factor for schizophrenia and other neurodevelopmental disorders. My PhD research focuses on this exposure and how it affects behaviour and cognition as well as the potential molecular mechanisms that may underpin any changes.

To compliment this, I look at how potential 'second-hits' in the postnatal life may exaggerate or attenuate the phenotype seen in exposed offspring. Stressful 'second-hits' may interact with the initial priming effects of this in utero infection, ultimately resulting in a stronger adverse outcome.

Additionally, I have an interest in stratifying 'susceptible' and 'resilient' individuals based on behavioural outputs that may point to biomarkers (e.g. peripheral or tissue-specific) that predict different responses to these insults.

Graduate Teaching Assistant: 

• Clinical Psychology, PSYC3122 (2021)
• Personality and Individual Difference, PSYC21042 (2021) 
• Research Methods and Statistics, PSYC10100 (2021-2022)
• Social and Developmental Psychology Labs, PSYC10711 / PSYC10225 (2021)
• Sensation and Perception Labs, PSYC11312 / PSYC11322 (2021)
• Cognitive Neuroscience Labs, PSYC21022 / PSYC21122 (2022)

• 1^st place flash talk, Division of Evolution and Genomic Science Postgraduate Event
• Teaching Excellence Award– Clinical Psychology (PSYC31222)
  • Awarded to teaching team of PSYC31222