My Expertise
Effects of diet and obesity on cognition and brain function.
Animal models of learning and memory.
Sugar and artificial sweeteners.
Keywords
Biography
My work examines how dietary factors impact cognition, metabolism and the gut microbiota. Major research streams include the cognitive effects of diets high in sugar; how environmental cues can prolong food intake beyond satiety; the effects of diet cycling; and the behavioural effects of maternal obesity.
My Grants
2020: Associate investigator on NHMRC Ideas grant ($400,372) APP2003686. Examining the metabolic and cognitive...view more
My work examines how dietary factors impact cognition, metabolism and the gut microbiota. Major research streams include the cognitive effects of diets high in sugar; how environmental cues can prolong food intake beyond satiety; the effects of diet cycling; and the behavioural effects of maternal obesity.
My Grants
2020: Associate investigator on NHMRC Ideas grant ($400,372) APP2003686. Examining the metabolic and cognitive deficits caused by insulin resistance in the ventral striatum. CIA Dr Vincent Laurent.
2019: School of Medical Sciences Accelerator Grant ($10,000). Validating new methods of measuring diet-induced cognitive impairment.
2018: UNSW Medicine Neuroscience, Mental Health and Addictions Theme and SPHERE Clinical Academic Group seed funding ($19,926) to Morris, Eapen, Ooi, Kasparian & Kendig. Evaluating the Gut-Brain Axis in Autism.
2018: Ian Potter Foundation Knowledge and Learning/Conference grant ($5000). Funding to support travel expenses for two keynote speakers at the 2018 Australian Learning Group Winter Conference, held July 11th-13th, 2018, in Katoomba, NSW.
2018: Ian Potter Foundation Travel Grant ($2400). Funding to support travel to Neuroscience 2018, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, held November 3rd-7th, in San Diego, USA.
2013-2016: Australian Postgraduate Research Award, University of Sydney (full-time scholarship for duration of PhD course; total value ~$78,000).
2013 – 2014: Alumni Scholarship, University of Sydney ($5,000). 1-year top-up scholarship awarded to highly-ranked commencing PhD candidates.
My Qualifications
BA (Psych) (Hons) 2011
MSc (University of Sydney) 2013
PhD (University of Sydney) 2017
My Awards
2019: Award for research excellence (Early Career Academic Staff), Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney.
2018: Best new researcher, School of Medical Sciences, UNSW Sydney.
2017: Oral presentation award at New Zealand Association for Behaviour Analysis annual conference.
2017: Best student talk at Australian Learning Group Mid-Year Conference.
2014 and 2016: Postgraduate Publication Prize, School of Psychology, University of Sydney.
My Research Supervision
Currently supervising
PhD students (co-supervisor)
Mr. Md Jakir Hossain (PhD submitted) - effects of diet and type 2 diabetes on peripheral neuropathy
Ms. Aynaz Seyed Tajaddini (2019-) - effects of maternal obesity on offspring behaviour
Mr. Michael Leong (2019-) - contrasting obesity- and diabetes-associated changes to the liver
Honours/ILP
Mr. Roger Xie (2019-2020; H1 SoMS Honours) - effect of diet cycling on the liver
Ms. Ching Ho (2019; ILP; H1 equivalent) - comparing continuous and restricted access to cafeteria-style diet
Ms. Sahana Nandakumar (2020; ILP; H1 equivalent) - insights from animal models of binge eating
Ms. Arya Shinde (2021; SoMS Honours) - dietary influences on anxiety-like behaviour
Ms. Nipuni Hapangama (2021; ILP Honours) - effects of maternal obesity on brown fat in offspring
Undergraduate interns
Ms. Briony Wijeyaratne (2020; NEUR3211 research internship)
ECR mentor for PATH3205 (2020)
Ms. Mushka Kaye (2018; SOMS3001 research internship)
Ms. Jemma Rezitis and Ms. Sindu Sritharan (2018; NEUR3221 research internship)
My Engagement
2021: Presenter & moderator at School of Medical Sciences Brain Awareness Week of ‘NeuroEthics’
2021: Invited presentation to industry start-up founders at ‘Upside Founder Programs’
2019: Guest editor of May newsletter for the International Behavioral Neuroscience Society
2019: Article for Nutrition Australia: “Sugar drinks fall flat”
2019: Article in The Conversation: “Health check: can eating certain foods make you smarter?”
Contact
Publications
ORCID as entered in ROS
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3337-6402