Profiles – Food and Mood Centre

Professor Felice Jacka

Professor Jacka is Director of the Food and Mood Centre and founder and president of the International Society for Nutritional Psychiatry Research (ISNPR). She is an NHMRC Career Development Fellow at Deakin University in Australia, within the IMPACT SRC at the School of Medicine.

A/Prof Adrienne O’Neil

A/Prof O’Neil is the Director of Heart and Mind Research at IMPACT and Deputy Director of Food and Mood Centre. Her co-appointment is funded by the Heart Foundation as part of a Future Leader Fellowship and the Wilson Foundation.

Dr Amy Loughman

Amy completed her PhD thesis in psychology at the University of Melbourne and is a post-doctoral research fellow at the Food & Mood Centre.

Dr Anu Ruusunen

Anu is an honorary member of the Food & Mood Centre at Deakin University, having recently held a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the centre. Her primary research focus is clinical dietary interventions for psychiatric disorders, including eating disorders, depression and schizophrenia.

Dr Erin Hoare

Erin Hoare completed her PhD in public health/psychology in 2016. Her PhD research examined links between adolescent depression and modifiable behavioural risk factors, including diet, nutrition, physical activity and sedentary behaviour.

Dr Heidi Staudacher

Heidi is Alfred Deakin Postdoctoral Research Fellow an APD and with extensive experience in the clinical management of people with clinically functional gastrointestinal disorders. Her research program includes investigating dietary interventions in people with IBS who also have mental illness.

Dr Jessica Green

Dr Jessica Green is a Consultant Psychiatrist, and PhD Candidate with the Food and Mood Centre, Deakin University. She is interested in the exciting and emerging field of the Gut-Brain Axis.

Dr Sarah Dash

Sarah is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow currently based in Toronto, Canada at Ontario Tech University, and is an honourary member of the Food & Mood Centre at Deakin University. Her primary research interests include lifestyle factors and their association with physical and mental health.

Dr Tetyana Rocks

Dr Tetyana Rocks is a Fernwood Foundation Postdoctoral Research Fellow and Head of the Translational and Educational stream at the Food & Mood Centre. She is currently overseeing projects focused on developing new models of care and evaluating existing practices in mental health.

Dr Wolfgang Marx

Dr Wolfgang Marx is a postdoctoral research fellow and Head of the Nutraceutical Research stream at the Food & Mood Centre. Wolfgang’s current research program covers a broad range of projects involving the use nutraceuticals for mental health, fatigue, and cognition.

Amelia McGuinness

Amelia McGuinness is a PhD candidate within the School of Medicine at Deakin University, Geelong. She holds a Graduate Diploma of Human Nutrition, Bachelor of Health and Medical Science (Honours) and Bachelor of Biomedical Science.

Claire Young

Claire is a PhD Candidate within the Food & Mood Centre and a Deakin University Postgraduate Research scholarship recipient. Claire holds degrees in Engineering, Information Technology and Psychology and has experience in eHealth.

Genevieve Moseley

Genevieve is Research Assistant with the Food and Mood Centre, alongside completing her final year of a Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery at Deakin. As a future doctor, she is interested in the translational role of research in these areas into clinical medicine and medical education.

Gina Howland

Gina Howland is a PhD student within the Food and Mood Centre in the School of Medicine at Deakin University. Gina is a Clinical Psychologist, holds multiple degrees in psychology and teaching, and currently provides evidence-based clinical services to individuals with complex trauma needs.

Hajara Aslam

Hajara is a PhD candidate within the Food and Mood Centre. Her PhD project is part of a 16-week RCT designed to assess the effects of A2 versus conventional dairy on symptoms of psychological distress, gut physiology and body composition in women with low mood.

Jessica Davis

Jessica is a PhD candidate within the Food and Mood Centre in the School of Medicine at Deakin University, Australia. She holds both a Bachelor in Food and Nutrition (Exercise Science) and a Bachelor of Medical Science (Honours), and has a professional background in exercise science and nutrition.

Jessica Batti

Jessica is a Biomedical Science student and Research Assistant at the Food & Mood Centre at Deakin University. Her interests lie in exploring the treatment of mood disorders with dietary interventions, and the efficacy of nutraceuticals in healthy populations.

Madeline West

Madeline is a PhD student within the Food and Mood Centre at Deakin University, Australia. She has a Bachelor of Human Nutrition as well as a Bachelor of Food and Nutrition Sciences (Honours).

Meghan Hockey

Meghan is a PhD candidate with the Food and Mood Centre. She holds a Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (Honours) and is an Accredited Practising Dietitian with the Dietitian’s Association of Australia. She is passionate about sharing emerging Nutritional Psychiatry research with her clients.

Melissa Lane

Melissa is a PhD student within Deakin University’s Food & Mood Centre. Melissa has a particular interest in the link between gut microbiota, diet and health outcomes.

Sam Collins

Sam is a PhD Candidate within the School of Medicine at Deakin University. Sam holds a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) and Master of Psychology (Clinical). She is passionate about working to alleviate mental illness and promote better health and quality of life on both a local and global scale.

Samantha Dawson

Samantha is a PhD Candidate within the School of Medicine at Deakin University, and is hosted by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, Australia. She has a Masters in Human Nutrition and is passionate about maternal and early life nutrition.

Sara Campolonghi

Sara is a PhD candidate within the Food & Mood Centre at Deakin University, Australia, with a background in clinical psychology, health psychology, weight management and nutritional therapy. She has a particular interest in promotion of healthy eating and qualitative research.