August 15, 2019
Neuroscientist wins Tall Poppy Science Award
UOW researcher Dr Natalie Matosin recognised for early career achievements
and 51²è¹Ý Molecular Horizons researcher and NHMRC fellow Dr has received a 2019 NSW Tall Poppy Science Award.
Dr Matosin was presented with the award at a ceremony at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney on 14 August.
A neuroscientist with research interests in mental health, Dr Matosin investigates the impact of stress and trauma that leads to mental illness.
Mental illnesses including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety affect one in five Australians at some point in their life.
âMost of us carry the risk genes for mental illness but only some will develop the disorders,â said Dr Matosin.
Research indicates that being exposed to extremely stressful experiences is a leading risk factor.
Neuroscientist Dr Natalie Matosin has been named as a 2019 NSW Tall Poppy Science Award winner. Picture: Paul Jones, UOW
âMy research aims to uncover how stress gets under the skin by analysing the molecular makeup of biological samples like blood or saliva from people living with mental illness, or the brains of those who have now passed but who had very stressful livesâ
This research aims to find new treatment avenues to improve quality of life for people living with mental illness.
âI am also interested in how stress is biologically transmitted from parent to child,â said Dr Matosin.
âFrom this research I am developing a framework to identify the people who would benefit from early intervention and treatment,â she added.
Career highlights:
- 28 publications in pre-eminent journals in biological psychiatry.
- Competitive funding success from national and international agencies.
- High citation recognition.
- Named one of Forbes 2017 â30 Under 30â.
- Holds a position on the Editorial Board of PLOS One.
- Mentors through the international program â1000 Futures Programâ.
- Published articles through The Conversation and The Guardian.
- Named Global âImpact Maker by UOW.
- Named one of Womenâs Agendaâs âTop 15 Australian Graduates to Watchâ.
- Membership to the National Geographic Women of Impact closed community for women who are breaking barriers and changing their communities.