Skip to menu Skip to content Skip to footer
Professor Gemma Sharp
Professor

Gemma Sharp

Email: 

Overview

Background

Professor Gemma Sharp Gemma leads the Body Image & Eating Disorders Research Program at the School of Psychology at The University of Queensland. She also holds an adjunct position at Monash University where she and her research program were based from 2018 to 2024.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology (University of Adelaide), Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Microbiology and Immunology (University of Adelaide), a Masters degree in Oncology (University of Cambridge), a Diploma in Languages in Japanese (University of Adelaide), a Graduate Diploma in Psychology (University of Adelaide), a Bachelor of Behavioural Sciences Honours degree in Psychology (Flinders University) and a PhD in Clinical Psychology (Flinders University). Her research career in both Medical Science and Mental Health has seen her study and work in Australia, Japan and the UK.

Professor Sharp was awarded a PhD from Flinders University in Adelaide in 2017 which investigated the psychological predictors and outcomes of female genital body image concerns and cosmetic genital surgery. She worked as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate and Academic at Curtin University in Perth and extended this genital self-image research to other genders. She continues this genital self-image research program across the gender spectrum.

Professor Sharp then commenced an NHMRC Early Career Research Fellowship at Monash University (2018-2022) and more recently an NHMRC Emerging Leadership 2 Fellowship at Monash University (2023-2024) and The University of Queensland (2024-2027). See full grant/project listing here.

Professor Sharp and the program she heads investigate the factors leading to body image concerns, eating disorders and related issues and novel therapeutic interventions to address these concerns, including digital technologies such as chatbots like JEM(TM) and mobile apps. She has led collaborative technical and commercial projects with national eating disorder support organisations across the globe (e.g., JEM(TM) in North America with NEDIC). She also led the development of a world-first online educational resource to explain the intersection of eating disorders and menopause.

Professor Sharp is the lead of the international Consortium for Research in Eating Disorders (CoRe-ED) which brings together all key voices in eating disorder and related research on a global scale to improve eating disorder and related care. The consortium was officially launched on 25th September 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. The University of Queensland is a key partner of CoRe-ED. Everyone is welcome to join CoRe-ED free of charge by registering here to access to the already extensive network and resources on offer.

Professor Sharp's research has received extensive coverage on mainstream media and she makes very regular appearances on television, radio and in print. She was named one of ABC Radio National's Top 5 Under 40 Scientists and also was invited to deliver a TED talk in Brisbane. See full media listing here.

Professor Sharp has already received more than 80 award/honours in her tertiary career (see full listing here). Most recently, she won the Association for Psychological Science Janet Taylor Spence Award (2025), Australian Psychological Society's College of Clinical Psychologists Ian M Campbell Memorial Prize (2024), Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (AAHMS) Mentee Honour (2024), an international finalist for the Robert Greenblatt International Menopause Society Award (2024), Australian Psychological Society Media Award for Public Engagement with Psychological Science (2023), Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia Paul Bourke Award for Early Career Research (2022), Rising Star for the Association for Psychological Science (2021), two time national finalist for the Bupa Health Foundation Emerging Researcher Award (2021, 2019), Flinders Universiry Early Career Alumni Awardee (2021), one of The Educator's Rising Stars (2020), Australian Psychological Society Early Career Researcher Awardee (2020), and a national finalist for a Eureka Prize (2020).

In addition, Professor Sharp is a registered clinical psychologist and has had clinical experience in the public and private sectors in Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne and now Brisbane. She has and continues to lead her own private practice since 2019. She is a Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician (CEDC) and a Board Approved Supervisor with the Psychology Board of Australia.

Professor Sharp and her research played key roles in the the National and Victorian State Eating Disorder strategies (2023/2024). Furthermore, she was the lead expert for the national clinical practice guidelines for the psychological evaluation of patients undergoing cosmetic procedures in 2018 and 2023. She launched a health professional online short course addressing psychological assessments for cosmetic patients in 2024. Please email Professor Sharp for more details about this course.

Availability

Professor Gemma Sharp is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy of Clinical Psychology, Flinders University

Works

Search Professor Gemma Sharp’s works on UQ eSpace

90 works between 2012 and 2025

1 - 20 of 90 works

2025

Journal Article

Using the alternative model of personality disorders for DSM-5 traits to identify personality types, and the relationship with disordered eating, depression, anxiety and stress

Gilmartin, Tanya, Gurvich, Caroline, Dipnall, Joanna F. and Sharp, Gemma (2025). Using the alternative model of personality disorders for DSM-5 traits to identify personality types, and the relationship with disordered eating, depression, anxiety and stress. Journal of Eating Disorders, 13 (1) 19. doi: 10.1186/s40337-025-01204-2

Using the alternative model of personality disorders for DSM-5 traits to identify personality types, and the relationship with disordered eating, depression, anxiety and stress

2024

Journal Article

The co-design and acceptability of a genital body image educational video for people with a penis

Fernando, Anne Nileshni, Dwyer, Bronwyn, Randhawa, Alisha and Sharp, Gemma (2024). The co-design and acceptability of a genital body image educational video for people with a penis. Body Image, 51 101751, 101751-51. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2024.101751

The co-design and acceptability of a genital body image educational video for people with a penis

2024

Other Outputs

Why health professional attitudes matter in eating disorder recovery—and how we can improve

Lubieniecki, Gabriel and Sharp, Gemma (2024, 11 26). Why health professional attitudes matter in eating disorder recovery—and how we can improve Butterfly Foundation

Why health professional attitudes matter in eating disorder recovery—and how we can improve

2024

Journal Article

Discussing Weight with Patients in Primary Care in Australia: A Mixed Methods Experimental Study

West, Madeline L., Rathbone, Joanne A., Bilal, Maria, Fernando, Anne Nileshni and Sharp, Gemma (2024). Discussing Weight with Patients in Primary Care in Australia: A Mixed Methods Experimental Study. Journal of general internal medicine, 40 (2), 1-9. doi: 10.1007/s11606-024-09202-x

Discussing Weight with Patients in Primary Care in Australia: A Mixed Methods Experimental Study

2024

Journal Article

Developing an educational resource for people experiencing eating disorders during the menopause transition: a qualitative co-design study

Sharp, Gemma, Fernando, Anne Nileshni, Davis, Susan R and Randhawa, Alisha (2024). Developing an educational resource for people experiencing eating disorders during the menopause transition: a qualitative co-design study. Journal of Eating Disorders, 12 (1) 179, 1-13. doi: 10.1186/s40337-024-01139-0

Developing an educational resource for people experiencing eating disorders during the menopause transition: a qualitative co-design study

2024

Journal Article

Perceived clinician stigma and its impact on eating disorder treatment experiences: a systematic review of the lived experience literature

Lubieniecki, Gabriel, Fernando, Anne Nileshni, Randhawa, Alisha, Cowlishaw, Sean and Sharp, Gemma (2024). Perceived clinician stigma and its impact on eating disorder treatment experiences: a systematic review of the lived experience literature. Journal of Eating Disorders, 12 (1) 161, 161. doi: 10.1186/s40337-024-01128-3

Perceived clinician stigma and its impact on eating disorder treatment experiences: a systematic review of the lived experience literature

2024

Journal Article

A preliminary qualitative analysis of women's experiences with vaginal fractional CO2 laser treatments

Fernando, Anne Nileshni, Hamori, Christine, Oates, Jayson and Sharp, Gemma (2024). A preliminary qualitative analysis of women's experiences with vaginal fractional CO2 laser treatments. Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum, 6 ojae074. doi: 10.1093/asjof/ojae074

A preliminary qualitative analysis of women's experiences with vaginal fractional CO2 laser treatments

2024

Journal Article

Reflections on The Lancet menopause Series

Sharp, Gemma, Randhawa, Alisha and Fernando, Anne Nileshni (2024). Reflections on The Lancet menopause Series. Lancet, 404 (10460), 1306-1306. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(24)01710-0

Reflections on The Lancet menopause Series

2024

Journal Article

Social media delivered mental health campaigns and public service announcements: A systematic literature review of public engagement and help-seeking behaviours

Draganidis, Adriana, Fernando, Anne Nileshni, West, Madeline L. and Sharp, Gemma (2024). Social media delivered mental health campaigns and public service announcements: A systematic literature review of public engagement and help-seeking behaviours. Social Science and Medicine, 359 117231, 117231. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.117231

Social media delivered mental health campaigns and public service announcements: A systematic literature review of public engagement and help-seeking behaviours

2024

Conference Publication

Discussing weight with patients in primary care: a mixed methods experimental study

West, Madeline L., Rathbone, Joanne A., Bilal, Maria, Fernando, Anne Nileshni and Sharp, Gemma (2024). Discussing weight with patients in primary care: a mixed methods experimental study. ANZOS (Australian & New Zealand Obesity Society) Conference 2024, Sydney, Australia, 16-18 October 2024. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.orcp.2024.09.019

Discussing weight with patients in primary care: a mixed methods experimental study

2024

Journal Article

Did she or didn't she? Perceptions of operative status of female genitalia

Sasson, Daniel C., Sharp, Gemma and Placik, Otto J. (2024). Did she or didn't she? Perceptions of operative status of female genitalia. Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 44 (11), 1203-1208. doi: 10.1093/asj/sjae130

Did she or didn't she? Perceptions of operative status of female genitalia

2024

Conference Publication

One Size (Doesn't) Fit All: Exploring design considerations for digital body dissatisfaction interventions with underrepresented populations

Shrestha, Pranita, Delir Haghighi, Pari, Sharp, Gemma, Xie, Jue and McNaney, Roisin (2024). One Size (Doesn't) Fit All: Exploring design considerations for digital body dissatisfaction interventions with underrepresented populations. 2024 ACM Designing Interactive Systems Conference, Copenhagen, Denmark, 1-5 July 2024. New York, NY, United States: ACM. doi: 10.1145/3643834.3661539

One Size (Doesn't) Fit All: Exploring design considerations for digital body dissatisfaction interventions with underrepresented populations

2024

Other Outputs

The most common eating disorder is one you’ve never heard of

Sharp, Gemma and Lubieniecki, Gabriel (2024, 06 12). The most common eating disorder is one you’ve never heard of 360info

The most common eating disorder is one you’ve never heard of

2024

Journal Article

The role of partners in motivations for labiaplasty and partner outcomes

Sharp, Gemma and Fernando, Anne Nileshni (2024). The role of partners in motivations for labiaplasty and partner outcomes. Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 44 (8), NP618-NP619. doi: 10.1093/asj/sjae101

The role of partners in motivations for labiaplasty and partner outcomes

2024

Journal Article

Exploration of parental consent for adolescent involvement in genital body image education research

Sharp, Gemma, Kellermann, Vanessa, Mehta, Yukti, Fernando, Anne Nileshni and West, Madeline L. (2024). Exploration of parental consent for adolescent involvement in genital body image education research. Body Image, 49 101717, 101717. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2024.101717

Exploration of parental consent for adolescent involvement in genital body image education research

2024

Journal Article

Attrition in conversational agent-delivered mental health interventions: systematic review and meta-analysis

Jabir, Ahmad Ishqi, Lin, Xiaowen, Martinengo, Laura, Sharp, Gemma, Theng, Yin-Leng and Car, Lorainne Tudor (2024). Attrition in conversational agent-delivered mental health interventions: systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 26 e48168, e48168. doi: 10.2196/48168

Attrition in conversational agent-delivered mental health interventions: systematic review and meta-analysis

2024

Journal Article

Identifying overcontrol and undercontrol personality types among young people using the five factor model, and the relationship with disordered eating behaviour, anxiety and depression

Gilmartin, Tanya, Dipnall, Joanna F., Gurvich, Caroline and Sharp, Gemma (2024). Identifying overcontrol and undercontrol personality types among young people using the five factor model, and the relationship with disordered eating behaviour, anxiety and depression. Journal of Eating Disorders, 12 (1) 16. doi: 10.1186/s40337-024-00967-4

Identifying overcontrol and undercontrol personality types among young people using the five factor model, and the relationship with disordered eating behaviour, anxiety and depression

2024

Journal Article

Preliminary identification of clinical cut-off of the vegetarian vegan eating disorder screener (V-EDS) in a community and self-reported clinical sample of vegetarians and vegans

McLean, Courtney P., Chen, Zhibin, Fielding, Joanne and Sharp, Gemma (2024). Preliminary identification of clinical cut-off of the vegetarian vegan eating disorder screener (V-EDS) in a community and self-reported clinical sample of vegetarians and vegans. Journal of Eating Disorders, 12 (1) 17. doi: 10.1186/s40337-024-00969-2

Preliminary identification of clinical cut-off of the vegetarian vegan eating disorder screener (V-EDS) in a community and self-reported clinical sample of vegetarians and vegans

2024

Journal Article

Patient perspectives on intimate relationship outcomes after labiaplasty: a preliminary qualitative analysis

Fernando, Anne Nileshni, Mehta, Yukti, Hamori, Christine, Oates, Jayson and Sharp, Gemma (2024). Patient perspectives on intimate relationship outcomes after labiaplasty: a preliminary qualitative analysis. Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 44 (6), 641-646. doi: 10.1093/asj/sjad380

Patient perspectives on intimate relationship outcomes after labiaplasty: a preliminary qualitative analysis

2024

Journal Article

Development and preliminary validation of a novel eating disorder screening tool for vegetarians and vegans: the V-EDS

Mclean, Courtney P., Chen, Zhibin, Song, Richard, Le, Jessica, Fielding, Joanne and Sharp, Gemma (2024). Development and preliminary validation of a novel eating disorder screening tool for vegetarians and vegans: the V-EDS. Journal of Eating Disorders, 12 (1) 4. doi: 10.1186/s40337-024-00964-7

Development and preliminary validation of a novel eating disorder screening tool for vegetarians and vegans: the V-EDS

Funding

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2027
    Super smart Smartphones: Sensing changes in mental health and delivering just-in-time adaptive interventions
    NHMRC Investigator Grants
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Professor Gemma Sharp is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Gender and sexuality perspectives on body image

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor James Kirby

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The Impact of Medical Trauma on the Severe andEnduring Eating Disorder Population

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Fiona Barlow

Media

Enquiries

Contact Professor Gemma Sharp directly for media enquiries about:

  • Adolescents
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Body Dysmorphic Disorder
  • Body Image
  • Chatbot
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Cosmetic Procedures
  • Cosmetic Surgery
  • Eating Disorders
  • Internet Intervention
  • Menopause
  • Mental Health and Wellbeing
  • Mobile App
  • Pregnancy
  • Sexual Health
  • Social Media
  • Social Media and Digital Education
  • Women's Health
  • Women's Mental Health
  • Young Adults

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au