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Dr. Bland is a cognitive neuroscientist with expertise in brain stimulation, neural oscillations, and neuroplasticity. His research explores how patterns of rhythmic brain activity underpin neural communication and computation, and how non-invasive brain stimulation can be used to effectively manipulate brain oscillations that shape human consciousness and cognition.

Dr. Bland completed his PhD at the Queensland Brain Institute, where he investigated oscillatory neural networks and their dynamic role in brain communication. Together with his research students and collaborators, he combines advanced neuroimaging, neuromodulation, and research methodologies to study brain function.

As a researcher and academic advisor at The University of Queensland, Dr. Bland is dedicated to advancing knowledge at the intersection of psychology, neuroscience, and statistics, with applications ranging from cognitive enhancement to rehabilitation.

Genetics of mental health (new research)

We are using the genetic model organism, C. elegans, do investigate the genetic basis of both normal and disordered behaviour. Our current interests are identifying the genes responsible for anxiety and depression as well as the genes for eating disoders and addiction. Using C. elegans as a model organism will also allow us to study gene function as it relates to behaviour.

Molecular mechanisms of phosphine resistance (other research)

Genetic mapping of oxidative stress resistance genes. The fumigant phosphine disrupts oxidative metabolism, resulting in the production of reactive oxygen intermediates. This causes the premature ageing and death of targeted pests. Insect pests of stored grain in Australia now exhibit resistance to phosphine at levels more than 200 times the normal lethal dose.

We have genetically mappedf and identified the genes responsible for phosphine resistance in tall major insect pests of stored grain. We are using a systems biology approach in the model organism C. elegans to understand the molecular basis of phosphine action. Our genetic studies have recently shown that resistance to phosphine is associated with an extension of lifespan

Dr. Emily McCann is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Dementia & Neuro Mental Health Research Unit at the University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research. She is currently working on the development of a Parkinson's Disease specific cognitive toolkit to harmonise cognitive assessment and understand the development of dementia.

She completed her PhD in 2024 at the Cognitive Neurology (Nestor) lab at the Queensland Brain Institute. During her PhD, she investigated the nature and timing of visuoperceptual impairments across a range of neurodegenerative diseases.

Dr Dana Pourzinal is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Dementia & Neuro Mental Health Research Unit within the UQ Centre for Clinical Research, Faculty of Medicine. From her PhD (2023) and continued research, she has gained extensive expertise in neuroimaging, advanced statistical analysis, and clinical trials, with a particular focus on identifying dementia risk in Parkinson's disease and related therapeutic interventions and biomarkers. Dr Pourzinal's current work aims to improve current clinical practice for people living with Parkinson's disease (MRFF-funded PDCogniCare project) by developing guidelines for the diagnosis and management of cognitive disorders in Parkinson’s disease.

Dr Pourzinal's primary research interests are focussed on cognition in Parkinson's disease (PD) and include:

1. Defining and profiling PD cognitive subtypes using advanced data-driven methods.
2. Neuroimaging biomarkers to predict cognitive decline and dementia risk in PD.
3. Evaluating pharmacological treatments for dementia risk in PD.
4. Longitudinal tracking of cognitive trajectories to inform early intervention strategies in PD.

Dr Kalina Rossa is currently a Research Fellow at the Child Health Research Institute and with the ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families Across the Lifecourse. She has an interest in the behavioural and psychological consequences of sleep loss, and in the design, development and implementation of behavioural interventions that aim to support sleep and wellbeing in a range of populations and settings. She has direct experience in clinical trials design and implementation (both clinical and 'in community'), and applied phychophysiological measurement across controlled experimental settings and in the field.

Dr Chase Sherwell is a Research Fellow at the UQ Learning Lab and the Principal Research Technician for the Compassionate Mind Research Group in the School of Psychology. His research combines neuroscientific, psychological, and educational perspectives to provide tools for enacting learning, well-being, and behavioural change in real-world contexts. With a focus on application, Dr Sherwell’s work aims to identify metrics of internal psychological mechanisms that can be easily interpreted and integrated by professionals and end-users to facilitate skill development and mental health in everyday life.

With a background in cognitive neuroscience, psychology, and education research, Dr Sherwell leads projects that aim to explain learning, development, and mental health across disciplinary lines: from the level of neural networks through to everyday experience. Integrating multi-modal techniques including digital interaction, biometrics, and neurophysiology, Dr Sherwell develops tools, user experiences, and analytics that provide actionable metrics and insights for professionals and researchers.

Dr Sherwell is a Research Fellow in the UQ Learning Lab: a team of multi-disciplinary researchers, educators, and industry partners who collaborate to transform learning, teaching, and training in diverse school and post-school environments through the science of learning. In this role, Dr Sherwell lends his expertise in cognitive neuroscience and psychology to develop projects aimed at understanding and measuring the barriers, facilitators, and mechanisms of self-regulation in professional contexts. He leads projects designing digital tools providing educators with real-time feedback on learner states and skill development integrating smartphone apps and biometrics from wearable devices.

Dr Sherwell is also the Principal Research Technician for the Compassionate Mind Research Group – the leading research hub for Compassion Science in Australia, based at the UQ School of Psychology. In this role, he oversees research design and development across projects investigating the mechanisms of prosocial behaviour in everyday life, barriers to clinical interventions, and the efficacy of online interventions for mental health.

Dr Daniel Sullivan is a Psychologist and Research Fellow at the UQ Poche Centre for Indigenous Health as a member of the Let's Yarn About Sleep team. He also maintains a clinical appointment as a Senior Psychologist (Sleep Disorders) in the public sector, where he is leading a project to develop an expanded scope of practice model of care in Sleep Psychology. Prior to qualifying as a Psychologist, Dr Sullivan worked clinically as a Sleep Technologist for over 5 years across the private and public sectors. Dr Sullivan completed his PhD in Clinical Psychology at Griffith University, and MSc in Sleep Medicine at the University of Sydney.

Tim is a clinical pharmacist and conjoint lecturer working at the School of Pharmacy and the Princess Alexandra Hospital. He graduated from the Bachelor of Pharmacy at the University of Queensland in 2014. After working in mental health at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, he become interested in schizophrenia and psychopharmacology. He began his PhD with the School of Clinical Medicine in 2020 and his research interests include clozapine, treatment refractory schizophrenia, and the safe use of antipsychotic medicines. He is the team leader of mental health pharmacy at the Princess Alexandra Hospital. Tim teaches into the Bachelor of Pharmacy and the Masters of Clinical Pharmacy programs at the University of Queensland, and supervises research project placements.