About
Briar is a final year PhD student within the Translational Neurogenomics lab. They completed a Bachelor of Biomedical Science at UQ before undertaking an Honours project at QIMR in 2021 investigating the influence of externalising behaviours on the genetic relationship between lifetime cannabis use and schizophrenia.
Their PhD research has focused on investigating the underlying genetic architecture of substance use traits, expanding on their Honours to further explore the causal genetic relationship between cannabis use and schizophrenia, and understanding how substance use, trauma and mental health diagnoses relate to each other at the genetic level.
Briar is also passionate about promoting diversity and inclusion in research, and holds membership on the QIMR I.D.E.A Committee, UQ Ally Action Committee and UQ Gender Steering Committee. As a nonbinary ADHDer, their focus areas include LGBTQIA+ and neurodiversity inclusion.