About
Dr Brittany Mitchell completed her undergraduate and MSc in Genetics at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. She then obtained a PhD in Biomedical Genetics from Queensland University of Technology in 2022, earning the Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Award in recognition of the excellence and impact of her research.
Dr Mitchell is investigating the genetic and biological basis of neuropsychiatric disorders. By analysing large-scale genetic and epidemiological data, her work seeks to uncover risk factors and biological pathways that explain why some people are more vulnerable to illness and why treatment response varies. Her work has contributed to the discovery of novel genetic markers for neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder, with the ultimate aim of enabling earlier detection and more personalised, evidence-based care to reduce the burden of mental illness.
Dr Mitchell is a core member of several international research consortia, including the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, where she holds leadership roles in the depression and anxiety working groups. She has been recognised with multiple awards and fellowships, including an NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellowship in 2022, a L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Fellowship in 2024 and an AIPS Young Tall Poppy Science Award in 2025.
Research Skills
Dr Mitchell’s research skills include statistical genetics, large-scale data analysis, and bioinformatics, with particular expertise in genome-wide association studies and the development of polygenic risk scores. She applies these approaches to build prediction models that integrate genetic, epidemiological, and clinical data, aiming to improve risk prediction and personalise treatment for a range of neuropsychiatric disorders. She also has extensive experience managing complex datasets and leading international research collaborations, including core membership in the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium and ongoing partnerships with numerous other research groups worldwide.
Area of Interest
- Understanding the genetic and biological causes of mental health and related disorders
- Why people differ in vulnerability and treatment response
- Improving early detection and personalised care in psychiatry
- Large-scale genetic and epidemiological studies
- Multimodal prediction modelling