Principal Investigators

Q: What's your background? 

My background is in neuroscience - I’m a brain enthusiast! Before establishing IMAGE Otago (alongside Bruce) in 2020, I was based in Switzerland and the UK. I have over 10 years of research experience, with 7 years post PhD. 

Q: What’s your research about?

I’m particularly interested in mental health, with a specific focus on anxiety. My research is focussed on the communication between the brain and body, and how this can go awry to perpetuate a loop of anxiety --> symptoms --> more anxiety. 

My current research projects are seeking to understand how current treatments for anxiety (e.g. anti-anxiety medication and exercise) may help to improve communication between the brain and body as a potential mechanism for improving symptoms. We hope to use this work to understand how we can improve treatment outcomes for individuals suffering from anxiety in the future.

Q: What do you like to do to support your wellbeing?

I love to bake! 🧁🍪 

Walk on the beach 🏝️or in the hills ⛰️- usually with a baby strapped to me! 

And spend time family and friends 👯‍♀️

Q: What's your background?

My background is in Pharmacy - I’m still registered as a pharmacist - and I specialise in treatment-resistant disorders, like schizophrenia and depression. 

Q: What's your research about?

My research focuses on exploring the psychopharmacology and underlying pathophysiology of the severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia with an emphasis on treatment-resistance.

I aim to discover biomarkers that will enable the prediction of an individual's response to drug treatment. 

I also have an active interest in the psychopharmacology of both new and 'old' recreationally used drugs and the mechanisms underlying drug addiction.

Q: What do you like to do to support your wellbeing? 

I enjoy spending time with my children -  although, I’m usually acting as taxi driver! 🚕 

And lots of time walking our dog (editor’s note: a very large dog!) in the hills around Dunedin 🐕‍🦺 - a favourite route is the pineapple track! 🍍

Q: What's your background? 

I've got nearly five decades chocked up in mental health! 🌟 I've worked in Private Practice, education 📚, communities 🏘️, tertiary institutions 🎓, and consulted widely to organisations 🏢. I particularly enjoy working cross-culturally, and on Marae in Cook Islands 🌴 and in Aotearoa 🇳🇿.

Highlights of my practice are refugee work in Aotearoa, and throughout Australia 🇦🇺 and the Pacific 🌏, working internationally for Médecins Sans Frontiers (Doctors Without Borders) 🌐, and working with The Royal Flying Doctors Service in the remote deserts of central Australia! ✈️

Q: What’s your role? 

I am a mental health clinician on the wonderful IMAGE Otago team. I assist with education and training of students to work with participants with anxiety and depression, and monitor safety issues. I facilitate relationship building with tangata whenua and generally help hold a clear focus on mental health with the team.

Q: How do you support your wellbeing?

Walking out in nature every day is a joy ☀️

I take zillions of photos and love sharing these.  Time with friends and whanau is mandatory, as is having a good belly laugh! I perform in theatre acting from time to time, enjoy learning new things and go ‘forest bathing’ for restorative solitude and reflection 🌳.

Q: What's your background? 

I've been working as a specialist mental health pharmacist since 2007 and have been prescribing in this area for several years 👩‍⚕️. Before joining IMAGE Otago in 2023, I worked in a teaching hospital in the UK and then came to work at Otago University 🏢🎓

 I provided individualised medication advice to people struggling with a variety of mental health conditions including (but not limited to) anxiety, postnatal depression, anorexia, ADHD, bipolar affective disorder, schizophrenia, and addiction. I have practiced as a pharmacist in the UK, Australia, and I am now at home here in Dunedin 🌍 

Q: What’s your role? 

Within my role - I teach students at the undergraduate and postgraduate level, and see patients (with students) in the School of Pharmacy Clinic. These patients tend to have complex medication needs. Together, with the patient at the centre, I answer questions about medicines, develop a plan to rationalise medication (if necessary), and empower patients to get the most from their medication. I also support and empower participants within IMAGE Otago studies  to get the most from their medication.

Q: How do you support your wellbeing?

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 My children are the most precious people in my life. I love spending time with them and watching them grow and develop into wonderful humans. In my spare time, I enjoy tramping, cycling, traveling 🌏, and going on family walks with our very silly pooch Mr. Waffles 🐾.

To book a free medications assessment and consultation with Emma - please click here, select "Request an Appointment", and specify "Emma Smith" under "Preferred Pharmacist".

Tēnā koutou katoa,

Ko Hikaroroa te mauka

Ko Waikoaiti te awa

Ko Araiteuru, Ko Uruao, Ko Takitimu hoki kā waka

Ko Kāti Huirapa te rūnaka

Ko Kai Tahu te iwi 

Ko Puketeraki te marae

I te taha o tōku pāpā

Ko Ruapehu te maunga

Ko Wanganui te awa

Ko Aotea te waka

Ko Uenuku te hapū

Ko Te Āti haunui a Pāpārangi, ko Ngāti Apa ngā iwi

Ko Te Puke te marae

Ko Nikki Crossan tōku ikoa

No Murihiku ahau, engari

Kei Kāritane ahau e noho ana

He Kaiāwhina ahau i te ‘Image Otago’ , ā, ‘Kaitoko Mātauraka’ hoki i te rūnaka o Kāti Huirapa (I work as a Kaiāwhina for Image Otago and in education with Kāti Huirapa in Karitāne and surrounding rohe)

Immersing myself in Te Ao Māori is important to me.  I will always be on a journey to learn more.  I enjoy teaching tamariki kapahaka and being involved in sporting/outdoor activities with my tamariki.  I enjoy getting outdoors in our whenua ataahua with my whānau.

No reira e hoa ma, Kia ora tatou!

Q: What's your background?

I was one of the first students to join the Image Otago Lab in 2021 when I started my PhD. Before then I completed my BSc(Hons) in neuroscience 🧠 and worked as a construction labourer during university breaks 👷‍♂️

Q: What’s your research about?

My research is trying to determine if there are any features of a brain MRI scan that can be used to predict if someone will be diagnosed with a psychotic illness such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. To do this we are looking at how certain risk factors correlate with the brain's structure, function, and chemistry 🧠🔬.This will hopefully lead to an understanding of how a brain develops psychosis and allow people to get the help they need when it is most effective.

Q: How do you support your wellbeing?

I love cooking! The more challenging the dish the more fun it is to cook 👨‍🍳🥘. In my spare time, I'll usually play a game of chess ♟️ and I've also recently found enjoyment in long-distance running while listening to audiobooks 🏃🏼📚 

Q: What's your background?

My background is primarily in Exercise Science 💪. I completed my BSc in Physical Education, Activity and Health 🏋️‍♂️ before joining IMAGE Otago for my BSc(Hons) also in Sport, Exercise, and Health 📚. However, I’m also pretty keen on History and mythology 🏛️, and began university with a second major in Classics! 

Q: What’s your research about?

My research looks at how exercise might be beneficial for those with higher (although not clinical) levels of anxiety. In particular, I’m interested in how exercise 🏋️‍♂️🏃🏼 might improve people’s ability to perceive their body signals (interoception) , and how they might emotionally respond to them (anxiety sensitivity).

Q: How do you support your wellbeing?

I like to practice what I preach and enjoy taking time out to move my body – whether in the gym or heading out for a walk on the beach 🏖️. Other than that, I’ll never say no to a coffee date with friends ☕, and I like to think I’m a decent enough baker 🍰

Q: What's your background? 

I joined the IMAGE Otago group at the start of last year (2022) after completing three years of my medical degree. I initially joined as a BMedSc(Hons) student, but partway through the year I subsequently upgraded this to a PhD 🎓😊

Q: What’s your research about? 

My research uses neuroimaging to investigate the brain circuits underlying anxiety and anxiety disorders in healthy individuals and those with moderate to severe anxiety disorders 🧠

I am specifically looking at the difference in communication between brain areas to improve our understanding of the neural mechanisms of anxiety. Gaining a better understanding of the neural circuitry involved in anxiety will help lead to improved diagnosis and treatment in the future.

Q: How do you support your wellbeing?

I love spending time with my close friends and family whenever I can! Whether it is going to get some kai together or heading out for a bush walk🌳 or tramp 🥾 - I love and really value the endless encouragement and support they provide me 🥰

Q: What's your background?

I joined IMAGE Otago as a PhD student in late 2023. I previously completed my BSc(Hons) and MSc in neuroscience, both through the Department of Physiology. My previous research has been in the field of neuroendocrinology, specifically the mechanisms underlying the neuroendocrine stress response 🧠🥼🧫🔬

Q: What’s your research about?

My interest in stress and its related disorders in humans inspired my move to the Department of Psychology. My research focuses on the interaction between the brain and body, and how this is altered in anxiety. Further, I am measuring the effect of exercise 🏃🏼🚴🏼‍♂️  as a treatment for anxiety, in relation to how it might change these brain-body interactions. I will be using both neuroimaging and physiological measures to gain insight into this relationship.

Q: How do you support your wellbeing?

I spend most of my free time outdoors, 🏄‍♂️🏞️🏃‍♀️🧗 however, my greatest passion is finding new places to do these activities with my favorite people! I love spending time with friends and family, both in outdoor and indoor pursuits. When not outside, I spend my time cooking 🍳, reading 📚, discussing odd topics 🤔, and planning new adventures 🗺️

Q: What's your background?

I am a PhD student who joined IMAGE Otago in 2021. I did my BSc (Neuroscience) and honours here in Otago as well, and studied gene expression in relation to Alzheimer's Disease for my honours.

Q: What’s your research about?

My research in primarily focused on anxiety disorders. I am currently using neuroimaging (structural and chemical) and gene expression analysis to investigate treatment-resistant anxiety, and it's potential treatment with a glutamatergic drug ☺️

Q: How do you support your wellbeing?

I love time spent with family and friends, especially going tramping 🥾 or doing some planting! 🪴🌻

Spending time with horses 🏇🏽 is always a big wellbeing boost as well; my favourite moments with them are going out hacking, playing bending games, doing tempi-changes, and just spending chill time together! 

Q: What's your background? 

My background is in Adventure Tourism! ⛷️🚑

Before joining IMAGE Otago in 2022 (to do my Master's) - I was a cave guide, black water raft guide, ski instructor, ski patroller, and ran first aid workshops all while working on my BASc in psychology!📚

Q: What’s your research about? 

I'm interested in how different levels of anxiety and interventions for  anxiety (like exercise and anti-anxiety medications) affect our brain, our body (in particular our perception of our body), and our behaviour. My work uses neuroimaging, as well as physiological and behavioural data 😊

Q: How do you support your wellbeing?

I love catching up with friends and family for a kōrero or coffee ☕, trail running with my dogs 🐕 (our pack is all about the snacks and the views 🌄), or lounging in the sun ☀️ with a book 📖.

Q: What's your background?

Before joining IMAGE Otago this year I worked in Ireland 🇮🇪 for a year before completing my BSc in psychology 🎓. I also volunteered for IMAGE Otago in undergrad. 

Q: What’s your research about?

My research looks at the effects of SSRI antidepressants on emotion recognition and bias in anxiety.

Q: How do you support your wellbeing?

I love scuba diving 🤿🐙 🪸 and grabbing coffee ☕️ with friends! This year I’ve been trying to walk as many trails around Dunedin as I can 🥾⛰️

Q: What's your background?

Before joining IMAGE in 2024 I completed a BSc in neuroscience and psychology 🧠, graduating in 2023. I moved from Invercargill to Dunedin in 2020 and quickly fell in love with the brain and nervous system after taking HUBS191 ♥️

Q: What’s your research about?

I will be joining my amazing fellow students in exploring how SSRIs as a treatment for anxiety influence learning and decision making alongside other factors.

Q: How do you support your wellbeing?

If I'm not at campus or work, I'll be with my whānau enjoying an iced latte or relaxing with my two 9-year-old rescue cats named Casper and Cotton (yes, they are both white🐱🐱). I'm also an avid muso and you'll often find me with a headphone in alongside my other pastimes like crocheting, baking, and gymming.

Q: What's your background?

In 2023, I completed a BSc majoring in both neuroscience and psychology at the University of Otago 🧠 🎓. In 2024, I joined IMAGE Otago, after having completed a studentship the summer prior. During 2024, I completed my honours (neuroscience). My research focus was precision functional mapping.

Q: What’s your research about?

My research aims to find a reliable method to detect inter-individual differences in functional connectivity in the human brain. This will utilise RSFC, fMRI, structural MRI, and task fMRI. The overall goal of this research will be in creating a method that allows precise functional mapping of individual connectomes. This method will then be applied to a clinical population to investigate inter-individual differences in treatment response. 

Q: How do you support your wellbeing?

I have loved reading my entire life, and try to do it as often as I can📚. I also have a love for singing - before I moved to Ōtepoti I used to perform often, which was an extremely rewarding experience 🎤. I also love spending time with family and friends, and really enjoy a tramp with my partner when the opportunity arises ⛰️

Q: What's your background?

I grew up in Germany 🇩🇪 and came to Aotearoa 🇳🇿 in 2017 before starting my career at Otago in 2021. Before joining IMAGE Otago at the start of 2025, I completed my BSc(Hons) in psychology while at the same time working towards my PGDipClPs (postgraduate diploma in clinical psychology) and working as a research assistant. My honours research was focused on electrophysiology work with pigeons 🐦. I have also been spending some time volunteering for Shout UK (a crisis support service).

Q: What’s your research about?

My research is about learning how common interventions for anxiety, such as exercise 🏃 may change the relationship between anxiety and breathing-related interoceptive learning (i.e. our ability to associate changes in our breathing with changes in the environment). I will be looking at both neuroimaging and behavioural measures.

Q: How do you support your wellbeing?

I love curling up with a good book 📚 , especially on those rainy Ōtepoti days 🌧️. But I also love spending time with friends and exploring new places. 

Q: What's your background?

Before joining the IMAGE Otago team in 2024 to continue my psychology education (MSc) my background was wide and varied. I spent many years working as a veterinary nurse 🐈, volunteered as a firefighter prior to joining the service professionally 🧑‍🚒, and worked as a pilot prior to starting my BSc in psychology. 

Q: What’s your research about?

My research explores how anxiety medications (SSRIs) might help people worry less about worst-case scenarios and become better at bouncing back from stress. I'm checking if these thinking patterns improve and help ease anxiety symptoms overall.

Q: How do you support your wellbeing?

I love spending time in my garage, getting my hands dirty working on cars, or heading out for rides on my motorcycle and taking to the skies when the weather's great—it’s both exciting and a great way to clear my head 🏍️✈️ . Painting also provides me with a creative outlet and lets me unwind through art. When I'm looking to relax, nothing beats curling up with a good book and my cats for company.

Q: What's your background?

Before joining IMAGE Otago in 2025 - I completed a BSc in Neuroscience and Psychology here at Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka (The University of Otago). I did many psyc, anatomy, and physiology papers which sparked my interest in mental health research! 

Q: What’s your research about?

My research is all about understanding how the body changes in response to different levels of anxiety. I explore how baseline physiology differs across the spectrum of anxiety - looking at how components of heart rate and respiratory rate (breathing patterns) could change for individuals experiencing varying levels of anxiety😊

Q: How do you support your wellbeing?

I love being around others, catching up with family and friends when I can! I love a beach walk🌊 with a coffee or matcha in-hand☕️, cold plunges, saunas, exercise, playing the piano🎹, finding new music🎶thrifting and exploring new places - especially anywhere with lots of sun!☀️

Q: What's your background?

I completed my BSc majoring in Psychology with a minor in Neuroscience in 2024. I completed a wide range of psychology papers with some physiology sprinkled in which led me to IMAGE Otago. I have also worked part-time as a gymnastics coach since I was 14 🤸🏼

Q: What’s your research about?

My project is looking at how people’s perceptions of their own breathlessness is linked to anxiety and how this may change over time with exercise.

Q: How do you support your wellbeing?

In my spare time you’ll find me staying active at the gym or running along the harbour. I also love a sweet treat, spending time in the sun, and escaping in a good book!

Q: What's your background?

My background is in Neuroscience and Psychology 🧠. I did 12 years’ grant-funded research in the UK and Canada for 12 years and 40 years as a permanent member of staff in Psychology at Otago becoming a grant-funded Research Professor at the time I joined IMAGE Otago.

Q: What’s your research about?

My research has always been on the neural basis and pharmacology of anxiety and fear disorders and their links with the Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory of personality. I am currently focussing on translation of the Neuropsychology of Anxiety into the clinic developing biomarkers of anxiety-related processes and using these to redefine current clinical diagnoses. 

Q: How do you support your wellbeing?

When I'm not in the lab, you'll find me in the kitchen whipping up delicious dishes from my collection of cookbooks from around the world 🍳 On weekends, I'm a 'gardener' on our 8-acre property, wielding chainsaws and riding mowers, and planting trees and shrubs. 🌳 After 30 years, we've transformed the bare paddocks into a mostly canopied native bush, including rimu, miro, pohutukawa, totara, kōwhai, horoeka, and kauri, protected by City Sanctuary traps. 🌲 But there always seems to be more to plant! 🌱🍽️🌿

Q: What's your background?

I joined IMAGE Otago in early 2023, after completing a BPharm (Bachelor of Pharmacy) at the University of Otago in 2022. I have worked as a pharmacy assistant 🧑🏼‍⚕️and as a plant nursery 🪴 and farm labourer between semesters 🐑 Before that, I had done some study in electrical engineering. 

Q: What’s your research about?

My current research focuses on using a specific type of brain imaging (functional MRI) to find out how the use of SSRI antidepressant medications  is related to how the brain functions, specifically in people with anxiety disorders. Even though SSRIs and other medications used to treat anxiety disorders have been used for a while now, the full story behind how these medicines work within the body to improve anxiety symptoms is not yet known. By learning more about how these medicines work, we can work out how to better use current medicines, as well as use this information to develop new, more effective medicines with fewer side effects. 

Q: How do you support your wellbeing?

In my free time I enjoy spending time with family and friends, exploring new areas by motorbike 🏍️, building and flying high-speed drones ⚙️, and kayaking with my fiancé 🛶

Q: What's your background?

I finished my BASc degree in Neuroscience 🧠 and Philosophy 🧐 at Otago in 2022. Over the summer of 2022/23 I worked in the McNaughton Neuropsychology of Anxiety Lab (with whom I have just completed my Honors research), collecting data on a range of studies in the departments of Psychology and Psychological Medicine.

Q: What’s your research about?

The McNaughton lab has developed a theory-based biomarker of human anxiety. This biomarker is a particular kind of electrophysiological pattern of brain activity that we measure using EEG (think skull-caps and wires). My Honors dissertation used a different neuroimaging technique (fMRI; big loud scanner to create pretty pictures of the brain) to investigate which regions of the brain might contribute to the pattern of brain activity we observe using EEG.

Q: How do you support your wellbeing?

There are a few different things that I try to keep up with to keep my mental health in check. I like to be active 🤸‍♂️ -  I climb 🧗‍♂️ and play a lot of football ⚽ all year round and both of these have the benefit of being really community-based sports/activities. 

I also try to rave/dance 💃 when the right event comes up – another activity that is tied to moving your body and hanging out with other people 🎶. When I’m spending long days in the lab 🔬 I find these social interactions really important. 

If I’m spending leisure time by myself 📚 I tend to read a lot 📖 or dive deep into all sorts of different music 🎵.

Q: What's your background?

Before I joined the group, I was completing my Honour's research with a focus on psychotic disorders and working on my PGDipClPs (a clinical psychology qualification). I was also working for the Department of Psychology as a Research Assistant running experimental sessions to test the validity of personality tests and as a Lab Demonstrator for 100-level Psychology papers! 👩🏻‍🏫

Q: What’s your research about?

My research aims to find out the effects of breathing exercises and progressive muscle relaxation (common strategies used in psychotherapy) in changing self-rated anxiety and how we perceive the breath ☺️

Q: How do you support your wellbeing?

I love cafe dates and walking along the Marina or St Clair/Kilda beach! ☕️ ☀️🏝️

I also enjoy cooking and baking for my flatties!🧁🌮

Editors Note: Read Phoebe's Master's thesis here 

Q: What's your background?

After five years of med school 🩺, I decided to take a year off to try out my hands on research, leading me to join IMAGE Otago at the start of this year (2023).

Q: What’s your research about?

My research project aims to investigate the acute effects of Citalopram, a commonly prescribed drug for anxiety, on the amygdala, a brain structure heavily implicated in the neural circuitry of both anxiety and fear. I am doing this by analysing resting-state fMRI data, a revolutionary neuroimaging modality capable of providing significant insight into the functional activity and organisation of the brain at rest. 

Q: How do you support your wellbeing?

I love playing sports (especially football ⚽), exploring the great outdoors (huge bucket list 🏞️), engaging in philosophical discussions 🤔, vibing to music (of a wide variety 🎵), and spending quality time with family and friends 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦! I try to live a healthy lifestyle 🥗💪 and enjoy every moment, regardless of external circumstances, as the source of wellbeing is internal after all. 💫😊

Q: What's your background?

Last year, I completed my BSc majoring in both Psychology and Neuroscience 🧠, and I am looking forward to further growth and learning at IMAGE Otago in 2024!

Q: What’s your research about?

Having been a keen rugby player  🏉 for most of my life and experienced my fair share of concussions, I am passionate about improving current concussion treatments that would enable players to return to the sport they love as quickly as possible. I also have an interest in mental health treatments and research. My study this year combines both of these interests by investigating how different components of anxiety mediate the time it takes for rugby players to return to play following a concussion.

Q: How do you support your wellbeing?

I love catching up with friends and whānau in my spare time. I am also a keen outdoorsman and try to get out for a fish or a dive whenever I can 🤿🎣

Q: What's your background?

My background before entering the group was completing my BSc in neuroscience. With a lot of psychology 🧠 and anatomy 🫀 based papers where I was very interested in cognitive neuroscience and mental health.

Q: What’s your research about?

My research aims to determine the optimal candidates for SSRI treatment by investigating the effects of SSRI therapy on anxiety and interoception. Additionally, I explore the potential integration of breathwork practices within this treatment framework.

Q: How do you support your wellbeing?

I like to enhance my wellbeing by soaking up the sun whenever possible ☀️, even if it's just for a quick coffee run or a walk outdoors 🏃‍♀️. I enjoy spending time at the beach and going for walks. Reading books, especially outdoors in the sunshine, is a favourite activity of mine. I also find joy in hitting the gym and staying active 🏋️‍♀️

Q: What's your background?

With a slightly unique background I was largely raised by elderly, a detail that has driven my research interests ever since. I completed my first undergraduate degree in Exercise and Sport Science. But continued with a BA in Psychology and Statistics whilst teaching various undergraduate psychology and physiology courses and working in exercise prescription in a gym🏋️‍♂️

Q: What’s your research about?

My past research has focused on how COVID-19 infection 🦠 influences our brain's blood oxygen supply, physical activity habits, and cognitive performance. However, my current work is in creating predictive models for the rate of cognitive decline in older adults from various MRI methods (notably structural MRI), physical activity levels, metformin use, and family medical history 😊

Q: How do you support your wellbeing?

To look after my hauora I'm constantly running through the mountains ⛰️🏃🏼, with friends and whānau, or telling dad jokes to anyone who'll listen.