Last month we sat down with the QLD MIND Project’s Neuroimaging Lead, Dr Lena Oestreich. Lena is a Group Leader at the Centre for Advanced imaging (CAI) within the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) and a Senior Lecturer in the School of Psychology at the University of Queensland. Her primary research interest lies at the intersection of clinical neuroimaging and computational neuroscience. Lena is particularly interested in studying mental illness using big data and advanced multimodal neuroimaging methods.
More recently, Lena’s research has been focusing on the neural mechanisms underpinning psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, aiming to enhance our understanding of its potential to provide rapid and long-lasting relief from severe psychiatric symptoms. Through her research, Lena hopes to improve the lives of individuals with severe mental illness and, eventually, to contribute to the prevention of mental illness in those at heightened risk.
We turned the spotlight on Lena to learn a little more about her:
What’s your favourite way to spend a day off?
I love starting the day at the gym, having breakfast, and then snuggling up on the couch with my dog. A great day off would also have to include a delicious dinner and champagne with my girlfriends.
What's your favourite book?
I have a lot of favourite books, but the one that impacted me the most is probably ‘Desert Flower.’ I read it when I was 13 years old. It made me realise that it is very easy for us to judge people in a split second, but we have actually no idea why they are the way they are without knowing their history, culture, background, etc.
Cats or dogs? Why?
Dogs all the way!! They love you, are loyal, are your best friend, love to snuggle and just want to make you happy. They are the best.
If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?
I’d like to learn computer programming as part of an actual degree or university course. All of my knowledge is self-taught and sometimes clunky. Being able to program in different languages opens so many opportunities.
What was the last TV show you binge-watched?
The Artful Dodger. I’m usually not a huge fan of fantasy, but this show has some sprinkles of truth, which makes it really intriguing, is set in 1850 Australia, and is absolutely beautifully shot. Plus, it has some of my favourite actors.
To learn more about Dr Lena Oestreich
and her work, please visit her page
or follow her on twitter @LenaOestreich