July 2020
Episode 7: Featuring Dr Gemma Sharp, 2007 John Monash Scholar, on using AI to fight body image concerns with Dr Gemma Sharp
Gemma completed her MSc in the Department of Oncology at Cambridge University in 2010. Her research focused on identifying the cellular origin of the various types of breast cancers, and the tumour-initiating mechanisms employed by these cells. Her analysis and thesis demonstrated that the existence of breast cancer stem cells is not certain, and therefore that the design of therapeutics targeting breast cancer stem cells requires a better understanding of tumour-initiating mechanisms. Since returning to Australia, Gemma has studied clinical psychology and completed a PhD in Clinical Psychology at Flinders University. She has a strong interest in body image and mental health research. Her PhD focused on women's motivations for female genital cosmetic surgery and the psychological outcomes of this surgery. Her research findings have been widely publicised in both national and international media. After completing a one- year Post-Doc at Curtin University, Gemma started an NHMRC Early Career Research Fellowship at Monash University in 2018 at the Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre (MAPrc). She is a Senior Research Fellow and leads the Body Image Research Group at MAPrc. She also runs her own private clinical psychology practice in Melbourne where she specialises in the treatment of body image concerns, eating disorders and body dysmorphic disorder.