Gemma Sharp

Gemma Sharp is an Adjunct Associate Professor (Research) in the Department of Neuroscience at Monash University. She leads the Body Image & Eating Disorders Research Program and holds an NHMRC Emerging Leadership 2 Fellowship (2023–2028). Her work focuses on body image, eating disorders, and digital interventions like chatbots (e.g., JEM™ and ED ESSI™). She is also the Founding Director of the Consortium for Research in Eating Disorders (CoRe-ED), launched in 2024 to globalize eating disorder research and care.

Education:

• Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology, University of Adelaide
• Bachelor of Science Honours in Microbiology and Immunology, University of Adelaide
• Masters in Oncology, University of Cambridge
• PhD in Clinical Psychology, Flinders University

Research Interests:

• Body image across genders and ages
• Genital self-image and cosmetic procedures
• Eating disorders in women's health (menopause, pregnancy)
• AI-driven interventions (chatbots, apps)
• Eating disorder policy and clinical guidelines

Awards & Recognition:

• 2025 APS Janet Taylor Spence Award
• Lord Mayor's Convention Trailblazer Award (2025)
• Australian Psychological Society Media Award (2023)
• Over 80+ accolades including TED talks and media appearances

Grants & Collaborations:

• Lead investigator on projects like "Smartphone sensing for body image interventions" and "JEM™ Chatbot Licensing"
• Collaborations with NEDIC, CSIRO, and global health organizations
• Health professional short course on psychological assessments for cosmetic patients

Labs & Teams: CoRe-ED and the Body Image & Eating Disorders Research Program bring together over 20 countries for collaborative innovation in eating disorder research and treatment.