Karly Turner

Dr. Karly Turner is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Psychology at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), with a distinguished research career in behavioral neuroscience. Her work bridges laboratory findings with clinical applications, focusing on neuropsychiatric disorders through sophisticated animal models and circuit manipulation techniques.

Her educational background includes a PhD in Neuroscience from the Queensland Brain Institute (2016), a Bachelor of Science (Zoology) with First Class Honors from The University of Queensland (2007), and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the same institution (2006).

Dr. Turner's research centers on cognitive processes that malfunction in neuropsychiatric disorders, particularly examining brain circuits underlying attention, learning, and decision-making. She employs sophisticated behavioral paradigms combined with chemogenetics, optogenetics, and pharmacology to manipulate neural circuits. Her current projects focus on understanding habits, impulsive and compulsive behaviors in disorders like OCD and schizophrenia, with strong emphasis on translational preclinical mental health research to bridge the bench-to-bedside gap.

Her publication record shows consistent output in high-impact journals, with recent work focusing on striatal circuits in habit formation, prefrontal control of behavior, and compulsive reward seeking. Her research demonstrates strong integration of behavioral paradigms with circuit-level neuroscience approaches.

Among her recognitions are the 2021 Postdoc Presentation Prize from Stay Connected Neuro, the 2019 UNSW Goldstar Award, multiple travel awards including the Charles Slater Award from Cambridge University, and early career fellowships. Her awards reflect both research excellence and commitment to scientific communication.

Dr. Turner actively supervises students including Honours candidate Maddison Fisher, PhD student Mia Langguth (University of Sydney), and PhD/Master student Sophie Welch. She has secured significant research funding including an NHMRC Ideas Grant (2024-2028), a BBRF NARSAD Young Investigator Grant (2023), and an NHMRC CJ Martin Fellowship (2017-2021).

Beyond research, she serves as a UNSW Women in Math and Science Champion (2021), Young Science Ambassador for the Wonders of Science Program, and engages in public outreach through BRAINFest, university open days, and media appearances including ABC Science and Channel 7's Sunrise.