Amanda Boyes

Dr. Amanda Boyes is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Youth Mental Health) and Team Leader (Research) at the Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast. She leads the 'Youth Neurobiology and Wellbeing' stream within the Longitudinal Adolescent Brain Study (LABS), investigating associations between brain structure, wellbeing, and mental health in adolescents. Her work focuses on neurobiological markers of resilience, particularly subcortical grey matter volume and cortical thickness.

Education: Holds a PhD in Neuroscience (2020–2023, USC), two First Class Honours degrees—a Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) and Bachelor of Criminology/Criminal Justice (Griffith University). She also completed a Bachelor of Psychological Science.

Research Interests:

• Adolescent brain development and mental health
• Neuroimaging (MRI/EEG) and psychological distress
• Resilience mechanisms in early adolescence
• Cyberbullying effects on brain structure
• Social connectedness and health behaviors

Awards:

• 2023 UniSC SPARK Grant for Research Development
• 2021 USC 3MT Finalist & People's Choice Award
• 2020 Australian Government RTP Scholarship
• 2015 USC Excellence in Service Award

Grants & Projects:

• Leading LABS cohort studies
• Developing the BRC-PicS research tool
• Bayesian analysis of cyberbullying neurophysiology

Professional memberships: Society for Mental Health Research, Flux Society (Trainee Committee), Biological Psychiatry Australia.