Asheeta Prasad

Dr. Asheeta Prasad serves as an Adjunct Senior Lecturer in the School of Psychology at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). She holds a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Utrecht, the Netherlands, a Masters of Molecular Biology from the University of Queensland, Australia, and a Bachelor of Science (Biomedical Science) from the University of Western Sydney, Australia.

• Doctor of Philosophy, University of Utrecht, the Netherlands
• Masters of Molecular Biology, University of Queensland, Australia
• Bachelor of Science (Biomedical Science), University of Western Sydney, Australia

Dr. Prasad's research centers on the wiring of the brain, specifically how neurons grow and form neural circuits that govern complex behaviors including learning, memory, reward-related behavior, and movement. Her work investigates how disruptions in these neural circuits contribute to neurological disorders such as drug addiction, depression, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and Multiple sclerosis. She employs an interdisciplinary toolkit combining molecular biology, optogenetics, chemogenetics, and behavioral neuroscience techniques to dissect these complex neural systems.

Analysis of Dr. Prasad's publication history reveals a consistent focus on addiction mechanisms, particularly alcohol addiction, with increasing attention to Parkinson's disease in recent years. Her research frequently examines specific brain regions including the ventral pallidum, subthalamic nucleus, and striatal pathways, with a growing emphasis on applying precision techniques like optogenetics to manipulate neural circuits and understand their causal role in behavior and disease processes.

• Discovery Early Career Research Award (2017)
• Travel award from Asia-Pacific Alcohol Addiction Research Society (2017)
• Finalist Parkinson's NSW Young Investigator (2016)
• Silver Star Award, UNSW (2018)

Dr. Prasad has secured substantial research funding including a National Health and Medical Research Council grant ($507,000, 2019-2021), a Discovery Early Career Research Fellowship ($388,000, 2017-2020), and multiple Parkinson's NSW seed funds. She actively collaborates with researchers including Claire Shepherd and Perminder Sachdev. Beyond laboratory research, Dr. Prasad is deeply engaged in science communication through Brain Awareness Week events, Pint of Science presentations, and innovative art-science collaborations that translate complex neuroscience concepts for broader public understanding.