معرفی
Dr. Jennifer Debenham is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, with a concurrent Postdoctoral placement at Columbia University's department of developmental epidemiology. Her innovative research program harnesses neuroscience and digital technology to develop scalable interventions that reduce substance use harms and promote mental health among adolescents and young adults. She leads the development and evaluation of The Illicit Project, a neuroscience-based eHealth intervention that has demonstrated strong preventive effects among young people.
Dr. Debenham holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Science from the University of Sydney and a PhD in Medicine from the same institution, which she completed in 2021. Her interdisciplinary training combines business, science, and medical expertise, providing a unique foundation for addressing complex public health challenges in adolescent substance use and mental health.
Her research focuses on substance use harm reduction, mental health promotion, and prevention strategies grounded in neuroscience. She emphasizes consumer-led research and implementation science to ensure her findings translate into practical applications. A key innovation is The Illicit Project, which integrates neuroscience education with harm reduction principles to create engaging digital interventions for adolescents. Her work addresses the critical period of neurodevelopment when young people are particularly vulnerable to substance use initiation and mental health challenges.
Analysis of Dr. Debenham's publications reveals a strong focus on understanding mental health and substance use trajectories across the lifespan, with particular emphasis on adolescent neurodevelopment. Her research employs diverse methodologies including randomized controlled trials, longitudinal studies, and systematic reviews to evaluate digital and school-based interventions. A distinctive feature of her work is the integration of neuroscience education with practical harm reduction strategies, creating interventions that are both scientifically rigorous and accessible to young people. Her publications span high-impact journals across public health, neuroscience, and digital health domains, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of her research.
Scientific Awards and Honors
- (2022) Best paper award, Society for Mental Health Research Best Paper Competition ($1,000)
- (2021) BUPA Foundation Emerging Health Researcher Award, Finalist ($1,000)
- (2021) Society for Prevention Research Travel Award for virtual conference ($110)
- (2021) Matilda Centre Postgraduate Student Research Excellence Award
- (2021) Matilda Centre PhD Support Scheme Recipient Award ($2,500)
- Multiple scholarships and research support awards totaling over $100,000
Despite being only one year post-PhD at the time of this profile, Dr. Debenham has demonstrated exceptional research productivity and leadership. She has authored over 20 manuscripts, 13 educational health resources, and 2 book chapters. She has secured 7 competitive grants, including funding from the Department of Health and Aged Care for her OurFutures Vaping program. She has assembled an interdisciplinary research team comprising neuroscientists, epidemiologists, mental health experts, creative agencies, and consumers, reflecting her commitment to collaborative and translational research. Her work has received media attention through features on ABC Radio National and ABC Radio Darwin, highlighting her ability to communicate complex scientific concepts to the public.
Dr. Debenham leads The Illicit Project research team, which is actively scaling this evidence-based intervention across Australian schools and universities. She is also developing neuroscience-based harm reduction resources for the NSW Ministry of Health and investigating mental health and substance use trajectories using data from the US-based Monitoring the Futures Study. Her research program exemplifies the integration of rigorous science with practical application, with a clear focus on reducing the harms of substance use and mental disorders among adolescents and young adults.
