معرفی
Rachel Hill is an Associate Professor (Research) in the Department of Psychiatry at Monash University, affiliated with Monash Health and the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health. She leads the Behavioural Neuroscience Laboratory and holds a NHMRC Career Development Fellowship, with active research grants from Australian and international foundations.
- Education: PhD in Biochemistry and BSc (Hons) in Physiology and Anatomy, both from Monash University.
Her research centers on the genetic and neurobiological mechanisms underlying psychiatric disorders, particularly schizophrenia. She investigates gene mutations such as ARX and HOMER1, employing CRISPR-Cas9 technology, single-nucleus RNA sequencing (DroNc-Seq), and preclinical animal models. A key focus is on maternal immune activation, prenatal environmental insults, and sex-specific factors in neurodevelopmental disorders. Her work aims to uncover cell-type-specific transcriptional changes and identify novel therapeutic targets for precision psychiatry.
The recent publications show a strong trend in maternal immune activation, epigenetics (DNA methylation), neurodevelopment, and sex differences in psychiatric disorders. Techniques like single-nucleus RNA-Seq and animal behavioral modeling are central to her approach, with applications in schizophrenia, autism, and transgenerational effects of infection. Her work bridges molecular neuroscience with clinical psychiatry.
Scientific Awards:
- Advancing Women's Research Success (2016)
- Advancing Women's Research Success (2018)
- Aubrey Lewis Award (2018)
- CASS International Travel Award (2013)
- Curt Richter Award, International Society of Psychoneuroendocrinology (Aug 2020)
Rachel Hill actively supervises PhD students, post-doctoral researchers, and honours students, and serves as a primary or associate investigator on multiple competitive grants, including NHMRC and ISN-funded projects. She is currently accepting PhD students and leads a multidisciplinary research team. She is involved in public engagement, with media appearances on topics such as sex differences in science and maternal infection impacts.
Laboratory & Research Team: She heads the Behavioural Neuroscience Laboratory at Monash Medical Center, collaborating closely with Prof. Suresh Sundram and researchers at the Monash Genomics Core Facility and the Monash Health Translation Precinct. Her team includes post-doctorates, PhD candidates, and honours students working on genomics, neuroimmunology, and behavioral phenotyping.
