Staff, Students, and Projects
The PAHL group undertakes research at various stages of the bench-to-bedside spectrum, with the mechanistic (‘bench’) work being used to provide foundational ideas and testing of ‘bedside’ programs and evaluations. In relation to our study of mechanisms, we study psychological factors that make us happy, healthy, and productive - things like our responses to stress, how we develop emotional attachments with others, what makes exercise enjoyable (vs tedious), how our habits develop and how they help or hinder us, how people view stress, why we make the food and drink choices we make, the best ways to communicate with and motivate each other, and the things that make us resilient in the face of challenges.
In this theme, we also work on identifying the health challenges that exist in the home, workplace, school, and community at large, and we begin to look for possible solutions. We put those solutions into practice and test their effectiveness in our health promotion (‘bedside’) theme. That is, in our health promotion theme, we undertake research with the aim to directly improve an aspect of people's lives. We play a role in implementing and evaluating programs and trials designed to help people lose weight, make healthier dietary choices, feel better about themselves, increase their own and others physical activity levels, reduce their risk of disease, be more resilient, receive better health treatment, deal better with stress at home and work, and lead a healthier lifestyle in general.
2024 PAHL Research Staff
James Dimmock
Professor, James Cook University; Adjunct Professor, University of Western Australia
James is a graduate of the University of Western Australia. He is now based at the Townsville campus of James Cook University and holds and Adjunct position at the University of Western Australia.
Ben Jackson
Professor, University of Western Australia; Telethon Kids Institute
Ben undertook his PhD at the University of Leeds before moving to Perth, Australia, where is shares his time between the University of Western Australia and Telethon Kids Institute.
Sam Teague
Lecturer, James Cook University
Sam undertook her undergraduate degree at James Cook University before heading to Victoria for a PhD and post-doc. She has now returned to James Cook University.
Brian Law
Lecturer, James Cook University
Brian completed his PhD in the PAHL group, and is now a PAHL staff member based at the Townsville campus of James Cook University.
Amanda Krause
Senior Lecturer, James Cook University
Amanda undertakes research on the influence of music on health and wellbeing. She is an academic staff member based at the Townsville campus of James Cook University.
Amanda Rebar
Associate Professor, Central Queensland University
After completing her PhD at Penn State University, USA, Amanda moved to (and remains working for) Central Queensland University in Australia.
Les Podlog
Professor, University of Montreal
Les completed his PhD at the University of Western Australia and has held various posts in Australia, USA, and Canada. He is based at the University of Montreal.
Klaire Somoray
Lecturer, James Cook University
Klaire completed their PhD at Queensland University of Technology. They have a diverse research portfolio and expertise in statistical modelling and quantitative research methodologies.
Madelyn Pardon
Lecturer, James Cook University
Madelyn undertook her degrees at James Cook University, and is now a member of academic staff at the same institution. Her research spans environmental psychology and health psychology.
Adrian Shatte
Senior Lecturer, James Cook University
Adrian is a Senior Lecturer at James Cook University, Townsville, where he is a member of the Department of Information Technology.
Tim Budden
Associate Lecturer, University of Western Australia
Tim undertook his PhD in PAHL and is now a key part of the group as a staff member. He is based at the University of Western Australia in Perth.
2024 PAHL Research Students
PAHL's research mission is supported by a tremendous group of research students. As well as housing dozens of Honours research students each year, we have a fantastic team of Masters and PhD students (see below).
Jessica Muller
PhD Student, James Cook University
Jessica is a PhD student at James Cook University. She is developing a strong track record of research in mental health and Indigenous health, and assists with various PAHL-related programs and evaluations.
Gisele Rossini
PhD Student, James Cook University
Gisele's academic journey commenced at Charles Darwin University, where she completed both a Bachelor of Social Work and a Masters of Public Health. She is currently pursuing a PhD at James Cook University (Cairns Campus), where her research is centred on the intersection of social media and adolescent wellbeing.
Cameron Norsworthy
PhD Graduate, University of Western Australia
Cameron’s research is focused on the construct of psychological flow across a range of disciplines.
Liz A. Saunders
PhD Student, University of Western Australia
Liz’s research is focused on motivational processes associated with lifestyle changes for children with clinical obesity.
Aaron Simpson
PhD Student, University of Western Australia
Aaron’s research focuses on the influence of community sport participation on positive youth development.
Luke Tomlin
PhD Student, University of Western Australia
Luke's PhD is focused on PAHL's 'Growth and Resilience in Teachers' (GRiT) program. Luke's work will help to evaluate and refine the program to better support teachers' wellness.
Kaila Putter
PhD Student, James Cook University
Kaila's PhD is focused on PAHL's Bamboo program. Her work will help to evaluate and refine the program with the aim of improving perinatal mental health.
Paul Johnston
Master of Philosophy Student, James Cook University
Paul's thesis is focused on the sequencing and patterning of events, thoughts, behaviours, and emotions that lead to teachers' career withdrawal.
Travis Kingdon
Master of Exercise Science, University of Western Australia
Travis' thesis involves an analysis of the breadth and depth of savouring interventions within the education context.
Neil Munro
Master of Philosophy Student, James Cook University
Neil's thesis involves a meta-meta-analysis on the influence of exercise on anxiety and depression.