SABRI People
Director: Associate Professor David Austin
Associate Professor David Austin is a clinical psychologist and Associate Professor in the Faculty of Life and Social Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, and the founding Director of SABRI. He is recognised both nationally and internationally for his work on the development, delivery, and evaluation of internet-based treatments for psychological disorders, and has authored over 30 papers published in international peer-reviewed journals.
David is also the Co-Editor of the Electronic Journal of Applied Psychology. David has published widely on autism in international peer-reviewed journals (see "Our Research") and has very quickly established SABRI as the leading research group in Australia examining the biological bases of autism.
Associate Professor Enzo Palombo
Associate Professor Enzo Palombo is an Associate Professor and head of the Environmental Biotechnology Centre in the Faculty of Life and Social Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology. His current research interests include the molecular biology of human enteric viruses, expression of viral proteins, the identification of bio-active compounds from medicinal plants and mushrooms and environmental microbiology.
Enzo received his PhD from La Trobe University studying the genetics of bacterial conjugation. He spent ten years at the Royal Children's Hospital investigating the genetic epidemiology of gastroenteritis viruses, particularly rotavirus and astrovirus. Enzo has been a member of the Australian Society for Microbiology since 1987 and served on the Victorian Branch Committee since 1996.
Dr Simon Knowles
Dr Simon Knowles is a psychologist and Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Life and Social Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology. Simon's main research focus involves clinical and biological exploration of the mechanisms underlying functional gut syndromes such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Simon's other areas of active research include; Psychopathology and clinical interventions associated with chronic illness, psychoimmunity and the brain-gut-axis, stress and oral and gut bacteria.
Ms Kerrie Shandley
Ms Kerrie Shandley is a registered psychologist and Research Fellow in the Faculty of Life and Social Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology. She has authored 6 papers in the areas of internet-based treatments for psychological disorders, autism and gambling published in peer-reviewed journals. Kerrie commenced a PhD with SABRI in 2008 and is investigating biological and physiological manifestations of autism and is seeking to redefine the way autism is understood and diagnosed - moving from a psychological to a medical perspective.
Ms Christine Brown
Ms Christine Brown is a registered psychologist and graduated from the University of Melbourne with a first class Honours degree in Psychology. Christine has worked as a psychologist in Employee Assistance Programs and for the Australian Federal Police. Christine has co-developed training packages such as the inaugural internship in Men's Counselling for Crisis Support Services and an e-learning program on suicide intervention. Christine has extensive corporate training experience and is currently tutoring in the School of Public Health at La Trobe University. Christine commenced her PhD with SABRI in 2008 and is exploring the relationship between autism and early infant feeding and nutrition.
Mr Matthew Garrecht
Mr Matthew Garrecht completed his honours degree in biological sciences at La Trobe University and commenced his PhD with SABRI in 2010. His research program is designed to examine, at the cellular level, the links between mercury exposure and the development of autism.
Ms Shakuntla Gondalia
Ms. Shakuntla Gondalia is a Microbiologist having completed her Bachelors and Masters of Microbiology at Gujarat University, India (also earning the Gold Medal in Masters for being the top ranked student). Until recently, Shakuntla was working as a senior research fellow in NRCG, India. Shakuntla commenced a Ph.D with SABRI in 2009 and is investigating the role of gastrointestinal microflora in autism. Specifically, Shakuntla is aiming to identify the major differences in microflora populations amongst autistic children, and to determine if intervention designed to normalise the population leads to improvements in autistic symptoms.
Ms Samantha Critchley
Ms Samantha Critchley is undertaking a Bachelor of Social Sciences majoring in Psychology and has a particular interest in autism and social psychology. Samantha works as a research assistant for SABRI providing much needed support to all our researchers.