Dr. Sharon Naismith

Professor

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Biography

Professor Sharon Naismith holds the Leonard P Ullman Chair in Psychology at the University of Sydney and serves as a Clinical Neuropsychologist and NHMRC Dementia Leadership Fellow. She leads the Healthy Brain Ageing Program at the Brain and Mind Centre and focuses on modifiable risk factors for dementia including depression, sleep disturbance, and cardiovascular disease. With over 325 publications and an h-index of 72, her research has significantly advanced understanding of brain health and cognitive decline in older adults. Notably, her work has led to new insights regarding sleep disturbances and their relationship to depression and dementia. As an active investigator, she has secured competitive grants totaling approximately AUD 46 million to explore innovative approaches to dementia prevention and treatment through multidisciplinary collaborations. Her leadership roles include the Chief Investigator of national initiatives and membership in various professional committees related to dementia and neuropsychology. Additionally, she has mentored numerous doctoral students and early career researchers, contributing greatly to the field of psychology and neuroscience.

Research Interests

Experience

Chair

2018-01-01 — Present

University of Sydney • Camperdown, NSW

Leads the Department of Psychology while conducting frontline research in neuropsychology and brain health.

Awards

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NSW Tall Poppy Award

2010-01-01
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Society Mental Health Research Oration

2018-01-01
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Australian Psychological Society's Outstanding Contribution to Psychological Science

2020-01-01
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University of Sydney Vice Chancellor's Award for Outstanding Research

2020-01-01
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Arthur Benton Mid Career Award

2022-01-01

Requirements for University of Sydney

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.3
IELTS
Listening
Required:6
Reading
Required:6
Writing
Required:6
Speaking
Required:6
Overall
Required:6.5
TOEFL
Listening
Required:17
Reading
Required:17
Writing
Required:19
Speaking
Required:17
Total
Required:85
PTE
Listening
Required:54
Reading
Required:54
Writing
Required:54
Speaking
Required:54
Overall
Required:61
Prerequisites
A master's degree with a research component or a bachelor's degree with first or second-class honours. Demonstrated research experience and capability.
Application Checklist
  • Academic transcripts
  • Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • Research proposal (1000+ words)
  • Two academic referee reports
  • Evidence of residency status
  • Written statement of support from potential supervisor
Specialization Notes

This entry applies to Faculty of Science PhD programs including Departments such as Life and Environmental Sciences, Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics and Statistics.