Dr Caitlin Cowan works with children, adolescents, and their families to promote better mental health in young people. Her goal is to improve our understanding of how our brains and bodies work together to shape our experience of the world. The weird part is that she does this by looking at poo (yes, you read that right, poo!) She checks what bacteria and viruses are living there, and how those bugs (“the microbiome”) might influence our thoughts, feelings, and behaviour through the “gut-brain axis”. You can watch a short video about her work here.

Caitlin has a PhD and Masters of Clinical Psychology and recently worked with some of the leading international researchers in her field in Ireland. She now works in the School of Psychology at UNSW as an NHMRC Research Fellow and a Scientia Senior Lecturer.

Dr Caitlin Cowan is a Superstar of STEM.