Murat Yücel
Professor | Program Director of Mental Health and Neuroscience |
Group Leader of the Cognitive Fitness Laboratory
Murat.yucel@qimrberghofer.edu.au
CAREER HISTORY
Professor Murat Yücel is the Program Director of Brain and Mental Health and Group Leader of the Cognitive Fitness Laboratory at QIMR Berghofer. He is an AHPRA registered Clinical Neuropsychologist and founded the BrainPark research clinic at Monash University in Melbourne.
Professor Yücel brings three decades of experience at the forefront of mental health and neuroscience research, with a particular focus on addiction and mental health. He has over 400 peer-reviewed publications and his work has been in the top 1% of most cited researchers globally, earning him the merit of Clarivate HiCi researcher.
CURRENT APPOINTMENTS
- Program Director, Mental Health and Neuroscience, QIMR Berghofer
- Group Leader, Cognitive Fitness Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS
- 2018-23 Founding Director, BrainPark & Lead, Addiction and Mental Health Research Program, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University
- 2013-23 Director, Brain, Mind and Society Research Hub, Monash University
- 2015-22 Chair, David W Turner Chair in Mental Health Research, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University
- 2017-21 Principal Research Fellow, NHMRC of Australia
- 2012-16 Senior Research Fellow (Level B), NHMRC of Australia
- 2012-13 Professor, Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre (MNC), University of Melbourne
- 2008-11 Associate Professor, Orygen Youth Health Research Centre and MNC, University of Melbourne
- 2007-11 Career Development Fellow (Clinical), NHMRC of Australia
- 2003-07 Senior Research Fellow, Orygen Youth Health and Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre MNC) University of Melbourne
- 2001-02 Research Fellow, Mental Health Research Institute of Victoria (MHRI)
ORCID NUMBER
CURRENT AREA OF RESEARCH
Professor Murat Yücel’s work focusses on the development of novel approaches to Digital Medicine including a gamified tool for assessing cognitive and brain function, as well as a virtual reality platform for delivering exposure/response prevention interventions. He is also involved in clinical trials in Lifestyle Medicine that focus on the neural and cognitive effects of physical exercise and mindfulness meditation, and clinical trials of Psychedelic Medicine that focus on the cognitive and mental health effects of psilocybin and MDMA.
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
His work has resulted in:
- the creation of BrainPark®, a one-of-a-kind translational research facility dedicated to innovative approaches to benchmark and improve brain health,
- novel approaches to Digital Medicine including a gamified tool for assessing cognitive and brain function, as well as a virtual reality platform for delivering exposure/response prevention interventions,
- clinical trials in Lifestyle Medicine that focus on the neural and cognitive effects of physical exercise and mindfulness meditation, and
- clinical trials of Psychedelic Medicine that focus on the cognitive and mental health effects of psilocybin and MDMA.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
- 2001- Australian Psychological Society (APS) – #101770
- 2001- Australian Health Practioner Registration Agency (AHPRA) – #PSY0001122392
- 2008- Editorial board: Psychiatry Research Neuroimaging
- 2011- Editorial board: Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
- 2011- AHPRA endorsement in the clinical practise area of Clinical Neuropsychology
- 2012- APS College of Clinical Neuropsychologists (CCN)
- 2012- Society for Mental Health Research (SMHR)
- 2018- Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine (ASLM)
- 2019- Royal Society of Victoria (RSV)
- 2022- Australian Sports Technologies Network (ASTN)
AWARDS RECOGNITION
- 2004 Organon Research Award, Society for Mental Health Research (SMHR)
- 2004 Early Career Investigator Award, College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD); USA
- 2007 Career Development Fellow (Clinical), NHMRC of Australia
- 2007 Young Tall Poppy Science Award, Australian Institute of Policy and Science (AIPS)
- 2008 Paul Bourke Award, Academy of Social Sciences in Australia (ASSA)
- 2011 Achievement Award, National Health & Medical Research Council
- 2012 Senior Research Fellow (Level B), NHMRC of Australia
- 2013 Monash Professorial Fellowship Award, Monash University
- 2017 Principal Research Fellow, NHMRC of Australia
- 2015,17-20,22 Clarivate HiCi List, top 0.1% of world’s most cited scientists in the preceding 10-year period
- 2019 Oration Award. Bestowed to persons who are prominent in the Australian mental health research community, Society for Mental Health Research (SMHR)
- 2022 Australian Psychological Society for Distinguished Contribution to Science Award in recognition of the quality, innovation, and impact of my research nationally and internationally, as well as my exceptional leadership and service to the fields of psychology and scientific research
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
1995 BA Psychology/Psychophysiology, Swinburne University, Melbourne
1996 BA (Hons) Psychology/Psychophysiology, Swinburne University, Melbourne
2000 M.Psych Clinical Neuropsychology, LaTrobe University, Melbourne
2001 PhD Clinical Neuroscience, LaTrobe University, Melbourne