Penelope Lind

Associate Professor | Senior Research Officer

Psychiatric Genetics

penelope.lind@qimrberghofer.edu.au

CAREER HISTORY

Dr Penelope Lind is a mid-career researcher with over 15-years’ experience investigating the genetic basis of addiction. Her primary research interest focuses on dissecting the genetic aetiology of substance use (particularly alcohol use and abuse) and addictive behaviours such as disordered gambling. During Penelope’s research career, she has transitioned from being based in a wet-lab to a dry-lab. As such, she has expertise both in conducting high-throughput genetic studies and the analysis of large-scale genetic and phenotypic datasets.

 

CURRENT APPOINTMENTS

2016-current: Senior Research Officer, Psychiatric Genetics, QIMR Berghofer

2019-current: Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology

2019-current: Honorary Associate Professor, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland

 

PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS

2013-2016: Research Officer, Quantitative Genetics, QIMR Berghofer

2005-2013: Research Officer, Molecular Epidemiology, QIMR Berghofer

2003-2005: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA

2002-2003: Postdoctoral Fellow, Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center, University of California at San Francisco, CA, USA

 

ORCID NUMBER: 

0000-0002-3887-2598

 

RESEARCHER ID: 

B-2553-2009

 

CURRENT AREA OF RESEARCH

• Genetics of substance use and substance use disorders
• Genetics of gambling disorder and behavioural addictions
• Psychiatric genetics
• Pharmacogenetics

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

2018-current: Research Society on Alcoholism

2018-2019: American Society of Human Genetics, Associate Member

2014-2015: American Society of Human Genetics, Associate Member

2014-2015: Queensland Committee, Australian Society for Medical Research

2008-current: International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism

2008-2016: Research Society on Alcoholism

 

AWARDS RECOGNITION

2013: QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute Travel Award to attend the International Workshop on Statistical Genetic Methods for Human Complex Traits, Institute of Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado, Boulder, USA

2008: Best Oral Presentation Award, XVIth World Congress on Psychiatric Genetics, Osaka, Japan

2008: Australian Twin Registry Research Travel Grant to attend the XVIth World Congress on Psychiatric Genetics, Osaka, Japan

2007: Queensland Institute of Medical Research Travel Award to attend the 30th Annual Research Society on Alcoholism Scientific Meeting, Chicago, USA

2003: Royal Society on Alcoholism Junior Investigator Award (funded by the National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse) to attend the 26th Annual Meeting of the Research Society on Alcoholism, Florida, USA

 

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

• PhD, University of Waikato, New Zealand – Project: ‘Comparative Characterization of Esterases and Lipases for Biosensors’
• BSc (Hons, First Class), Victoria university of Wellington, New Zealand – Project: ‘Development of Ligase Detection Reaction for Genotyping ADH3 and ALDH2 Polymorphisms in Alcoholic Patients and Volunteers’
• BSc, Victoria university of Wellington, New Zealand

 

ONGOING RESEARCH SUPPORT

• Australian Pharmacogenomics Diversity Project: Examining the evidence and improving the performance of pharmacogenomics in the Australian context (MRFF – Research Grants: APP1200644), 2020-2025, (Chief Investigator J)
• Leveraging record linkage for single-indication medications to boost recruitment in Psychiatric and Pharmaco- Genetics (NHMRC: APP1138514), 2018-2022, (Associate Investigator)

PREVIOUS RESEARCH SUPPORT

• Examining the impact of changes to diagnostic criteria on Autism Spectrum and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders (NHMRC: APP1084325), 2015-2018, (Chief Investigator F)
• Genetic determinism; misunderstanding or fundamental attribution error? Implications for our understanding of behavior and personal responsibility (HGA-MEDLAND), 2016-2019, (Co-Principal Investigator)
• Investigating the relationship between Depression, Anxiety and Nausea and Vomiting during Pregnancy: Causation or shared liability? (NHMRC: APP1158125), 2019-2020, (Chief Investigator B)
• A comprehensive analysis of the role of the Alcohol Dehydrogenase gene cluster in alcohol-related disorders and oesophageal cancer through deep resequencing (NHMRC: APP1060663), 2015-2018, (Chief Investigator A)
• A genome wide association study for alcohol and nicotine addiction susceptibility genes (NHMRC: 552482), 2011-2013, (Chief Investigator B)

SCIENTIFIC SERVICE

2020: Member of the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute Mental Health Education Committee

2018-current: Member of the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute Work Health and Safety Consultative Forum

2018-current: Membership Committee, International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism

2016-current: Secretary, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute Post-doctoral Committee

2016: Local host of the International Congress on Twin Studies Satellite Meeting, Brisbane, Australia

2016: Member of the Organising Committee for the Behavioral Genetics Association Meeting, Brisbane, Australia

2016: Round 1 judge for the American Society of Human Genetics DNA Day Essay Contest

2014-current: Member of the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute Postdoctoral Committee

2014-2015: Member of the Australian Society for Medical Research Queensland Branch Gala Dinner sub-committee

2013-current: Member of the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute Post-doctoral Committee