MsLara Voglsanger

A burning passion for mental health sustains my work as a biological neuroscientist, student advocate, and teacher.

Mental health and a fascination with the mind have always been at the forefront of my interests, both within and outside of my research activities. As a neuroscience researcher, understanding the brain under both normal conditions and pathological conditions is my primary objective. Within my PhD, I have been privileged to have access to post-mortem human brains from individuals with Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder and Neurotypical phenotypes, and to use induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from both neurotypical individuals and those with Bipolar Disorder. Further details of my research in these areas can be found in the My Research tab.

I have been developing my leadership skills throughout my time at Deakin, first with my involvement with the Medical Research Student Association (MRSA) and most recently with my contribution to the Higher Degree by Research Major Course Review (HDR MCR). During my time with the MRSA, our team established the first of its kind Honours Mentorship Program, which included free Mental Health First Aid Training (valued at $3,000) for mentors. We also developed and ran a series of Academia vs Industry events, which targeted the needs of HDRs having to choose between these two career prospects. These events covered resume writing and included a range of guest speakers with varying career trajectories to share their insights. As the HDR representative for the Major Course Review, I was privileged to be able to express and advocate for the concerns of HDR students to a governing body that will impact the construction and execution of policies involving all facets of HDR candidature going forward.

My leadership activities are focused on student wellbeing and advocacy. I am proud of the work done by the MRSA to support HDR candidates affected by the tragic loss of our respected and honoured colleague, Liam Ryan, after he lost his battle with mental health in 2022. During this time, we of the MRSA ensured that every individual (whether staff or student) was provided with a list of mental health resources collated by our team. We advocated for ongoing recognition of Liam’s personal contribution, which resulted in the creation of the Liam Ryan Award for Notable Contribution to Team Culture by the Institute of Mental and Physical Translation and Clinical Trials (IMPACT). I was privileged and honoured to be the recipient of this award in 2023.

As a teacher, I have had the pleasure of acting as an associate supervisor for two undergraduate students, one completing a work placement and the other an Honours student. These wonderful relationships have given me the opportunity to fine-tune my communication and organisational skills, and thereby increase the level of support I’m able to offer students. In my ongoing work as a guest lecturer and marker, my primary objectives are to kindle the excitement students feel about learning, while cultivating their skills via thoughtful feedback when assignment marking.

While still early in my career, I am and will continue to strive for improvement in all aspects of my work, particularly in the areas of leadership, research, and teaching. I’m a voracious reader, and in my spare time you are as likely to find me deep in a text on leadership or management styles as you are a work on neuroscience!