Dr Julia Rucklidge
'Despite rapid scientific progress, much about how brains work remains a mystery. The opportunities for discovery are endless,' says Dr Julia Rucklidge.
A leading expert in Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and mood disorders, Julia recently published a research article in the Journal of Attention Disorders on the effect of micronutrients on mood and behaviour in adults with ADHD. Her research drew widespread attention and has led to funding for a larger trial which she is now excited to be working on.
'I have become fascinated by the role of nutrition, specifically micronutrients, in the expression of mental health symptoms,' she explains. 'Should we find that micronutrients can positively affect the symptoms of ADHD with mood dysregulation, we open up an avenue of research that both assists in the treatment of the symptoms but also suggests an alternative cause of the disorder – at least for some individuals affected by it. Given that many people either find that the medications currently available do not ameliorate their symptoms, or they cannot tolerate them due to side effects, alternative treatments need to be investigated.'
It is this direct relevance of her research work that Julia finds so rewarding. 'I like that research can be immediately applied to clinical practice and that in our profession we are bound to a scientist-practitioner method of thinking,' she says.
Alongside her research, Julia teaches Clinical Psychology and supervises graduate students, offering support and guidance with their theses.
'I try to ensure that my teaching is evidence-based such that practice is driven by scientific knowledge. However, ideas can often come ahead of scientific knowledge, and in such cases we need to be open-minded and willing to seek out evidence either for or against such ideas before drawing any conclusions.'
Originally from Toronto, Canada, Julia chose to come to UC because of the freedoms offered both at the university and in New Zealand generally. A mother of two young children, she says, 'I think New Zealanders have a better work-life balance than I have witnessed overseas.'
Julia also enjoys being part of New Zealand's relatively small scientific community. 'It enables strong networks to develop easily across the country. The environment at UC has served to foster my research – I have felt incredibly well supported by this community.'
She strongly encourages anyone considering studying Psychology to do so. 'We still have a long way to go to understanding why people suffer from mental illness and, in turn, how this can impact on how we treat them. It is an exciting field as it offers the opportunity to really make a difference to the lives of sufferers. We need curious, intelligent, passionate and lateral thinkers in this field to significantly move our research forward in this century.'