Lena Oestreich, PhD

NHMRC Fellow · The University of Queensland (UQ)
Group Leader · Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology
Senior Lecturer (Assistant Professor) · UQ School of Psychology

I am a biological psychologist and computational neuroscientist with a PhD in clinical psychology from the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney. I completed postdoctoral training at the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) and the UQ Centre for Clinical Research (UQCCR), where I developed expertise in computational psychiatry, clinical neuroimaging, and clinical trial research. My work investigates how trauma alters neural, physiological, and behavioural systems across the lifespan, with the goal of translating these mechanisms into more effective and accessible treatments for trauma-related disorders. I also contribute to psychedelic-assisted therapy studies, leveraging neuroimaging to elucidate mechanisms of action, markers of remission, and potential predictors of long-term therapeutic benefit.

I currently hold a joint appointment as Group Leader at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology and the School of Psychology at the University of Queensland, where I lead the Clinical Neuroimaging and Biomarkers Lab. I am committed to open science, equitable participation in research, and advancing interdisciplinary approaches that bridge neuroscience, clinical practice, and technological innovation.