Sabrina Sghirripa

Dr Sabrina Sghirripa

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

School of Computer and Mathematical Sciences

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD (as Co-Supervisor) - email supervisor to discuss availability.

I am a cognitive neuroscientist interested in understanding brain changes related to cognitive impairment or dementia, and developing new and improved methods to analyse data collected from the human brain (MRI, EEG). I am based at the Australian Institute for Machine Learning (AIML) and South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI).

Advanced brain imaging and recording techniques like MRI and EEG allow us to non-invasively examine the living human brain. However, brain data is incredibly complex and difficult to interpret, and if we use suboptimal analysis approaches, important relationships between the brain and real-world outcomes like cognition, behaviour, symptoms, or functional abilities will remain undiscovered. Therefore, my research aims to apply and develop improved analysis methods that uncover meaningful brain-behaviour relationships, enhance our understanding of brain changes in disease, and potentially inform future clinical approaches.

Although I work across many different clinical and non-clinical contexts, I am particularly interested in applying these techniques in the context of healthy cognitive ageing and exploring how varied life experiences shape brain and cognitive function as we get older. 

I also have a keen interest in tertiary education and have contributed to a range of health and medical science courses at the University of Adelaide and UniSA. 

 

Scholarships

2019: Research Training Program Stipend

2018: Adelaide Medical School Honours Scholarship. $4000

2015: The University of Adelaide Principal's Choice Award. $5000

University of Adelaide:

Tutor, Marker and Lab Demonstrator for ANAT SC 1120 : Human Anatomy and Physiology IA (2020, 2021, 2022)

Tutor, Marker and Lab Demonstrator for ANAT SC 1130: Human Anatomy and Physiology IB (2020, 2021)

Tutor, Marker and Practical Demonstrator for HLTH SC 3201: Human Motor Behaviour and Learning (2019, 2020, 2021)

Placement Supervisor for HLTH SC 3009A: Research Placement Part 1 (2020, 2021)

Placement Supervisor for HLTH SC 3009B: Research Placement Part 2  (2020, 2021)

UniSA:

Tutor and Practical Demonstrator for HLTH 2026: Motor Control and Learning (2021, 2022)

Online Tutor and Marker for UOHLTH 1055: Lifespan Growth and Motor Development (2021, 2022)

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2025 Co-Supervisor Developing a clinician-informed model for predicting cognitive trajectories in individuals with schizophrenia using machine learning methods. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Shamini Thirugnana Sambandam
    2025 Co-Supervisor Development of a New Cognitive Reserve Measure: Implications for Parkinson’s Disease and Traumatic Brain Injury Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Isaac Calvin Saywell
    2024 Co-Supervisor Using Explainable Machine Learning to Explore Risk Signatures for Parkinson's Disease in Integrated Medical Imaging and Clinical Data Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Ankush Gajanan Arudkar
    2023 Co-Supervisor Neurophysiology of Cognitive Reserve and Working Memory in Ageing Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Victoria Prowse

  • Other Supervision Activities
    Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name
    2024 - 2024 Co-Supervisor White Matter Tract Integrity in Sub-clinical Autism and Anxiety The University of Adelaide Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) Honours Full Time Bill Kazis
    2024 - ongoing Co-Supervisor Exploring Aperiodic EEG Activity and Cognitive Function in Major Psychoses The University of Adelaide Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences (Honours) Honours Full Time Velouria Indigo Phoenix Wild
    2021 - 2022 Co-Supervisor Age Differences in Distractor Inhibition During Visual Working Memory The University of Adelaide Bachelor of Health and Medical Science (Honours) Honours Full Time Rebecca Sutton
    2021 - 2021 Co-Supervisor The Influence of Cognitive Reserve on Age-Related Changes in Neural Noise The University of Adelaide Bachelor of Health and Medical Science (Honours) Honours Full Time Emilia Ek
    2020 - 2020 Co-Supervisor How Brain Oscillations Shape Working Memory Capacity The University of Adelaide Bachelor of Health and Medical Science (Honours) Honours Full Time Jay Manion
  • Position: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
  • Phone: 83133320
  • Email: sabrina.sghirripa@adelaide.edu.au
  • Campus: Lot 14
  • Building: Australian Institute for Machine Learning Building, floor First Floor
  • Room: 1.27.06
  • Org Unit: School of Computer and Mathematical Sciences
Connect With Me
External Profiles