Deakin food and mood researcher awarded Fulbright scholarship

The scholarship was awarded by the Australian-American Fulbright Commission, which supports research that aims to improve the health, wellbeing and prosperity of Australians.

As part of her scholarship Dr Hoare will travel to Boston University to begin a new project using big data to analyse health behaviours across generations, in a bid to identify new approaches effective in preventing and treating mental disorders.

The project, 'Food, Move, Mood: Mapping the protective potential of diet and physical activity for mental health across the lifespan' will examine comprehensive population data collected since the 1950s.

"It's a unique project as the time-frame is so long, but this means the predictive potential of identifying how specific behaviours affect mental health can be extrapolated," Dr Hoare said.

"This is pioneering research, so it will be exciting to work in an international setting. Boston University will be a great environment to network in, learn from other disciplines and get an insight into internationally-recognised public health expertise."

Dr Hoare hopes her research will extend the conversation about the interconnections between physical and mental health, with one in two Australians experiencing a mental health condition at some point in their lifetime.

"We're all affected by mental health issues - if it's not ourselves, it's likely to be other people in our lives. Young people, in particular, are at great risk, so we need to do everything we can to give them the best possibility of experiencing positive mental health," Dr Hoare said.

"Mental disorders are unlikely to be cured solely by lifestyle behaviours, but it's important we find the things we can target to make a difference - and I think there is great potential in diet and physical activity."

Dr Hoare completed her Bachelor of Psychology at Deakin in 2012. She has been involved with the University ever since, now working at the Food and Mood Centre in Deakin's Centre for Innovation in Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Treatment (IMPACT) at Barwon Health, as well as the Global Obesity Centre within Deakin's Institute for Health Transformation.

Away from her scientific career, Dr Hoare plays in the AFLW for the Geelong Cats and is effusive about the benefits of physical activity in her own life.

"I've played sport my whole life and, as a result, I've gained wonderful, protective things from that - strong social networks, team work, leadership, resilience, goal setting and so on," she said.

"My passion for mental health research has been influenced by my involvement with sport. I've become quite vocal in the public domain about reducing mental health stigma and generating discussions.

"The great thing about being a researcher is that you're encouraged and rewarded for being curious - challenging ideas, your peers and senior professionals."

Deakin's Executive Dean for the Faculty of Health Professor Brendan Crotty said it was fantastic to see the University's world-leading research in mental health recognised by the Australian-American Fulbright Commission.

"I want to congratulate Erin on this achievement, which is a well-deserved recognition of her hard work developing novel, practical and evidence-based solutions to one of the world's most pressing health problems," Professor Crotty said.

"Deakin is dedicated to supporting research that brings practical benefits to the health and wellbeing of the communities we serve."

Two Deakin alumni were also awarded Fulbright Scholarships in 2019. Centre for Humanitarian Leadership graduate Beth Eggleston received a Fulbright Scholar Award, and Deakin Honours graduate Victoria Austin received a Fulbright Postgraduate Scholarship, funded by Western Sydney University.