Dr Ashleigh Smith is an emerging research leader whose research is positioned at the nexus of neuroscience, exercise physiology and cognitive ageing. She has held three nationally competitive research fellowships since 2013 and is leading a national interdisciplinary team, which has recently been awarded a Boosting Dementia Research Grant worth $1.23 million.
She has set up an exercise focussed neurophysiology laboratory equipped with state of the art equipment, such as single and repetitive pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), electroencephalography (EEG), exercise equipment and virtual and augmented reality technologies. Her research has been supported by the MRFF, NHMRC and Dementia Australia, totalling more than $4 million.
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About me
Dr Ashleigh Smith is an emerging research leader whose research is positioned at the nexus of neuroscience, exercise physiology and cognitive ageing. She has held three nationally competitive research fellowships since 2013 and is leading a national interdisciplinary team, which has recently been awarded a Boosting Dementia Research Grant worth $1.23 million.
She has set up an exercise focussed neurophysiology laboratory equipped with state of the art equipment, such as single and repetitive pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), electroencephalography (EEG), exercise equipment and virtual and augmented reality technologies. Her research has been supported by the MRFF, NHMRC and Dementia Australia, totalling more than $4 million.
Dr Ashleigh Smith is a member of the Alliance for Research in Exercise Nutrition and Activity (ARENA), whose research vision is "Healthy Lives for Healthy Living".
Her research excellence and outstanding community engagement in science has been recognised with over 13 awards for excellence including UniSA Mid-Career Researcher of the Year (2022), an international research excellence award from the International Congress of Clinical Neurosciences and a South Australian Young Tall Poppy Award (2017).
Dr Ashleigh Smith is available to discuss her research projects, collaborations and is actively seeking students interested in Masters by Research and PhD spanning the area of ageing, exercise and neurophysiology.
About me
Society for Neuroscience (SfN), Australian Association of Gerontology (AAG, South Australian committee), Sport Medicine Australia (SMA), National Institute for Dementia Research (NNIDR, ECR Fellows working group chair), EMCR Brain Science Network (Executive member), Australian Cognitive Neuroscience Society (ACNS), International Society of Vascular Behavioural and Cognitive Disorders (VasCog).
About me
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| 18/09/2018 |
Findings uncover exciting new intervention opportunities aimed at reducing the risk of dementia: NHMRC Media, https://beta.nhmrc.gov.au/about-us/news-centre/findings-uncover-exciting-new-intervention-opportunities-aimed-reducing-risk-dementia |
| 22/04/2018 |
"The Today Show," with Lauren Tomasi, Forget me not, https://www.9now.com.au/today/2018/clip-cjgad1yz700160imkb66k4l3e |
| 14/02/2018 |
"Live at the Desk" with Will MacDonald, Forget me not, https://twitter.com/9NewsAdel/status/968371882956345344 |
| 14/09/2017 |
"Live at the Desk" with Alice Monfries, dementia prevention with virtual reality, https://www.facebook.com/9NewsAdelaide/videos/1752666371703991/ |
| 14/08/2017 |
Dr Ashleigh Smith: South Australian Young Tall Poppy Finalist, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wa4E3Dm1zKs |
| 15/08/2016 |
Research Themes: Development of a neurovascular marker of cognitive impairment, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyzlFR6HICE |
| 19/10/2015 |
$43 Million to continue search for a cure to dementia, https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/media/releases/2015/43-million-continue-search-cure-dementia |
About me
Doctor of Philosophy (Obstetrics and Gynaecology) The University of Adelaide
Bachelor Science (Honours) The University of Adelaide
Bachelor of Science (Biomedical Science) The University of Adelaide
Exercise physiology, Ageing, Neurophysiology,Cortical plasticity, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), Cognition, Dementia prevention
Research
Excludes commercial-in-confidence projects.
Living your best day- Optimising activity and diet compositions for dementia prevention, NHMRC - Boosting Dementia Research Grants, 01/12/2019 - 30/11/2025
Dementia Australia Research Foundation Scholarship, Dementia Australia Research Foundation, 10/02/2020 - 10/08/2023
Evaluation of the Daily Moves Program, City of Unley, 05/08/2019 - 31/07/2022
Active video gaming to increase physical activity in adults with chronic fatigue syndrome, The Judith Jane Mason and Harold Stannett Williams Memorial Foundation, 01/01/2016 - 31/12/2019
Optimising exercise prescription for brain health in older adults at risk of dementia, NHMRC - ARC Dementia Research Development Fellowship, 01/01/2016 - 31/12/2019
City of Unley Dementia Friendly Cities, City of Unley, 01/07/2016 - 30/06/2017
Research
Research outputs for the last seven years are shown below. To see earlier years visit ORCID, ResearcherID or Scopus
Open access indicates that an output is open access.
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2020 |
25
28
125
|
| 2018 |
7
8
3
|
| 2017 |
Open access
43
35
58
|
| 2016 |
11
11
10
|
| 2014 |
98
97
16
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2019 |
22
19
23
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2023 |
1
1
|
| 2022 |
3
3
1
|
| 2022 |
Open access
1
1
|
| 2022 |
2
1
|
| 2022 |
Open access
3
2
|
| 2022 |
Open access
8
7
20
|
| 2022 |
Open access
|
| 2022 |
Open access
|
| 2022 |
|
| 2022 |
1
1
4
|
| 2022 |
Open access
3
3
11
|
| 2021 |
76
72
21
|
| 2021 |
3
4
10
|
| 2021 |
Open access
7
7
22
|
| 2020 |
Open access
20
18
3
|
| 2020 |
Open access
31
33
11
|
| 2020 |
Open access
7
7
8
|
| 2020 |
Open access
4
4
20
|
| 2020 |
25
28
125
|
| 2020 |
Open access
12
38
|
| 2020 |
Open access
16
15
20
|
| 2020 |
Open access
1
1
49
|
| 2020 |
2
2
12
|
| 2019 |
10
10
5
|
| 2019 |
Open access
8
7
76
|
| 2019 |
Open access
57
52
18
|
| 2019 |
Open access
4
4
111
|
| 2019 |
Open access
9
11
9
|
| 2019 |
Open access
14
15
11
|
| 2018 |
Open access
3
3
23
|
| 2018 |
Open access
10
9
1
|
| 2018 |
7
8
3
|
| 2017 |
Open access
1
1
6
|
| 2017 |
Open access
23
23
9
|
| 2017 |
Open access
43
35
58
|
| 2016 |
Open access
7
7
1
|
| 2016 |
Open access
9
8
3
|
| 2016 |
11
11
10
|
| 2015 |
32
32
1
|
| 2015 |
10
10
|
| 2015 |
25
23
18
|
| 2014 |
Open access
13
11
|
| 2014 |
Open access
12
12
2
|
| 2014 |
98
97
16
|
| 2013 |
Open access
16
15
|
| 2012 |
Open access
40
39
1
|
| 2011 |
12
10
|
| 2011 |
Open access
89
84
|
| 2011 |
17
15
|
| 2011 |
Open access
33
31
|
| 2009 |
73
69
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2019 |
|
| 2019 |
|
Research
Exercise physiology, Ageing, Neurophysiology,Cortical plasticity, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), Cognition, Dementia prevention
South Australian Young Tall Poppy (2017), EMCR Brain Science Network National Steering Committee member (2017-current), Australian Association of Gerontology (Organising comittee member 2015-current, national ECR committee 2016-2017), Australian Cognitive Neurosience Society (ACNS) conference local organising comittee 2017, Frontiers for Young Minds (Review Editor),
External engagement & recognition
| Organisation | Country |
|---|---|
| Australian National University | AUSTRALIA |
| Deakin University | AUSTRALIA |
| Flinders University | AUSTRALIA |
| Griffith University | AUSTRALIA |
| Humboldt University Berlin | GERMANY |
| Marquette University | UNITED STATES |
| Monash University | AUSTRALIA |
| Newcastle University, United Kingdom | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Queensland Institute of Medical Research | AUSTRALIA |
| Royal Adelaide Hospital | AUSTRALIA |
| South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) | AUSTRALIA |
| The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University | UNITED STATES |
| Tung Wah College | CHINA |
| University College London | UNITED KINGDOM |
| University of Adelaide | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Hong Kong | HONG KONG |
| University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | UNITED STATES |
| University of Leeds | UNITED KINGDOM |
| University of Lyon | FRANCE |
| University of Maastricht | NETHERLANDS |
| University of Melbourne | AUSTRALIA |
| University of New South Wales | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Newcastle | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Queensland | AUSTRALIA |
| University of South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Sydney | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Victoria | CANADA |
| University of Western Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Westminster | UNITED KINGDOM |
External engagement & recognition
| Engagement/recognition | Year |
|---|---|
Keynote speakerAustralasian Brain Stimulation Society |
2021 |
NHMRC-ARC Dementia Accelerator Working Group ChairNHMRC National Institute for Dementia Research |
2019 |
NHMRC-ARC Dementia Accelerator Working Group ChairNHMRC National Institute for Dementia Research |
2018 |
Organising committee memberAustralian Association of Gerontology (AAG) |
2018 |
Steering Committee MemberEMCR Brain Science Network National |
2018 |
MemberSport Medicine Australia |
2017 |
MemberAustralian Association of Gerontology (AAG) |
2017 |
MemberSociety for Neuroscience |
2017 |
MemberAlliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA) |
2017 |
Member, National ECR CommitteeAustralian Association of Gerontology (AAG) |
2017 |
Organising committee memberAustralian Association of Gerontology (AAG) |
2017 |
Steering Committee MemberEMCR Brain Science Network National |
2017 |
Young Tall Poppy Award (SA)Australian Institute of Policy and Science |
2017 |
IRP Matching Grant AwardSalimetrics |
2016 |
Member, National ECR CommitteeAustralian Association of Gerontology (AAG) |
2016 |
Organising committee memberAustralian Association of Gerontology (AAG) |
2016 |
Organising committee memberAustralian Association of Gerontology (AAG) |
2015 |
UniSA Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) Self Assessment Team (SAT, 2017-current)
National Institute for Dementia Research (NNIDR) Fellowship working group (Co-Chair, 2018-current)
Neuroscience and neuroplasticity, Muscle physiology, Ageing and rehabilitation, Motor control
Teaching & student supervision
Teaching & student supervision
Supervisions from 2010 shown
| Thesis title | Student status |
|---|---|
| Aerobic exercise intensity required to induce optimal neuroplasticity | Current |
| Association between Mediterranean diet adherence, cognition and neuroimaging markers of dementia risk | Current |
| Building your best day for dementia prevention - longitudinal trajectories of dementia risk | Current |
| Developing workplace intervention physical activity strategies for Australian police officers | Current |
| Neural contributions to motor impairment and the influence of low physical activity in people with painful knee osteoarthritis | Current |
| Optimising the compositional analysis of 24-hour time-use data | Current |
| The association between 24-hour time-use composition, cognition and neurophysiological correlates of cognition in older Australians | Current |
| The association between cerebrovascular regulation and cognitive decline in late-life | Current |
| Cultivating farmer health: development, evaluation and application of a novel help-seeking scale for farmers | Completed |
| Effort perception in exercise testing and prescription: implications for patients with cardiac conditions | Completed |
| Investigating cognitive outcomes following coronary artery bypass grafting surgery | Completed |
| Perceptual and affective responses during virtual reality exercise | Completed |
