Dr Fitzgibbon is a Senior Research Fellow at Monash University and the head of the “Pain, Addiction and Mental Health Group” at the Epworth Centre for Innovation in Mental Health.

Bernadette’s research program is dedicated to understanding the neurobiology of pain and the development of novel pain therapeutics.

Her research uses a range of methods, including Theta-Burst Stimulation (TBS), Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS), electroencephalogram (EEG), concurrent TMS-EEG, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Electrocardiography (ECG) and Galvanic Skin Resistance (GSR), as well as the use of novel at-home brain stimulation adjunctive with psychological therapies.

She has received several awards for her research including the 2018 Australasian Brain Stimulation Society Early Career Award, the national 2014 Bethlehem Griffiths Research Foundation Young Investigator of the Year award, a 2014 Young Tall Poppy Science Award through the Australian Institute of Policy and Science and in 2018 was selected for the Veski inspiring women STEM sidebyside program.

She is also dedicated to the advancement of brain sciences within Australia, as reflected in role as chair of the Australian Brain Alliance EMCR Network and an Executive Member of the Australian Brain Alliance, an initiative of the Australian Academy of Science to bring together strategic brain research across Australia.