Dr. Hannah Kirk is a Senior Lecturer in Developmental Psychology at the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne. She holds a BSc in Psychology from Newcastle University (UK) and a PhD in Psychological Sciences from Monash University (Australia). In recognition of her early career achievements, she was awarded the prestigious NHMRC Peter Doherty Early Career Fellowship in 2018.

As the leader of the Child Developmental and Digital Technologies (CDDT) Laboratory, Dr. Kirk’s research focuses on understanding how digital technologies shape children’s mental health, cognitive development, behavior, and academic performance. Her work is especially focused on neurodiverse populations, including children with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, and Williams syndrome. She is at the forefront of developing evidence-based digital interventions, incorporating cutting-edge advancements in virtual reality and game-based learning to improve childhood mental and cognitive health.

Dr. Kirk is the co-inventor of the world’s first digital attention intervention for children with neurodevelopmental disorders. She has led two clinical trials evaluating its effectiveness, with the intervention now recognized as an approved Class 1 Medical Device by both the FDA and TGA. It is also reimbursable through Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and is being used by children globally.

Throughout her career, Dr. Kirk has received numerous accolades, including the APS Thesis Award for Studies in the Psychology of Intellectual Disability and Autism (2016), Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research (2018), and the BioMelbourne Emerging Leadership Award (2021). In 2019, she was named one of ABC Radio National's Top 5 Scientists, highlighting her commitment to public engagement through science communication on radio, TV, and digital media.

Dr. Kirk also has industry experience, having served as Chief Research Officer at Tali Digital, a publicly listed medical technology company, where she led the research and development of digital health interventions.

A passionate advocate for research translation, Dr. Kirk is dedicated to bridging the gap between academia and industry to create innovative, evidence-based tools that benefit the community. She is also a strong proponent of advancing gender equity in STEM fields and actively works to inspire and promote STEM careers for girls.