Dr. Laura Bradfield is Senior Lecturer in the School of Psychology at The University of Sydney. She received her bachelor’s degree with honors in psychology and her PhD in neuroscience from the University of New South Wales, Sydney. She conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Sydney and subsequently the University of New South Wales. Prior to joining the faculty at The University of Sydney, Laura served as a Lecturer at University of New South Wales and a Research Fellow and Senior Research Fellow at the University of Technology Sydney. In this interview, she shares more about her life and science.
People Behind the Science Podcast Show Notes
Life Outside of Science (2:00)
Laura loves to sing, and she enjoys going out for karaoke with colleagues in the evenings during conferences. She is also a fan of CrossFit workouts and spending time with her 14-year-old daughter.
The Scientific Side (3:22)
In the lab, Laura studies the behavioral and brain mechanisms of compulsivity and compulsive disorders. Conditions like obsessive compulsive disorder, substance use disorder, Parkinson’s disease, and Huntington’s disease all have elements of compulsivity. Rather than focusing on one particular condition, Laura and her team are working on developing better animal models of compulsivity and understanding how inflammation in certain parts of the brain affects compulsive behaviors.
A Dose of Motivation (6:45)
The desire to help people was what first motivated Laura to pursue science, and it remains a motivating force today.
What Got You Hooked on Science? (9:32)
During high school, Laura was more interested in history and English than science. In college, she started off as a psychology major. However, at the time she enrolled in the program, Laura didn’t even realize that psychology was considered a science. To her surprise, behavioral neuroscience became her favorite subject. Getting involved in research in an honors project, Laura discovered she really loved the theory side of science, but didn’t enjoy doing experiments in the lab. At the time, she knew she didn’t want to be a clinical psychologist, so she decided to get a PhD in behavioral neuroscience. Afterwards, during her postdoc, Laura was immersed in fundamental neuroscience questions, but she found that she wanted to do more translational research where her work could more directly help people with a disease or disorder. This desire has been instrumental in shaping her current research program.
The Low Points: Failures and Challenges (22:48)
Rejection is a natural part of science. Right now, Laura is just coming out of a difficult couple of years with a large number of painful paper and grant rejections. With the latest round of grant rejections, the pressure is on for Laura to secure a new grant before her funding runs out at the end of the year. In addition, Laura just moved to a new university last year, and it has been extremely busy getting her lab set up again, settling into her new teaching roles, and working her way through the mountains of paperwork involved in this kind of move. Talking to a psychologist, colleagues, and lab members has been critical for getting through this difficult time. Laura has also found it helpful to focus on the things she can control.
A Shining Success! (25:46)
In 2022, Laura’s students nominated her for the Supervisor of the Year Award at her university. Not knowing about the award or the nomination, Laura didn’t even attend the ceremony where the award was presented. After Laura received an email telling her she received the award, her lab members revealed that they had nominated her. This meant so much to Laura because it showed that her students really appreciated everything she did and her investment in their careers. It was really touching, and Laura considers this her biggest personal success.
Book Recommendations (30:37)
Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice, The Other Brain: From Dementia to Schizophrenia, How New Discoveries About the Brain Are Revolutionizing Medicine and Science by R. Douglas Fields
Most Treasured Travel (31:53)
Based in Australia, a lot of the travel that Laura does for science is to the United States. Her favorite conference was a Gordon Research Conference focused on the basal ganglia. The meeting was held in California, and the Gordon meetings are known for high-quality science and great networking opportunities. Laura knew that one of her academic idols Susanne Ahmari was going to be at the conference, and she couldn’t wait to meet her. Having read Susanne’s papers, Laura was very familiar with her work but had never seen a photo of her. One morning during the meeting, Laura was walking towards the meeting room with her coffee when a fellow attendee approached her and struck up a conversation. When they got around to introductions, Laura was shocked to realize that the woman in front of her was, in fact, Susanne. They had a great chat that blossomed into a symposium proposal for another conference and an ongoing channel of communication.
Quirky Traditions and Funny Memories (35:15)
When she was working in the lab as a postdoc, Laura’s project involved slicing tissue samples using a machine called a vibratome. Before using the machine, Laura had to superglue her sample to the specimen holder. At some point while she was working, Laura accidentally dripped superglue on the floor around her feet. To her chagrin (and the great amusement of the other postdocs in the lab with her), Laura had superglued herself to the floor. After taking off her shoe, Laura spent some quality time with a razor blade and was able to free the shoe from the floor. However, her labmates found the incident so funny that it became a meme and a lasting part of lab lore.
Advice For Us All (39:18)
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. It can be tempting to take everything on yourself, but that will inevitably be too much. There are lots of resources available and people who are willing to help. Find inspiration in others, particularly early-career researchers. Their fresh perspectives and insights can be informative and valuable.
Guest Bio
Laura studies the behavioral and brain mechanisms underlying compulsive disorders using rodent models. Her recent work shows that mimicking the neuroinflammation seen in conditions like obsessive-compulsive disorder and addiction can alter action control in surprising ways—sometimes increasing, rather than reducing, cognitive control. She sees working with animals as both a privilege and a responsibility, and she is committed to ensuring their contribution has real-world impact by addressing meaningful questions and publishing all data generated in her lab. Outside the lab, Laura is a single mum to a 14-year-old, who, despite her expertise in behavior, she’s still trying to train to empty the dishwasher on time. When she’s not running around after her daughter, Laura is working out or enthusiastically (and frequently) singing to anyone within earshot.
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