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Postdoctoral Fellow

PhD MA PGDip BA/LLB(Hons))

Contact

Email jessica.mccormack@otago.ac.nz

About

Dr Jessica McCormack is a Behavioural Scientist and Public Health researcher. She completed her PhD at the University of Auckland, School of Psychology in Applied Behaviour Analysis. Her research involved working with children with developmental disabilities in school and community settings. Since completing her PhD, she has worked at the National Institute for Health Innovation, University of Auckland, where she worked on various research projects in addictions, harm reduction, food policy, and mental health. More recently, her research has focused on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), a neurodevelopmental disability that may affect as many as 1 in 20 New Zealanders.

Jessica joined the Food Science Department in 2022 as a Postdoctoral Fellow on a Marsden Funded project investigating sensory changes that occur during pregnancy.

Research

Research interests

  • Sensory changes in pregnancy
  • Neurodevelopmental disabilities and sensory deficits
  • Impact of prenatal environment on child development
  • Relationship of sensory perception and hedonic valence to health outcomes (e.g., smoking, cardiovascular health, addiction)
  • Health professional knowledge, attitudes, and practices

Research projects

  • How do sensory shifts shape our diet? - Testing the neural mechanisms underpinning nutrient selection. PI: Dr Mei Peng (Marsden Standard Fund)
  • FASD Map: Investigation of services and programmes available in Aotearoa for Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). (HRC Health Activation Grant)

Publications

McCormack, J. C., Agbor Epse Muluh, E., Mo, Y., McLeod, S. C., Turner, S., Gehlot, D. S., Browne, H., Bullen, C., & Peng, M. (2024). Does vaping affect the taste and smell perception? An exploratory study with New Zealand young adults. Appetite, 195, 107236. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2024.107236 Journal - Research Article

Chu, J. T. W., McCormack, J., Jiang, Y., Walsh, D., Wilson, H., Marsh, S., … Bullen, C. (2024). Investigating the relationship between prenatal alcohol exposure and children's behavioural and emotional development: Analysis of the Growing Up in New Zealand study. Alcohol & Alcoholism, 59, agae029. doi: 10.1093/alcalc/agae029 Journal - Research Article

McCormack, J. C., Chu, J. T. W., Wilson, H., Rahman, J., Marsh, S., & Bullen, C. (2023). Knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in the New Zealand social and community sector: An online survey. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1177/17446295231172234 Journal - Research Article

McCormack, J. C., Roberts, R., Garratt, M., Wang, T., Hayes, J., & Peng, M. (2023). Longitudinal study of Energy, Neurosensory and Eating Responses durinG pregnancY (ENERGY cohort): A study protocol. Clinical Nutrition ESPEN. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2023.01.033 Journal - Research Other

McCormack, J. C., Elliffe, D., & Virués-Ortega, J. (2019). Quantifying the effects of the differential outcomes procedure in humans: A systematic review and a meta-analysis. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 52(3), 870-892. doi: 10.1002/jaba.578 Journal - Research Article

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