Associate Professor Róisín McNaney named Superstar of STEM 2025

Associate Professor Róisín McNaney, a cross-disciplinary digital health researcher in the School of Computing and Information Systems at the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, has been selected for the Superstars of STEM 2025 program.

The two-year program, run by Science and Technology Australia, celebrates the achievements of women and non-binary experts in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and aims to challenge gender stereotypes by increasing their visibility in public and media discourse.

As part of the program, participants receive advanced communication training and take part in high-profile media, school and public engagement opportunities.

“Being named a Superstar of STEM is a humbling recognition,” Associate Professor McNaney said. “I’m excited to use this platform to further advocate for inclusive innovation in healthcare and inspire the next generation of STEM leaders.”

Associate Professor McNaney is working at the intersection of healthcare and computing. Her research explores how new and emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), smart devices and mobile sensors, can be co-designed with health communities to support brain and mental health needs. Her work spans a range of areas including Parkinson’s, youth mental health, parenting and maternal wellbeing, eating disorders, and inclusive design in mental health services.

She is also the Director of the CSIRO Next Generation of Graduates Program in AI in Mental Health, which is developing AI-driven solutions with local and national scale partners such as Turning Point, headspace, Orygen, Pola Practice and Crank.