Julie K. Irwin
Research interests
My program of research spans from bench to bedside with a focus on pediatric neuropsychology, behavioural neuroscience, and mTBI. My Master’s thesis under the supervision of Dr. Kimberly Kerns examined the construct validity of the Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scales (RIAS) in typically-developing and mixed clinical groups of Canadian children. Subsequently, as part of a multidisciplinary team spanning psychology, neuroscience, computer science, and exercise science, I examined the effect of a game-based exercise intervention on improving cognitive, emotional, and behavioural functioning via increases in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in children with FASD.
Working under the co-supervision of Dr. Garcia-Barrera and Dr. Brian Christie (Division of Medical Sciences), my dissertation examines how adolescents’ negative expectations about outcomes after mTBI affect their perception of recovery after injury. I am the Victoria site study coordinator of the Canada Pediatric mTBI Common Data Elements study.
Representative publications
Irwin, J. K., Joschko, M., & Kerns, K. A. (2014). Confirmatory factor analysis of the Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scales (RIAS) in Canadian children. The Clinical Neuropsychologist, 28(8), 1258-1277.
Irwin. J.K., MacSween, J., Kerns, K.A. (2011). History and evolution of the autism spectrum disorders. In J.L. Matson & P. Sturmey (eds.), International handbook of autism and pervasive developmental disorders. New York: Springer.
Gray, D.G., Irwin, J., Mittelholtz, J., Choleris, E. (2008). Differential effects of a D1 antagonist in social behavior and feeding. International Behavioral Neuroscience Society Abstracts, 24.
Representative presentations
Irwin, J. K., Joschko, M., & Kerns, K. A. (2014). Comparison of the Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scales (RIAS) to the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - Fourth Edition in Canadian Children. Final Program, Forty-Second Annual Meeting International Neuropsychological Society. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society.
Irwin, J. K., Joschko, M., MacDonald, S., & Kerns, K. A. (2011). Confirmatory factor analysis of the Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scales (RIAS) in typically-developing Canadian children. Final Program, Thirty-Ninth Annual Meeting International Neuropsychological Society. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 17, pp i-334.
Irwin, J., Choleris, E., Gray, D., Mittelholz, J. The role of the D1 receptor in social learning of a food preference. Poster presented at the Ontario Undergraduate Thesis Conference at the University of Toronto, April 28, 2007.
Recent awards
- 2013-2016 — SSHRC Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Doctoral Scholarship
- 2014 — CIHR Trainee Travel Award – Canada Pediatric mTBI Common Data Study
- 2013-2014 — University of Victoria President’s Research Scholarship
- 2011-2012 — Norma M. Wilson Graduate Scholarship
- 2010 — CCDP Teaching Assistant Award
- 2010-2011 — Petch Research Scholarship
- 2010-2011 — University of Victoria Fellowship
- 2009-2010 — NSERC PGS-M
- 2009-2010 — University of Victoria President's Scholarship