NEUROSCIENCE, NEUROPHARMACOLOGY AND EXERCISE SCIENCE
Dr Jacob Thorstensen,
Neuroscientist & Assistant Professor,
Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine
Bond University, Queensland, Australia &
Honorary Research Fellow
The School of Biomedical Sciences,
The University of Queensland
Queensland, Australia
RESEARCHER PROFILE
Filmed in the Gold Coast, Australia | November 2025
Dr Jacob Thorstensen is an early-career Assistant Professor in Neuroscience and Physiology in the Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine at Bond University. He is also an honorary research fellow in The School of Biomedical Sciences at The University of Queensland.
Dr Thorstensen graduated first-class honours in exercise science, completed a PhD in neurophysiology at Griffith University, and completed a post-doctoral research fellowship in neurology at The University of Queensland.
His research uses non-invasive neurostimulation techniques to study how the brain and spinal cord control muscles in human subjects.
His findings have been published in several discipline-leading scientific journals including The Journal of Physiology, Journal of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology and disseminated at large, international scientific meetings.
His work has unveiled several new neuroscientific mechanisms which have future applications for movement disorders. Recent recognitions include being on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for the Healthcare & Science Category (2024) and being selected as a Career Achievement Award finalist in the 7NEWS QLD Young Achiever Awards (2025).
Dr Thorstensen sits on the editorial boards for The Journal of Physiology and Journal of Applied Physiology.
He is a part of the executive committee for the Australasian Brain Stimulation Society, and the early career researcher and education committees for the International Society of Electrophysiology and Kinesiology.
He is also part of a team that has recently been funded through a Multiple Sclerosis Australia Incubator Grant for a neurostimulation project.
Source: Supplied
You Might also like
-
Paediatric obesity prevention, nutrition and dietetics
Leveraging a systems-based and collaborative approach, Dr Littlewood over the past 25 years has driven research and data outcomes in the area of health and wellbeing. Dr Littlewood leads a dedicated team focused on making healthy happen for all Queenslanders, with a particular focus on improving health outcomes for the next generation.
-
Junior Fellowship to develop vaccine for bacteria that cause ear infections
Dr Erin Brazel has a background in molecular and translational microbiology, with a focus on developing new ways of preventing and treating bacterial diseases. Recently Dr Brazel has been awarded a Junior Fellowship by the Passe & Williams Memorial Foundation.
The fellowship enables outstanding individuals to obtain postdoctoral training under the supervision of an experienced clinical or scientific researcher, with the view to establishing a research career in Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery in Australia and/or New Zealand.
-
Iodine in pregnancy on baby brain and nervous system development
Dr Karen Best is Senior Research Fellow in the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) Women and Kids Theme. She is a Registered Midwife with a unique breadth of experience in clinical project management, academic skills and knowledge translation and is committed to better understanding the essential role that modifiable exposures in pregnancy play in setting the foundations for a healthy start to life.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6821-1547