Professor Gail Tripp

Professor Gail Tripp is a neurobiologist who established the OIST Children’s Research Center to undertake research on the nature, etiology and management of ADHD with English and Japanese speaking children and families.

Completed an honors degree in psychology, professional qualifications in clinical psychology and a PhD in neuroscience at the University of Otago, New Zealand. Following this she took up an appointment as a clinical psychologist in a large public hospital before returning to an academic position in the Psychology Department at the University of Otago. She taught graduate and undergraduate courses in adult and child abnormal psychology and graduate courses child assessment and intervention.

At Otago, she established an active research program focusing on understanding the etiology and management of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and supervised numerous undergraduate, Masters and PhD students.

In 2007, she joined the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) initial research project first as Principal Investigator and then Professor of the Human Developmental Neurobiology research unit. With her team, she established the OIST Children’s Research Center to undertake research on the nature, etiology and management of ADHD with English and Japanese speaking children and families.

Throughout her time at OIST she has taken an active role in helping to establish the Graduate University.

Area of expertiese: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, sensitivity to reinforcement, parenting

Selected media coverage:

Video Abstract: Neurocognitive and Symptom Trajectories of ADHD from Childhood to Early Adolescence - Journal of Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics 

Podcast: The Power of Positive Reinforcement: Why Rewards Trump Punishments for Students with ADHD - ADDitude

Leadership Roles

  • Chair of Faculty Council/Assembly 2010-2012
  • Joint Chair Gender Equality Committee 2013-2015
  • Joint Chair Gender Equality Task Force 2013-2015
  • Chair Task Force on Mental Health 2012-2014
  • Vice Chair Faculty Council/Assembly 2009-2010, 2012-2013
  • Chair of Tenure Review Committees 2015, 2017
  • Chair of Promotion Review Committee 2016

Membership Roles

  • Faculty Council 2022-2024
  • Examination and Curriculum Committee 2014-present
  • Faculty Council 2015-2017
  • Gender Equality Committee 2015-present
  • Human Subjects Research Review Committee 2009-present
  • Ganjuu Wellbeing Center Review Committee 2017
  • Open Search Committee 2011, 2016-2017
  • Biology Search Committee 2015
  • Tenure Review Committee 2016
  • Workshop Committee 2007-2012
  • Library Committee 2007-2011
  • Training Committee 2012
Japan
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