With a Bachelor of Science (with First Class Honours) from the University of Western Australia and a PhD from the University of Geneva, Switzerland, Professor Amanda Salis (nee Sainsbury) leads a research team at the University of Western Australia's School of Human Sciences that aims to help people to attain and maintain an optimum body weight and composition.

 Her translational research into hypothalamic control of appetite, eating behavior, energy expenditure, body weight and body composition spans transgenic mice, adults with overweight or obesity (with or without eating disorders), as well as adult athletes.

Her randomized controlled trials comparing long-term effects of fast versus slow weight loss – using intermittent versus continuous energy restriction – are funded by a Senior Research Fellowship and Project Grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia.