Brian Byrne completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Sydney and his PhD at McMaster University, Canada. He has been at the University of New England ever since returning from Canada, where he is now an emeritus professor. His has conducted research in cognitive psychology, with an emphasis on language processes, particularly those affecting children's literacy. Most recently he has been part of an international team addressing the roles of genes and the environment in literacy and language development, utilizing the insights that can be derived from the study of twins. He has received generous support from the Australian Research Council, the U.S. National Institutes of Health, and the National Health and Medical Research Council's Australian Twin Registry.
University of New England: Vice-Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Research, 2000, 2009.