Funding Success for Biomedical Science Researchers

Congratulations to researchers of the School of Biomedical Sciences on their recent funding successes!

We would like to extend our warmest congratulations to numerous researchers from the School of Biomedical Sciences who are recipients of Learning and Teaching Initiative Seed Funding grants.

Dr Joseph Rathner, Dr Amber Willems-Jones and Dr Angelina Fong collaborated with other researchers within the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences on a project entitled ‘Disseminating Online Assessment Literacy Modules’. Dr Amber Willems-Jones is a senior lecturer for the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Her research is directed to the development of inquiry-based learning tasks designed to improve student understanding, as well as promoting the importance of self-regulated learning processes and strategies. Dr Joseph (Yossi) Rathner and Dr Angelina Fong are both lecturers within the Department of Physiology. The group was awarded an MDHS LTI Seed Grant for their exceptional work on this project.

Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences Learning and Teaching Initiative Seed Funding was also granted to Dr Michelle Rank, Dr Amber Willems-Jones and Dr Sophie Paquet-Fifield and their collaborators. Their project title was ‘What makes a good prac manual? Defining core principles of effective practical class manuals and exploring the impacts on student learning and engagement’. Dr Michelle Rank is a senior lecturer for the Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, who’s teaching practice uses novel and engaging techniques, including digital anatomy resources such as virtual and augmented reality, and 3D anatomy apps to enhance student learning and increase engagement. Dr Rank worked alongside Dr Sophie Paquet-Fifield, a lecturer for the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and Dr Amber Willems-Jones.

Michelle Rank

Our diverse team is delighted to receive seed funding that will enable us to begin our work on this exciting project. Here we are looking to understand what features define a great practical lab manual, from both the student and academic viewpoints. We aim to create an evidence-based instruction manual that can be used by educators across STEM-disciplines’ commented Dr Michelle Rank.

Dr Daniel Clarke was the recipient of funding to go towards the improvement of online teaching from the University of Melbourne. Dr Clarke is a lecturer within the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and he. His previous research concentrated on host-viral interactions, particularly in terms of enhancing the immune response to better combat disease. He now focuses on improving teaching practice to provide exceptional learning experiences for students.

Another recipient of a grant to go towards the improvement of online teaching from the School of Biomedical Sciences is Associate Professor Odilia Wijburg from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. Her primary interest lies in teaching and learning, and she received funding for the subject of ‘Microbes, Infections and Responses’.

Dr Jiang-Li Tan, lecturer within the Department of Microbiology and Immunology,  also achieved funding success for her work on the subject of ‘Experimental Pathology’.

We would also like to extend our congratulations to Dr Angelina Fong, Dr Joseph Rathner and Dr Sophie Paquet-Fifield for their outstanding contributions to the field of learning and teaching, earning them both an MDHS LTI Seed Grant and a UoM LTI: Improving Online Teaching grant.