Passion for teaching recognised with scientific education award
A/Prof Amber Willems-Jones (Dept of Biochemistry & Pharmacology) has been honoured with the 2025 ASBMB SDR Scientific Education Award for dedication to student learning and innovation in teaching.
The SDR Scientific Education Award celebrates innovation and leadership in biochemistry or molecular biology education. As this year’s recipient, Associate Professor Amber Willems-Jones has the opportunity to attend an international education-focused conference or to spend time at another institution to advance teaching practices in biochemistry and molecular biology education. She will also share insights in a featured lecture at the ASBMB Education Symposium in Brisbane later this year.
As an education-focused academic in the Department to Biochemistry & Pharmacology, Amber teaches the second-year practical biochemistry subject, Techniques in Molecular Science.
“It’s in this role that I found my true calling and passion for education,” Amber says. “There’s nothing more rewarding than helping students build confidence in the lab and grow as independent thinkers.”
Amber guides and inspires her students towards building a foundation of laboratory-based biochemistry and molecular biology skills as they pursue their biochemistry journey.
I have introduced inquiry-based learning modules to develop troubleshooting skills and critical thinking...I’ve also been privileged to be part of the teaching team for the first-year Bachelor of Biomedicine core subjects, 'Discovering Biomedicine' and 'Exploring Biomedicine', working and sharing expertise with amazing colleagues.
With research interests in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, Amber is passionate about ensuring students acquire the requisite skills and understanding of key concepts that lay at the foundation of practical biochemistry and molecular biology.
“I also have a strong interest in exploring the quantitative literacy skills of university students, inspired by research from the 2024 ASBMB SDR Scientific Education Award recipient, Dr Julian Pakay,” Amber says.
No stranger to recognition for her teaching, Amber has received the 2023 David White Award for Teaching Excellence and the 2022 Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences (MDHS) Excellence Learning and Teaching Award for Sustained Excellence.
As a lifelong learner, Amber continually reflects and refines her teaching practice and integrates her own research findings with those of her peers to adopt new strategies and methodologies.
I am honoured to have been recognised for the 2025 ASBMB SDR Scientific Education Award by my peers - and will continue to work to inspire budding young biochemists of the future.