What is your role and what does your work focus on?
I’m a Senior lecturer, teaching specialist in human physiology. My role focuses on the creation, coordination, and delivery of curriculum to students primarily within the Bachelor of Medical Science. I’m also the deputy course coordinator of the Bachelor of Medical Science so contribute to the continued improvement and evaluation of this degree as well as supporting students, including coordinating the peer mentoring program. I also chair the CMPH student success and retention working group.
Where did you work before joining CMPH?
I worked as a casual academic at UniSA while raising small children.
What journey brought you to this point in your career?
A very long PhD where I did all the things you shouldn’t (got married, bought a house, had my first child). My PhD focused on lymphatic regeneration in gecko tails so was an unusual animal model to study and meant standard assays and reagents couldn’t readily be used so everything needed to be refined, redeveloped and involved a lot of troubleshooting to get meaningful data. My project was further complicated and lengthened by obstacles of biblical proportions: cricket plagues in the animal house where I kept my gecko colony and a flood that destroyed the animal house and my office. I nearly gave up several times! Following my PhD, I was determined that I would be a bench scientist who didn’t have to interact with others – however I began doing some teaching and began to really enjoy it. When the role of a teaching specialist in physiology became available three years ago, I jumped at the chance to apply!
What is something you love most about your work?
Helping students to make sense of something they had previously found very challenging. Sharing my passion for physiology and transmitting this to the students I teach (possibly not the best choice of words in the current circumstances but enthusiasm is contagious!) I’m also incredibly fortunate to work with many brilliant and inspiring colleagues.
If you could tell your younger self one thing, what would it be?
Take as many opportunities that are presented to you as you can, while you can (and actively seek them out) – it might be scary and put you well out of your comfort zone, but the rewards will be worth it.
If you had a super power what would it be?
Be able to split myself into multiple clones so I can be multiple places at once.
How do you like to relax or spend your spare time?
I play netball (in a masters competition), listening to podcasts while I walk the dog, the beach is my happy place and spending time with my husband and three kids.
Who is the most famous person you are related to?
I’m not sure I’m closely related to anyone famous?