Faculty of Medicine and Health

Shaun is an early-mid career academic in the discipline of Exercise and Sport Science, Sydney School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health. His research focuses on athlete development, performance physiology and analysis across multiple sport contexts, but with expertise in Swimming. Shaun is an accredited exercise physiologist with a background in sporting and clinical practice.

Dr Ikram Abdi is a member of Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute (Sydney ID).

Professor Abendroth graduated with a BSc (First Class Honours, ranked top of class) in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Adelaide and completed her PhD at the University of Adelaide/Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science as a Dawes Scholar. She undertook post-doctoral training at Stanford University, where she was awarded the Katherine McCormick Women in Science Postdoctoral Fellowship and the Stanford School of Medicine Dean’s Postdoctoral Fellowship. Professor Abendroth returned to Australia and was awarded a Rold Edgar Lake Fellowship and established the Viral Immunology Research Laboratory at the University of Sydney. Professor Abendroth’s laboratory is based in the Charles Perkins Centre at the University of Sydney where she leads a multidisciplinary research program investigating how human herpesviruses interact and evade the host immune system. Professor Abendroth is teachs immunology and virology to undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as being course coordinator for IMMU3202/3903 (Immunology in Human Disease and Immunology in Human Disease (Advanced).

Dania Abu Awwad is a lecturer and researcher within the Discipline of Medical Imaging Sciences at the University of Sydney. She completed her Bachelor of Applied Science (Diagnostic Radiography) (Hons) degree in 2018 and her PhD in 2021 at the University of Sydney. Dania has been teaching at the University of Sydney since 2019 and continues to work clinically as a diagnostic radiographer.

Dania's research revolves around breast cancer, overimaging, and patient care. 

Dr Arwa Abu Sardaneh is a Pharmacy Practitioner and Lecturer jointly based at the University of Sydney and Westmead Hospital. She is the Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons) and Master of Pharmacy clinical placement coordinator at Westmead Hospital. She received a Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) and a PhD in Pharmacy from the University of Sydney. She worked as a clinical pharmacist at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and specialised in critical care. At Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Arwa developed her skills as a clinician researcher and educator. She received the Advanced Pharmacy Australia fellowship in 2024 highlighting her leadership and significant academic and professional contributions to Australian hospital pharmacy.

Associate Professor Bronwen Ackermann is a world-renowned musicians' physiotherapist, musculoskeletal anatomist, physiotherapy educator and musicians' health researcher at the University of Sydney. Her interest in musicians' health grew as a result of working with performing artists since the early 1990s, focussin on working with musicians since her first international tour physiotherapy role with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in 1995.  She has worked on improving occupational health and best-practice injury prevention and management strategies with all the major Australian Orchestras, as well as the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. She received a Churchill fellowship in 2002 from which time she has successfully spent over 20 years collaborating with international colleagues involved in both research and clinical work in the field of music medicine. She completed her PhD in 2003 on physiotherapy mangement of performance-related musculoskeletal injuries in violinists, and joined academia in 2006, where she has since lectured in both physiotherapy and functional musculoskeletal anatomy. She continues to conduct research into musicians' health focussing on: improving performance-related injury prevention, assessment and management; optimising performance through the anatomical, physiological, 

and biomechanical mechanisms underpinning musical performance; , incorporating psychosocial and environmental consideration; interdisciplinary collaborative projects such as developing health education resources for musicians; and creating educational initiatives to develop musician-specific clinical skills in health professionals. She was supported by an Alexander von Humboldt Experienced Researcher Fellowship from 2019-2021, working with neurologist Prof.Dr Med. Eckart Altenmüller in Hannover, Germany, on creating and testing two retraining protocols for musicians with focal dystonia affecting (i) the embouchure(orofacial structures) and (ii) the hand. She leads projects investigating improving health literacy in musicians and improving performing arts literacy in health professionals. She is an associate of the Sydney Music, Mind and Body lab at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, and the Vice-President of the European Network of Physiotherapy for Performing Arts (ENPPA). She was awarded an Honorary Professorship of Performing Arts Physiotherapy in January 2026 at the UNiversity of Applied Sciences in Osnabrück, Germany, in recognisition of her pioneering work in developing this field, and is working with her German colleagues on developing a Masters of Performing Arts Physiotherapy curriculum.

She has run several large prestigious national musicians health projects including an ARC linkage grant investigation developing evidence-based guidelines for best management of occupational injuries occurring in musicians('Sound Practice'), and an ALTC national music health curriculum initiative in collaboration with colleague Associate Professor Suzanne Wijsman from the University of Western Australia ('Sound Performers'). She served as the High Performance Consultant at the Australian National Academy of Music from 2012 - 2019, guiding the education and implementation of their innovative and ground-breaking Musicians' Health program. She was the inaugural president of the Australian Society for Performing Arts healthcare and has acted as the Chair of the International Liaison Committee and the Education Committee of the USA based Performing Arts Medicine Association (PAMA). She was editor of Medical Problems of Performing Artists for 5 years, from 2016-2020. She designed and authored the first intensive training course in Performing Arts Medicine ('The Essentials of Performing Arts Medicine') in collaboration with PAMA and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). She has been invited to present extensively both nationally and internationally to orchestras, health professionals, scientific research organisations (e.g. International Society of Biomechanics) and music organisations about musicians' health research and evidence-based musicians' health management. She is the Director of the research group Sound Practice: Australian Musicians Health in Performance working with associate directors Professor Tim Driscoll, Professor Mark Halaki on testing and implementing evidence-based solutions for musicians' health issues. She is also a senior member of an international consortium researching and implementing strategies aimed at improve health literacy in musicians across their lifespan.

Prof Ada has over 160 peer-reviewed articles in both international and national journals. She has published her theoretical work in international journals with high impact such as Brain and Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, her rehabilitation studies in the leading rehabilitation journals such as Clinical Rehabilitation and Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and her work of relevance to a physiotherapy audience in the Journal of Physiotherapy, now the leading international physiotherapy research journal. She has also edited 2 books and authored 14 book chapters.

As an ECR, Melissa's research endeavours to transform mental health services to be recovery and participation focused; as well as co-designed with individuals, families and communities who access services, to best meet their needs. Melissa’s PhD research investigated supporting young people experiencing psychosis to achieve their goals for employment and future careers. 

Melissa is an experienced Lecturer in Occupational Therapy. Melissa was awarded a Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy and holds a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education. Melissa is passionate about educating future occupational therapists, health leaders and researchers.

Melissa has extensive experience working as an occupational therapist in mental health services in Queensland, NSW and the UK. Melissa has worked in leadership and interprofessional roles including rehabilitation coordinator and Recovery College clinical educator.  Melissa has worked with age groups from adolescents to older adults and in settings ranging from mental health intensive care to community mental health.

Clinical Professor Rebekah Ahmed is a Staff specialist Neurologist at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and University of Sydney, where she directs the multidisciplinary Memory and Cognition Clinic. She graduated from Medicine at the University of Adelaide (University Medal) and completed her Neurology training at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Concord Hospital. She was awarded the Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurology Fellowship to the National Hospital of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London. She also completed a Clinical Research Fellowship at the Dementia Research Centre, University College London. Her PhD focused on eating and metabolic abnormalities in Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. She is a clinician scientist with her research focusing on metabolic biomarkers in neurodegeneration. She runs a number of clinical trials in Alzheimer’s disease and gene therapy in FTD. She is Co-Block Chair for Neurology in the University of Sydney Medical Program.

Dr. Rahena Akhter is an Associate Professor and Discipline Head of Cariology at the Sydney Dental School (SDS), Faculty of Medicine and Health, the University of Sydney. She specializes in Preventive Dentistry (PhD, Hokkaido University, Japan), expert in teaching caries management system (CMS) in the Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) and Bachelor of Oral Health Therapy (BOH) Program at SDS. She received "outstanding Teaching Award" at SDS in the University of Sydney in 2022. Her broad experience, gained in Japan, Bangladesh, and Australia, has included working closely with high caries risk patients, Cerebral Palsy patients, maternal health, and other developmentally disabled patients at dental public hospitals. She is also an AHPRA registered current practicing dental clinician in Sydney.

Prior to joining the University of Sydney, Dr Rahena Akhter served as a Lecturer at the School of Dentistry and Health Sciences, Charles Sturt University (CSU) where she led as a Year 2 coordinator and subject coordinator for Dental Clinical Practice 2. She received prestigious Japan Government Monbusho scholarship during her PhD @ Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan. Dr. Akhter was appointed as a faculty (Assistant Professor) in the Department of Preventive Dentistry, Okayama University, Japan where she continued (2007-2009) her academic career. In 2009, Dr Akhter earned the prestigious Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in the Jaw Function and Orofacial Pain Research Unit at the Faculty of Dentistry, the University of Sydney, Australia and promoted to Lecturer in 2011.

Dr Akhter published 62 peer-reviewed articlesin high impact leading journals in Dentistry and 82 conference proceeding articles. Currently, her total H index is 24 and most of her publications are in Q1 journals. Dr Akhter presented more than 80 national and international conferences and invited as a symposium speaker and Panel discussion member in several countries (e.g., Korea, Japan, Spain, USA, London, Canada, Italy, Australia etc). She achieved several competitive “research grants (internal and external)” in Australia namely Equity Seed grant 2023, capex grant 2023-24, ACFF 2019; Wrigley Community grant 2018; Bupa grant 2019; ACSIHAG grant (2015-18); ADRF, 2014-2015; International Program Development Fund (IPDF), 2012-2014; USYD fellowship grant, 2009-2012 and Japan (Wakate B, Young Investigator Research Grant 2009, Start-up, 2008, UNESCO Japan Funds-in-Trust, 2007) etc. She has supervised several PhD, MPhil, postgrad, and undergrad Honorsstudents in completion at USYD.

Dr Akhter achieved several “competitive awards” in the field of Dental research, she has been awarded 2018 IADRANZ Division Investigator Award in Preventive and Community Dentistry at the 58th Annual Scientific Meeting of the IADR ANZ Division, Perth Australia.She also achieved "Joseph Lister Award" 2015 in IADR Boston, Massachusetts’s, “Young Investigator Neuroscience Research Award” in IADR, San Diego USA 2011, "2^ndAsian Academy of Temporomandibular Disorder Best Research" Award in Hiroshima, Japan 2011 and “Research in Prevention Travel Award” in Baltimore IADR 2005.In 2015, she had been awarded Faculty and Division Research Excellence at CSU.

She had been a successful international collaborator and continued several research projects with several countries (e.g., Denmark, Australia, Netherland, Switzerland, Japan, Indonesia, and Bangladesh etc). She was a “Secretary” in the Western Division branch of the Australian Dental Association (ADA) from 2014-2015. She was the founder and section councillor of Western division of NSW International Association for Dental Research (IADR) division. She is serving as a section councillor at the IADR ANZ Sydney Division since 2017 as well as member at the IADR cariology research group.

She has held numerous leadership positions in Sydney Dental School (SDS) and externally at both State and National level, including SDS faculty representative at USYD.She had been the active member of various international societies (e.g., IADR, IASP, APS, AAPD, ANZAOP etc).In addition, she was the chair of the Local Organizing Committee of the International Association for Dental Research Australia and New Zealand (IADR ANZ) conference, hosted by the Sydney Dental School, 2023. She oversaw conference planning and the hosting of the event. More than 200 national and international delegates attended. She also chaired a Cariology symposium (Prevention and minimal intervention in caries management) and an oral session (Cariology / Oral Health Research 2 / Oral-Systemic links) at the conference. She presented recently at the FDI Conference @ Sydney 2023.

She is a steering committee member at Sydney Mosaic and founder of the Westmead mosaic foundation where she hosted the “Westmead Mosaic and Pride Lunchtime Gathering” 2023 to encourage Westmead community building.

She is an editorial board member and reviewer of several high impact international journals. She achieved Vice Chancellor’s Sponsorship award for CALD women in 2019. She is a fellow in the International College of Dentists (ICD).

Her clinical research interests relate to oral health and systemic disease (e.g., cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cerebral palsy etc.) and working on caries management in children and adolescents, adults, pregnant women including risk assessment (e.g., caries, periodontal disease), dental sealants, Silver di amine FL, oral biofilms as it relates to caries development and/or prevention, secondary caries, caries remineralization, and early caries detection. She is passionate about “No drill no fill” concept and believes that understanding of caries management system and its implementation in patient management is strongly needed today.

Associate Professor Alam is a health social scientist with expertise in integrating qualitative studies within randomised trials to improve their design, conduct and interpretation. His research focuses on implementation research in maternal, child and adolescent nutrition across South and Southeast Asia and Africa - including Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Timor-Leste, Vietnam, Malawi and Senegal - as well as gender equality, disability and social inclusion in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Island nations. He has expertise in nutrition-sensitive agriculture and social safety net interventions. His research area also includes the impact of household air pollution on perinatal outcomes. His research on neonatal skincare has translated into policy and practice in newborn care in Bangladesh, Nepal and sub-Saharan Africa. He teaches at the postgraduate level in global health and qualitative and health social science methods. A/Prof Alam’s higher degree students conduct research in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Fiji, Nepal, Myanmar, Pakistan, Vietnam and South Sudan.

I am a social science and education research expert with extensive experience across higher education, public policy, equity and inclusion, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. My work integrates academic research excellence with culturally grounded practice and strategic program development.

I specialise in gender studies, sexual violence prevention in higher education, and the design of actions, programs, and policies that advance equity, diversity, and social justice. Across my academic career, I have taught and supervised in sociology, methodology, and education, with a long-standing commitment to fostering culturally safe and inclusive learning environments.

My professional experience includes:

• Higher education supervision and academic teaching, particularly in sociology, research methodology, and social justice education.
• Public policy evaluation and program development, informed by robust qualitative and quantitative research.
• Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) strategy, including gender equity plans, institutional actions, training programs, and the development of indicators to measure systemic impact.
• Sexual violence prevention in higher education, through prevention frameworks, training approaches, and institutional responses that prioritise wellbeing and safety.
• Expertise in gender studies, including intersectionality, organisational cultures, and structural inequalities.
• Team leadership and research project management, guiding multidisciplinary teams in diverse settings.

In my current role, I work within Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, supporting community-led approaches to wellbeing. I also contribute to breastfeeding support programs and professional training for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, ensuring these initiatives are culturally responsive and strengths‑based.

My experience working across multiple countries has deepened my understanding of institutional cultures, social dynamics, and gender relations, particularly how these structures shape inequities and opportunities. This global perspective strengthens my commitment to justice‑oriented practice and drives my focus on systems‑level change. I bring a strategic and solutions‑focused mindset, grounded in resilience, adaptability, and a strong awareness of structural barriers. These qualities enable me to navigate complexity, challenge inequitable norms, and lead initiatives that create meaningful, sustainable change. I am deeply committed to collaborative, community‑centred ways of working and to advancing actions that promote equity, collective wellbeing, and the empowerment of communities who have been historically marginalised.

Shoohb Alassadi is a registered pharmacist and Associate Lecturer at the University of Sydney. She graduated with a Bachelor of Pharmacy from the University of Sydney in 2021 and has since focused on integrating Pharmaceutical Sciences with Pharmacy Practice. Shoohb has also gained valuable experience as a Public Health Officer, which provided her with insights into health systems and policy.Currently, Shoohb is completing her Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and teaches in the Pharmaceutical Science and Pharmacy Practice units. Her teaching approach emphasises the application of scientific knowledge in practical pharmacy settings, preparing students for their future roles as healthcare professionals.

A/Professor Kimberley Alexanderis a biomedical scientist and Director of Brain Cancer Research at the Chris O'Brien Lifehouse. She co-leads the Sydney Brain Tumour Program and has dedicated 18 years to improving outcomes for people with cancer. She has established one of the most comprehensive brain cancer biobanks in Australia, the Sydney Brain Tumour Bank, creating a vital resource that connects patients, clinicians, and researchers.Backed by more than $9.8 million in competitive grant funding, her team is pioneering new ways to detect, diagnose and monitor brain cancers, including innovative "blood fingerprinting" and"liquid gold"urine tests.

A/Prof Alexander is a passionate advocate for women in STEM, mentoring young scientists and championing diversity in research. Kim has built an extensive network of national and international collaborations that unite science, engineering, medicine, and community.Recognised for translating complex data into real-world impact, she connects people and ideas to ensure brain cancer research is collaborative, inclusive, and transformative.

Research Impact: I am a researcher interested in experimental and quasi-experimental methodologies, with a proven track record in advancing causal inference across economics, public health, and social policy. My work, published in top-tier journals like Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization [1] (see references list at the end), Journal of Law and Economics [2], and International Journal of Nursing Studies [4], demonstrates expertise in robust statistical design and evaluation, including innovative trials and quasi-experimental techniques. I also serve on the International Journal of Drug Policy editorial board. My contributions have gained extensive national media coverage, including major outlets such as 7News Melbourne, The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian, and numerous smaller publications, enhancing public discourse and policy debates.

Practice Translation: In [1], I used a robust quasi-experimental design (Judge instrumental variable) on NSW administrative data to show that fines for drug crimes are ineffective. This research has helped address issues of fine default by influencing key policy changes, including the NSW Work and Development Order (Section 99B, NSW Fines Act 1996), provisions for official cautions over penalty notices (Section 19A), and more flexible fine payment arrangements (Section 100). Overall, it has contributed to the expansion of rehabilitation-based alternatives to incarceration, supporting programs like MERIT in NSW. Additionally, [1] underpinned the HOPE project (see Section B4), shaping Australian Government policy on reducing imprisonment rates through insights from econometricians, criminologists, and public health specialists. In [2], I developed a triple-difference quasi-experimental design to provide the most comprehensive empirical evidence on Australia's 2001 heroin shortage, highlighting the benefits of drug law enforcement and laying a foundation for future policy change. My analysis of Melbourne's new injection site [6] has fueled public debate on their future in Australia, gaining coverage in 7News (including an interview), The Sydney Morning Herald, and Brisbane Times, and being cited in an Irish Government policy brief. Beyond my quasi-experimental work, I led the analysis of a large multi-site randomised trial [4], pioneering a methodological approach that is transforming nursing practices in Australian ICUs.

Public Debate: My research has contributed to significant public discussions on policy reform, influencing debates on taxation, drug policy, and economic development. For example, my study [7] on Australia's ready-to-drink beverage tax, featured in Austaxpolicy, challenged assumptions about its effectiveness in reducing adolescent drinking, prompting discussions on alternative measures like a minimum floor price on alcohol. Research [10], covered by The Guardian and Forbes, has informed the debate on drug reform, emphasising how changing public attitudes can create opportunities for harm reduction strategies that might otherwise face political resistance. Similarly, my study [5] critically reassesses a widely cited U.S. paper on naloxone effects, offering more robust estimates that strengthen the evidence base for future drug policy discussions. As a high-quality replication study, it also underscores my expertise in data integrity and methodological rigor-central to this proposal. Additionally, my work [8] on Australia's housing crisis, featured in VoxEU, Austaxpolicy, and The Conversation, and my research [9] on economic development during transition, highlighted by LSE's EUROPP, have shaped discussions on these pressing issues. The coverage of my research in these outlets reflects its relevance and impact in informing both academic and public discourse.

Unique Skillset: I am an expert in blending quasi-experimental and experimental methodologies, a rare skill set bridging disciplinary silos that often limit crossover due to career incentives and institutional barriers. Quasi-experimental methods identify causal effects without randomisation, uniquely handling messy data sets and settings-such as administrative data-complementing experimental approaches that rely on controlled trials, together addressing gaps in causal inference. My career across economics, criminology, and health exposed this divide, fueling my policy-driven research. Currently, I lead a team, including HDR student Alex Gallagher, developing Bayesian adaptive trials-pushing trial design frontiers. This builds on my CARE protocol [3], merging quasi-experimental rigor with experimental innovation [3, 4], uniquely equipping me for this proposal's integration of methodologies, delivering transformative advancements in experimentation methods.

Scholarships and Grants: My diverse academic background, with degrees from top institutions-the University of Paris Dauphine (France), Trinity College Dublin (Ireland), York University (Canada), and the University of Technology Sydney-uniquely equips me to foster global collaboration for this project. My education was fully funded by prestigious scholarships, including the Ross Milbourne Research Scholarship in Economics (2015), York Graduate Scholarship for Academic Excellence (2013), York International Tuition Fee Scholarship (2013), UTS Top Up Scholarship (2015), APR Intern Scholarship (2019), International Research Scholarship (2015), GSOM stipend for studying abroad (2008), and Best Second-Year Research Paper at GSOM (2006), totalling an approximate of AUD 150,000. In 2024, I also secured AUD 500,000 in partnership funding from the NSW Department of Community and Justice for economic analysis of incarceration policies using large linked administrative datasets. These competitive scholarships and grants underscore my research excellence and ability to secure substantial funding for high-impact projects.

Ten Career-Best Research Outputs

[1] Alexeev, S. & Weatherburn, D. (2022)Fines for illicit drug use do not prevent future crime: Evidence from randomly assigned judges.Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 200, 555-575. DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2022.06.015

Annotation: Quasi-experimental study informing policy & HOPE study. Altmetric: Top 25%; 1 policy paper.

[2] Alexeev, S. & Weatherburn, D. (2025)Dual-edged benefits of drug policing: A quarter century's lesson from a heroin drought.The Journal of Law and Economics [Accepted 22 Feb 2025]. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.14962743

Annotation: Recent study on drug prevention effects. Shows productivity, causal inference rigor, & quasi-experimental integration.

[3] Alexeev, S. & Morton, R. (2025)Cluster trials inference with CARE.Research Square [Preprint]. DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-5681319/v1

Annotation: Recent study showing quasi-experimental and experimental integration.

[4] Douglas, C., Alexeev, S., et al. (2024)Transforming nursing assessment in acute hospitals: A cluster randomised controlled trial (ENCORE trial).International Journal of Nursing Studies, 151, 104690. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2024.104690

Annotation: Large-scale trial. Shows experimental methods excellence. Altmetric: Top 5%; 4 news; 33 X posts.

[5] Alexeev, S. (2025)A closer look at Doleac and Mukherjee (2022) and effects of naloxone access laws on opioid ER admissions.Economic Inquiry [Accepted 17 Jan 2025]. DOI: 10.1111/ecin.13277

Annotation: Critique of naloxone study. Shows data integrity & methods rigor.

[6] Liang, J. & Alexeev, S. (2023)Harm reduction or amplification? The adverse impact of a supervised injection room on housing prices.Regional Science and Urban Economics, 98, 103856. DOI: 10.1016/j.regsciurbeco.2022.103856

Annotation: Injection sites' impact. Translation & method integration. Altmetric: Top 5%; media coverage; 1 policy; GS: 9 citations.

[7] Alexeev, S. & Weatherburn, D. (2021)The Australian ready-to-drink beverages tax missed its target age group.International Journal of Drug Policy, 95, 103399. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103399

Annotation: Evaluates alcohol tax inefficacy. Supports practice translation & quasi-experimental integration. GS: 6 citations; Mendeley: 31.

[8] Alexeev, S. (2020)The role of imputed rents in intergenerational income mobility in three countries.Journal of Housing Economics, 49, 101710. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhe.2020.101710

Annotation: Cross-country housing study sparking policy debate. Shows translation. Altmetric: Top 5%; 5 news; 31 X posts; GS: 11 citations.

[9] Alexeev, S. (2022) Technical change and wage premiums amongst skilled labour: Evidence from the economic transition.Economics of Transition and Institutional Change, 31(1), 189-216. DOI: 10.1111/ecot.12330

Annotation: Wage study in development. Shows methodological versatility. Altmetric: 1 blog; GS: 5 citations.

[10] Weatherburn, D., Alexeev, S., & Livingston, M. (2021)Changes in and correlates of Australian public attitudes toward illicit drug use.Drug and Alcohol Review, 41(5), 1029-1040. DOI: 10.1111/dar.13426

Annotation: Drug attitudes analysis. Shows understanding of policy feasibility. Altmetric: Top 5%; 4 news; 33 X posts; GS: 12 citations.

Melanie Aley (nee Hayes) is currently an Associate Professor and the Director of Oral Health and Bachelor of Oral Health Program Director in the Sydney School of Dentistry. She teaches evidence-based practice and professional practice, as well as personal and professional development modules for first-year students. She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK) and an Accredited University-wide Peer Reviewer of Teaching.

Prior to her current role, Mel was the the Head of Work Integrated Learning, in the School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health. Her role involved academic leadership of the WIL team and strategic planning, as well as teaching and coordinating professional placement units in Health Sciences. Previously she was involved in teaching Industry and Community Project Units, which provide senior students from all Faculties the opportunity to work together on real-world problems for industry partners.

Mel held academic positions at the University of Newcastle and the University of Melbourne, coordinating and teaching courses in the Bachelor of Oral Health programs, and supervising Honours and HDR students.

Education:

• 2021 Graduate Certificate in Positive Mental Health and Wellbeing in Education, Flinders University
• 2017 Masters of Education (Major: Career Development), Queensland University of Technology
• 2015 Graduate Certificate in Advanced Learning and Leadership, University of Melbourne
• 2014 Graduate Certificate in the Practice of Tertiary Teaching, University of Newcastle
• 2013 Doctor of Philosophy (Oral Health), University of Newcastle
• 2008 Bachelor of Health Science Honours (Class I), University of Newcastle
• 2007 Bachelor of Oral Health, University of Newcastle

Professor Jan-Willem Alffenaar is a hospital pharmacist and clinical pharmacologist and Chair of Clinical Pharmacy at the University of Sydney Pharmacy School and Westmead Hospital. He is theme lead ‘Antimicrobial resistance and novel therapies’ at the University of Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute (Sydney ID) and member of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee, the Drug Committee, Chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee and member of the Human Ethics Research Committee at Westmead Hospital. He is an internationally recognized expert in therapeutic drug monitoring and dose optimization of antimicrobial therapy. He is the Past President of the International Association of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring and Clinical Toxicology. He is a member of the WHO’s Technical Advisory Group on TB drug dosing. Professor Alffenaar led systematic reviews for WHO on various antimicrobial drugs informing the WHO TB treatment policy review meeting as well as the WHO Fungal Priority Pathogen List. His research is focussed on personalized dosing in routine care using innovative sampling techniques such as dried blood spot and point-of-care saliva testing.

Professor Jennifer Alison is a Professor of Respiratory Physiotherapy, Discipline of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney and Professor Allied Health (Chronic Diseases) Sydney Local Health District (SLHD) and Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney. Her role in SLHD is to enhance the research capacity of allied health clinicians. At the University, Prof Alison has taught into the cardiopulmonary physiotherapy units of study in the BAppSc (Physiotherapy) and Master of Physiotherapy programs and led the development of the clinical simulation unit in the Faculty of Health Sciences. Prof Alison was a clinical specialist physiotherapist (Level 6) in Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Department of Physiotherapy, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital until 2015. She leads the Living Well with Chronic Disease and Disability Research Group (https://www.sydney.edu.au/medicine-health/our-research/research-centres/living-well-with-chronic-disease-research-group.html) and the Respiratory and Cardiac Rehabilitation and Management (ResCaRM) Research Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney.

As part of her keen interest in health care, and particularly lung health, she is on the executive committee of NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation Respiratory Network (co-chair 2009-2015) and is Chair of the Australian Pulmonary Rehabilitation Network of the Lung Foundation Australia (LFA). Through this latter committee Prof Alison led the development of the web-based Pulmonary Rehabilitation Toolkit for clinicians and the writing of the Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Pulmonary Rehabilitation. She is Co-chair of the Respiratory Stream in Sydney Health Partners (an NHMRC Advanced Health and Research Translation Centre) and is Chair of the American Thoracic Society Pulmonary Rehabilitation Assembly Planning Committee.

Prof Alison has published 165 peer-reviewed journal articles in top ranked journals in her field (70 in the last 5 years); 1 book and 9 book chapters and over 195 peer-reviewed abstracts. She has been awarded 62 research grants as Chief Investigator, including 7 NHMRC Grants (3 as CIA). Professor Alison has supervised 22 PhD and Masters completions (18 as primary supervisor), 19 honours students (4 with University Medals) and currently supervises 8 PhD students and 2 honours students. Her PhD and Masters students have received many prestigious awards at national and international conferences.

Prof Alison’s research interests are in the area of exercise responses and exercise training in people with lung disease. Specifically, she has evaluated the impact of lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis and interstitial lung diseases, on exercise performance and the effects of interventions such as pulmonary rehabilitation, to improve exercise capacity and quality of life in people with these conditions. Her recent research interests have been to make the benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation available to a larger cohort of people with COPD by evaluating the effectiveness of walk training, water-based exercise, Tai Chi and telerehabilitation. The current NHMRC grant that she leads is evaluating the implementation of pulmonary rehabilitation within Aboriginal Medical Services to improve equity of access of Aboriginal people to culturally safe, best-practice management of chronic lung disease.