2018 Dean’s Awards for Excellence
Monash Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (MNHS) celebrated outstanding staff performance at the Dean’s Awards for Excellence earlier this month.
Nominations were received in number of categories, including excellence in Research, Education, Diversity and Inclusion, Safety, and Administration. Five members of the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute (BDI) received four of the 13 awards presented by Professor Christina Mitchell, Dean, MNHS on Monday 13 August.
Ms Dorota Ferens, of the Department of Pharmacology, received the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Safety for her significant contributions to occupational health and safety within the Department, on top of her role as a research assistant.
Professor Rob Widdop, Head of the Department, nominated Ms Ferens for the award.
“Dorota has transformed our department’s thinking of OH&S, to the point where we are now more proactive in identifying OH&S issues before they escalate into potential hazards,” Professor Widdop said.
Professor Widdop also nominated Dr Barbara Kemp-Harper and Associate Professor Liz Davis from the Department of Pharmacology, who jointly received the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Education (Teaching Excellence), for their collaboration on teaching initiatives aimed at increasing student engagement in pharmacology.
One of their initiatives was to introduce team teaching, drawing on their individual content strengths to model the integration and application of pharmacological concepts. Dr Kemp-Harper and Associate Professor Davis have a strong commitment to student-centred teaching and work together to develop learning activities that encourage students to take greater ownership of their own learning. Central to this is a focus on the development of employability skills and the design of assessments that draw on these skills.
Professor John Bertram, from the Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, received the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Education (Honours Supervision) for his outstanding contributions to teaching and research over the last 20 years.
Professor Benjamin Kile, Head of the Department, nominated Professor Bertram for the award.
“I think it’s fair to say that you won’t find a more open, generous, insightful, patient and avuncular Honours supervisor than John Bertram. His students adore him, respect him, and value his judgement,” Professor Kile said.
“That so many of his students have gone on to careers in science and medicine is a wonderful reflection of John’s commitment over the years,” he said.
Professor Jane Black, also from the Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, received the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research (Postgraduate Research Supervision) for her commitment to mentoring young scientists.
Providing PhD students with a strong research framework in a positive working environment, Professor Black considers that the supervisor/student relationship is key in ensuring that a student gets the most out of their PhD experience.
Professor Bertram supported Professor Black’s nomination, highlighting her as a model for student supervisors.
“Jane Black has an outstanding track record both in teaching and research… much of Jane’s research is conducted by students within her laboratory. As a result, the students are conducting research of the highest standard and are often first authors on many of the key publications coming from her group,” Professor Bertram said.
Congratulations to Ms Ferens, Dr Kemp-Harper, Associate Professor Davis and Professors Bertram and Black on their achievement, and to all award recipients.
About the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute
Committed to making the discoveries that will relieve the future burden of disease, the newly established Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute at Monash University brings together more than 120 internationally-renowned research teams. Our researchers are supported by world-class technology and infrastructure, and partner with industry, clinicians and researchers internationally to enhance lives through discovery.