Key details
Areas of expertise
- Young people and education
- Young people and health
- Education - schools and youth transitions
- Survey research and methodology
- Eating behaviours
Available to supervise research students
Available for media queries
About Nina Van Dyke
Nina is a Policy Fellow and Senior Research Fellow at the Mitchell Institute. Her current work focuses on young people and the intersection between education and health.
Nina started her post-PhD career at the American Institutes for Research in California, working mainly in the area of education and children and young people, with a particular focus on those from vulnerable backgrounds. After moving to Melbourne in 2003, she conducted an evaluation of an education pilot program at the Brotherhood of St Laurence. She then moved to the topic of higher education at the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research. This was followed by a gradual shift to public health research, with senior positions at the Social Research Centre, headspace, Market Solutions, where she served as inaugural Director of the Social Research Group, and the Australian Red Cross Blood Service (now Lifeblood), where she headed up the Donor Behaviour group.
Current projects/areas of focus include:
- youth transitions from school to further education, employment, or training
- social mobility and breaking cycles of disadvantage
- bullying and cyber bullying in schools
- impact of COVID on the wellbeing of young people
- definition, operationalisation, and measurement of "wellbeing"
- eating behaviours
Nina also has particular interest and expertise in survey research and methodology.
Qualifications
- PhD, University of California, United States, 2000
- MA, University of California, United States
- BA (Hons), Stanford University, United States
Key publications
Commissioned research report (showing 1)
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2018 | Van, Dyke., Gemelli, C., Kruse, S., Thijsen, A., & Davison, T. (180101). Findings from Focus Groups: Intervention Materials. A supplementary report from DB17-02: Evaluation of tailored interventions to encourage return of deferred donors. |
Research funding for the past 5 years
Please note:
- Funding is ordered by the year the project commenced and may continue over several years.
- Funding amounts for contact research are not disclosed to maintain commercial confidentiality.
- The order of investigators is not indicative of the role they played in the research project.
2022
|
eSmart Schools Framework
Outcomes Evaluation Stage 2
From: The Alannah and Madeline Foundation
Other investigators: Dr Fiona Macdonald
For period: 2022-2022
|
Not disclosed |
2021
|
Education Innovation Hub
From: Victorian Higher Education Strategic Investment Fund
Other investigators: Ms Jacinta Ryan, Prof Anthony Watt, Dr Juliana Ryan, Dr Daniel Loton, Aspr Michael Spittle, Prof Andrew Smallridge, Dr Claire Brown
For period: 2021-2022
|
$8,841,000 |
Supervision of research students at VU
Available to supervise research students
Available for media queries
Teaching activities & experience
Nina was a Lecturer at the University of California, Santa Barbara and the University of California, Davis, in Political Science. She taught courses in Introduction to Quantitative Methods for Social Scientists, Public Opinion, and Political Psychology.
Key academic roles
| Dates | Role | Department / Organisation |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 2019 - Present |
Senior Research Fellow / Policy Fellow
|
Victoria University, Mitchell Institute |
| Dec 2016 - Jan 2019 |
Senior Research Fellow
|
Australian Red Cross Blood Service (Lifeblood) |
| May 2004 - Dec 2006 |
Research Fellow
|
Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research |
| Sep 1998 - Jun 2000 |
Lecturer
|
University of California |
| Dates | Role & Department/Organisation |
|---|---|
| Feb 2019 -
Present
|
Senior Research Fellow / Policy Fellow
Victoria University, Mitchell Institute |
| Dec 2016 -
Jan 2019
|
Senior Research Fellow
Australian Red Cross Blood Service (Lifeblood) |
| May 2004 -
Dec 2006
|
Research Fellow
Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research |
| Sep 1998 -
Jun 2000
|
Lecturer
University of California |
Key industry, community & government roles
| Dates | Role | Department/Organisation |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 2013 - Jun 2016 |
Director, Social Research Group
|
Market Solutions |
| Jan 2007 - Nov 2010 |
Senior Research Officer
|
headspace |
| Jun 2020 - Jun 2020 |
Principal Researcher
|
Social Research Centre |
| Jan 2004 - Dec 2004 |
Research Officer
|
The Brotherhood of St Laurence |
| Feb 2001 - Aug 2003 |
Research Fellow
|
American Institutes for Research |
| Dates | Role & Department/Organisation |
|---|---|
| Jun 2013 - Jun 2016 |
Director, Social Research Group
Market Solutions |
| Jan 2007 - Nov 2010 |
Senior Research Officer
headspace |
| Jun 2020 - Jun 2020 |
Principal Researcher
Social Research Centre |
| Jan 2004 - Dec 2004 |
Research Officer
The Brotherhood of St Laurence |
| Feb 2001 - Aug 2003 |
Research Fellow
American Institutes for Research |
Awards
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 2020 |
People's Choice Award - best presentation - The Research Society (formerly the Australian Market and Social Research Society (AMSRS)) |
| 1993 |
Edgar Lane Prize for Best PhD Paper in Public Opinion/ Interest Groups - University of California |
Professional memberships
- Academic Member, Australian Association for Research in Education
- Academic Member, American Association for Public Opinion Research
Media appearances
03rd June 2014
Sunday Nights with James O’Loghlin
ABC Radio - Sunday Nights with James O’Loghlin. (2014). Show on intuitive eating
18th June 2020
Is eating whatever you want the best thing for your body
Daily Life online magazine article
