| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2021 | Winchester, M., Klein, R., & Sinnayah, P. (210101). Block teaching and active learning improves academic outcomes for disadvantaged undergraduate groups. Issues in Educational Research, 31(4), (1330-1350). |
| 2021 | Sinnayah, P., & Jackson, D. (210101). ACSME 2020 Special Issue - Editorial. International Journal of Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education, 29(3), (1-1). |
| 2021 | Klein, R., Tomassoni, C., Rajaraman, G., Winchester, M., Eizenberg, N., & Sinnayah, P. (210101). First Year Student Perception and Experience of Online Topographical Anatomy Laboratory Classes using Zoom Technology during the COVID-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education, 29(3), (17-31). |
| 2021 | Sinnayah, P., Salcedo, A., & Rekhari, S. (210101). Reimagining physiology education with interactive content developed in H5P. Advances in Physiology Education, 45(1), (71-76). |
| 2019 | Sinnayah, P., Rathner, J. A., Loton, D., Klein, R., & Hartley, P. (190101). A combination of active learning strategies improves student academic outcomes in first-year paramedic bioscience. Advances in Physiology Education, 43(2), (233-240). |
| 2019 | Klein, R., Kelly, K., Sinnayah, P., & Winchester, M. (190101). The VU way: The effect of intensive block mode teaching on repeating students. International Journal of Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education, 27(9), (47-59). |
| 2019 | Klein, R., Sinnayah, P., Kelly, K., Winchester, M., Rajaraman, G., & Eizenberg, N. (190101). Utilising computer based learning to complement class teaching of gross anatomy. International Journal of Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education, 27(8), (10-25). |
Key details
Areas of expertise
- Neuroscience
- Obesity research
- Learning and teaching
- Active learning
Available to supervise research students
Available for media queries
About Puspha Sinnayah
Dr Puspha Sinnayah is a teaching focused academic, with the First Year College at Victoria University. She is also engaged presently in looking at neural pathways regulating appetite, in collaboration with Professor Andrew Lawrence's team at the Florey Institute.
She received her PhD in neuroscience from the Howard Florey Institute in 1999.
Her doctoral work, under the supervision of Prof Michael McKinley at the Howard Florey Institute, focused on investigating the role of the brain renin-angiotensin system (RAS) as a neurosignalling mechanism in fluid balance.
She then spent 10 years working in the United States (1999-2009), investigating the central neural mechanisms of homeostasis of appetite and cardiovascular control under the mentorship of Professor Robin Davisson and Professor Michael Cowley respectively.
On returning to Australia, she has focused on an academic career, building an extensive teaching portfolio and has taught and coordinated a range of subjects in physiology and pathophysiology, at Monash College, La Trobe University and Victoria University.
She was the recipient of the Vice Chancellor's citation for excellence in teaching and learning at Victoria University in 2016. In 2018, she received the Vice Chancellor's team award for programs that enhance learning. Dr Puspha Sinnayah received the Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT) citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning in 2018 for 'active learning strategies that improve student engagement in first year bioscience.'
Qualifications
- PhD, Howard Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Australia, 1999
- Bachelor of Science (Honours), Monash University, 1992
- Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Education, Victoria university, Australia, 2014
Key publications
Puspha has over 50 publications, with a selection listed here.
A more comprehensive list of Puspha's publications is available in the VU Research Repository.
Book chapter (showing 1)
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2022 | Witchel, H. J., Klein, R., Sinnayah, P., & Rathner, J. (220101). From Psychology Laboratory to Student Development: Untangling Momentary Engagement from Longer-Term Engagement in Bioscience Education (pp. 85-131). Springer International Publishing. |
Conference paper (showing 2)
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2019 | Downie, C., Klein, R., & Sinnayah, P. (191001). USING ONLINE TOOLS TO DEVELOP NUMERICAL COMPETENCE IN BLOCK MODE TEACHING ACSME. |
| 2019 | Gauci, S., Rajaraman, G., Klein, R., Kastis, K., Rekhari, S., & Sinnayah, P. (190101). Guided self- directed learning in intensive block mode improves student outcomes in first year Physiology Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia, Inc. |
Journal article (showing 7 of 32)
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.
2017
|
Evaluation of the capacity of Caralluma fimbriata extract to enhance satiety in Prader-Willi Syndrome and reactivate serotonin 5-HT2c regulation of appetite in the PWS-IC mouse
From: Gencor Pacific, College of Health and Biomedicine
Other investigators: Prof Michael Mathai
For period: 2017-2019
|
Not disclosed |
Supervision of research students at VU
Available to supervise research students
Available for media queries
Currently supervised research students at VU
| No. of students | Study level | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PhD | Associate supervisor |
Currently supervised research students at VU
| Students & level | Role |
|---|---|
| PhD (1) | Associate supervisor |
Completed supervision of research students at VU
| No. of students | Study level | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PhD | Associate supervisor |
Completed supervision of research students at VU
| Students & level | Role |
|---|---|
| PhD (1) | Associate supervisor |
Teaching activities & experience
Dr Puspha Sinnayah is currently a senior lecturer with the First Year College at Victoria University. She teaches into first year anatomy and physiology units.
Key academic roles
| Dates | Role | Department / Organisation |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 2015 - Present |
Senior Lecturer
|
Victoria University |
| Oct 2012 - Jul 2015 |
Lecturer B
|
Victoria University |
| Aug 2010 - Oct 2010 |
Sessional Instructor
|
La Trobe University |
| Feb 2010 - Jul 2010 |
Adjunct Lecturer
|
Monash College |
| Jun 2004 - Jul 2009 |
Staff Scientist
|
OHSU, Oregon National Primate Research Centre |
| Aug 1999 - May 2004 |
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
|
University of Iowa |
| Dates | Role & Department/Organisation |
|---|---|
| Jul 2015 -
Present
|
Senior Lecturer
Victoria University |
| Oct 2012 -
Jul 2015
|
Lecturer B
Victoria University |
| Aug 2010 -
Oct 2010
|
Sessional Instructor
La Trobe University |
| Feb 2010 -
Jul 2010
|
Adjunct Lecturer
Monash College |
| Jun 2004 -
Jul 2009
|
Staff Scientist
OHSU, Oregon National Primate Research Centre |
| Aug 1999 -
May 2004
|
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
University of Iowa |
Awards
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 2018 |
Vice-Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Learning and Teaching - Victoria University |
| 2018 |
Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning - Australian Award for University Teaching Program |
| 2017 |
College of Health and Biomedicine Team Award for Programs that Enhance Learning - Victoria University |
| 2016 |
Vice-Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Learning and Teaching - Victoria University |
| 2014 |
College of Health and Biomedicine Teaching Excellence Award - Victoria University |
Professional memberships
- Professional member, Australian Physiological Society
- Professional member, Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia
- Professional member, The Physiological Society
