CRADLE Fellowship Appointments 2016

CRADLE is pleased to announce the three recipients of CRADLE Fellowships in 2016: Dr Matthew Dunn, Associate Professor Wendy Sutherland-Smith and Dr Bhavain Sridharan.

Dr Dunn, a recipient in December 2016, is a senior lecturer in public health at Deakin's School of Health and Social Development. He is also a conjoint senior lecturer at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre at UNSW. Under his Fellowship, Dr Dunn will be investigating the prevalence of and motivations for using cognitive enhancement substances amongst Australian student populations. He will also seek to further explore the policy and regulatory environments and responses within Australian institutions.

Dr Dunn has a strong, internationally-recognised research profile. His research is broadly focused on substance abuse and harm, and includes such issues as the use and harms associated with performance- and image-enhancing drugs. His recent research interests include the use of 'study drugs', such as prescription stimulants and wakefulness-promoting substances like Modafinil. His research project at CRADLE will extend his research in this area and will focus on the policy and regulatory environments and responses within Australian universities towards these substances.

Dr Dunn also has a strong interest in the scholarship of teaching and learning, and is interested in the student transition into university, constructive alignment, and blended learning. He has received citations for excellence in teaching and research.

Also a recipient in December 2016, Associate Professor Wendy Sutherland-Smith is Director of Teaching and Learning (Pedagogy and Quality Improvement) at Deakin's School of Psychology. Under her Fellowship at CRADLE she will continue her research into contract cheating in university assessment, focusing on redesign strategies and digital technology's potential to assist with detection and deterrence.

Associate Professor Sutherland-Smith has been teaching in higher education for over 25 years. She has a strong research interest in curriculum and assessment design that not only improves the learning experience for students, but enhances the teaching (and marking) experience for staff. Her research interests are nestled in the area of justice and equity and include academic identity, academic integrity, and policies and practices to ensure optimum learning.

In 2013, Associate Professor Sutherland-Smith, along with Hannah Bereznicki and Sharon Horwood, received an Office for Teaching and Learning (OLT) Citation for her excellent contribution to student learning in the area of curriculum design and innovation. She also received the prestigious WJC Banks Award for Distinguished Contribution of Teaching and Learning at Deakin University with the same team (2012).

Dr Bhavani Sridharan was named as the second recipient of a CRADLE Fellowship in September 2016. Dr Sridharan is a lecturer in higher education at Deakin's Faculty of Business and Law. Her current research projects include the areas of rubrics, authentic assessment, assurance of learning, feedback, and quality indications of learning and teaching.

Under her Fellowship, Dr Sridharan will work on four key areas of research: Assurance of learning (AOL) and assessment; feedback and closing the loop; peer assessment and teamwork skills; and rubrics.