Section: Overview
Overview
Key publications
Research funding
Supervising & teaching
Career

Key details

Areas of expertise

  • Neuroscience
  • Obesity research
  • Learning and teaching
  • Active learning
  • Blended learning techniques & approaches

Available to supervise research students

Available for media queries

About Puspha Sinnayah

Associate Professor Puspha Sinnayah is a teaching and research focussed academic and Head of Teaching Quality with the First Year College and Research fellow with the Institute for Health and Sport (IHES) at Victoria University (VU).  She has extensive experience in curriculum design and innovation in blended and active learning strategies in physiology teaching. She leads the review of the First Year College Block units and impact of the VU Block Model on student outcomes and experience. She has a track record in neuroscience of appetite research and is highly cited in this field.  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 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.' Most recently in 2020, she was part of the recipient (team) Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT) -Programs that Enhance Learning in Curriculum Design and pedagogy Practice.

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

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.

doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-95633-2_4

Year Citation
2023 Sinnayah, P., Ambler, T., Kelly, K., Konjarski, L., Tangalakis, K., & Smallridge, A. (230101). Reviewing the literature: Collaborative professional learning for academics in higher education. Innovations in Education and Teaching International,

doi: 10.1080/14703297.2023.2227614

2022 Davidson, M., Mayer, M., Habib, A., Rashidi, N., Filippone, R. T., Fraser, S., Prakash, M. D., Sinnayah, P., Tangalakis, K., & Mathai, M. L. (221001). Methamphetamine Induces Systemic Inflammation and Anxiety: The Role of the Gut-Immune-Brain Axis. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23(19),

doi: 10.3390/ijms231911224

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 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).

doi: 10.30722/IJISME.29.03.002

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).

doi: 10.1152/ADVAN.00021.2020

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).
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).

doi: 10.1152/ADVAN.00199.2018

2018 Griggs, J. L., Mathai, M. L., & Sinnayah, P. (181201). Caralluma fimbriata extract activity involves the 5-HT2c receptor in PWS Snord116 deletion mouse model. Brain and Behavior, 8(12),

doi: 10.1002/brb3.1102

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.

The role of Caralluma Fimbriata extract and oleoylethanolamide on serotonin-2c in appetite regulation and nerve cell development
From: Gencor Pacific Limited
Other investigators: Prof Michael Mathai, Mr Venkata bala sai chaitanya Thunuguntla
For period: 2023-2026
$284,000

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

Completed supervision of research students at VU

No. of students Study level Role
2 PhD Associate supervisor

Completed supervision of research students at VU

Students & level Role
PhD (2) 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 - Oct 2019
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
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Dates Role & Department/Organisation
Jul 2015 -
Oct 2019
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
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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

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Professional memberships

  • Professional member, Australian Physiological Society
  • Professional member, Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia
  • Professional member, The Physiological Society