Human Biology and Physiology
Contents
Introduction
The discipline group Human Biology and Physiology is responsible for teaching and research in the fundamental sciences that inform contemporary knowledge of the working of the body in health and disease. It is no exaggeration to say that the great increase we have seen in life expectancy in Australia in the past 100 years is directly attributable to applications of the explosive growth of knowledge in these fundamental sciences. Welcome to the sometimes mysterious but always fascinating world of the body.
At this site you will find information on courses and units that address these sciences at all levels from basic to advanced. You will find that here at UNE, we are passionate and very experienced at presenting these courses and units in ways that recognise and honour the differing needs of students of the body. In the sciences, the arts and the professions of medicine, nursing and health science, we carefully tailor our courses and units to diverse career outcomes. At UNE unlike some other institutions we do not believe that one size fits all. We offer flexible delivery modes including internal and external but regardless of the mode of study we offer a relaxed friendly, responsive and collegial studying environment often missing at metropolitan campuses. Over the years our units and courses have ranked highly for student satisfaction and graduate career prospects are great.
Teaching portfolio
The discipline group is based mostly in the School of Science and Technology with some input from the School of Environmental and Rural Science (both schools in the Faculty of The Arts and Sciences) at the University of New England. Staff in the discipline are responsible for teaching fundamental aspects of anatomy, physiology, microbiology, haematology, immunology, histology, neurobiology, nutrition and pharmacology at second and third year level to students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Biomedical Science degrees as well as providing service teaching in these areas in the new Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Nursing and Bachelor of Arts (Human Biology) degrees. Most of the staff have established high profile international reputations in their subject areas and stay on the cutting edge through their research and scholarship.
The discipline is responsible for teaching a range of integrated health science units as part of professional programmes to nursing students ( Bachelor of Nursing, Bachelor of Nursing Studies) and to other students enrolled in complementary therapies and other paramedical and allied health disciplines ( Bachelor of Health Science, Bachelor of Applied Health etc.). This teaching services these degree programmes run from the Faculty of the Professions. The discipline is also responsible for teaching human bioscience units into streams of UNE's Bachelor of Arts degree. Staff in the discipline group have initiated a new major, the Bachelor of Arts (Human Biology) which is offered from 2008 as a single major or as part of a double major particularly but not exclusively to Arts students studying Psychology and Sociology. In addition staff have an input into the new forensic science unit (FSCI 102) in the Bachelor of Criminology degree.
Research portfolio
Staff in the discipline are actively engaged in research and publication addressing a range of areas of concern to human health, including cancer research, the neurobiology of behaviour, endocrinology, reproductive physiology, stress proteins and human ageing, free radicals and human ageing, and the impact of plant extracts (particularly but not exclusively those used in traditional Australian Aboriginal medicine) as bioactive modulators. As active researchers, staff always welcome postgraduate students to pursue honours, masters and doctoral programmes under their supervision.
The discipline enjoys the input of 13 academic staff and is well supported by general and technical staff. The discipline has good access to advanced equipment and infrastructure required in both teaching and research in the many areas under its purview.
Employment prospects
Students enrolled in units and programmes under the purview of the discipline have enjoyed and continue to enjoy excellent prospects for employment in a diverse range of satisfying and rewarding careers. Science students with good undergraduate records in Physiology often complete a fourth year science Honours degree and go on to enrol in Masters and PhD programmes which prepare them for an independent research career in academia, medical research institutes, hospitals or business. Science students with a straight science pass degree often go on to work as research assistants or as laboratory technicians in these areas. With further study at UNE or elsewhere, students enrolled in our science units may go on to pursue careers in medicine, dentistry, nursing, dietetics and nutrition, pharmacy, exercise science and forensic science to mention just a few. Some students decide to combine a science degree with a law degree and gain employment as, for example, patent lawyers in the lucrative biomedical business sphere. Other students combine a science degree with a teaching degree. Some students will use the knowledge gained in their degree to become presenters and popularisers of biomedical science in various media and as advisers to government and industry on policy directions in these areas.
Some important links
Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR)John Curtin School of Medical Research (JCSMR)
Australian Society of Medical Research
Australian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB)
Australian Physiological Society
Australian Microbiological Society
Human Genetics Society of Australasia
The Body websites
The John Tonge Centre of Forensic Science
Royal Australian College of Pathology
Australian Society for Biophysics
Australian Medical Council (AMC)
NSW Nurses and Midwives Registration Board
Academic Staff
Dr Gudrun DiebergDr Margaret Edgley (Honorary Fellow)
Dr Ian Godwin (School of Environmental and Rural Science)
A/Professor Graham Lloyd Jones (Convenor)
Professor Gisela Kaplan
A/Professor Jim McFarlane
Dr Lene Mikklessen (School of Environmental and Rural Science)
Dr Pierre Moens
Dr Gemma O'Brien
Emeritus Professor Lesley Rogers
Dr Tom van der Touw
Professor Ken Watson
Dr Peter Wilson
Contacts
For further information, please contact one of the following:
Convenor of Human Biology and PhysiologyA/Professor Graham Lloyd Jones
School of Science and Technology
University of New England
ARMIDALE NSW 2351
For enrolment please contact:
Student Centre