Keywords
Fields of Research (FoR)
Optometry, Vision science, Occupational and workplace health and safetySEO tags
Biography
I am an Optometrist and Educational Focus Academic at the School of Optometry and Vision Science (SOVS). I obtained my PhD degree at UNSW, Sydney.
I worked at University of La Salle- Bogota-Colombia as an Associate Professor for 18 years. Also, I was the Director of the Research Centre in Health and Vision (RCHV) and I formed part of the team that designed the curriculum for the first Master in Vision Science by research for Latin America and...view more
I am an Optometrist and Educational Focus Academic at the School of Optometry and Vision Science (SOVS). I obtained my PhD degree at UNSW, Sydney.
I worked at University of La Salle- Bogota-Colombia as an Associate Professor for 18 years. Also, I was the Director of the Research Centre in Health and Vision (RCHV) and I formed part of the team that designed the curriculum for the first Master in Vision Science by research for Latin America and I undertook the role of its first director. I have been a peer reviewer for tertiary quality of education programs in health sciences, recognized by the Colombian Ministry of Education.
My Grants
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National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Project Grant, awarded to Guillemin, G., Gupta, S. As an Associate Investigator: Jimenez, I.AU $1,063,797, AAP2015197, 2022-2024. Grant entitled: An integrated platform for the early diagnosis and treatment of biotoxin-related illnesses in Australia like Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome.
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La Salle University-Research Centre in Health and Vision (RCHV); Research grant awarded to: Jimenez, I., Rodriguez, M.F., Bernal, L., Molina, N & Khuu S.K. AUD $80,000, 2017. Grant entitled: Evaluation of human, animal and environmental health risks in agricultural production systems using agrochemicals.
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La Salle University and Tecnoquimicas S.A Company. Ballesteros, F., Rodriguez, M.F., & Jimenez, I., AUD $97,000, 2015. Grant entitled: Biocompatibility of one contact lenses multi-purpose solution with the ocular surface and the antimicrobial activity of two multi-purpose solutions.
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La Salle University, Research grant awarded to: Jimenez, I., Garzon, J., Rodriguez, M.F., & Khuu S.K. AUD $ 78,000, 2014. Grant entitled: Visual and ocular neurotoxicity in workers exposed to organic solvents.
My Qualifications
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PhD in Optometry, University of New South Wales (UNSW, Sydney) 2014
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Master in Business Administration (MBA), La Salle University, Bogota- Colombia 2003
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Graduate Diploma in Pedagogy, La Salle University, Bogota-Colombia 2004
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Graduate Diploma in Occupational Health Administration, Universidad de Bogota, Jorge Tadeo Lozano, Bogota-Colombia 1998
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Graduate Certificate in Human Talent Management, Colombian Chamber of Commerce, 2017
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Graduate Certificate in Curriculum, La Salle University, Bogota- Colombia 2008
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Graduate Certificate in Didactics Strategies: Course redesign through Cases Method, The Technological Institute of Monterrey (TEC)- Mexico,2005
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Bachelor of Optometry, La Salle University, Bogota- Colombia 1998
My Awards
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2018, La Salle University’s Research Vice- rectory, best researcher in the area of Health and Sciences.
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2017, La Salle University’s Academic Vice- rectory, best lecturer in the area of Health and Sciences.
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2015, La Salle University’s Rectory award, best Director of The Research Centre in Health and Vision (RCHV)
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2009-2014, recipient of Scholarship by Latin American Program of American Universities (LASPAU) in collaboration with the Science Ministry of Colombia & Universidad de La Salle (Colombia) to study a PhD Program in Australia
My Research Activities
My research is focused on the field of occupational health and vision. This research seeks to understand how to assess different work risks that can impact the eye and the visual system, particularly how emergent work hazards such as exposure to chemical substances and biological toxins could alter the eye and the visual function. This research focuses on the following areas: 1) To have an eye-visual battery test to early detect neurotoxicity; 2) To designed and include eye-vision battery test as a part of guidelines and policies to prevent neurotoxicity; 3) To promote self-care interventions to prevent eyes’ work-related injuries and illness.
In the teaching area my interest of research has been vision health education using different pedagogical approaches and didactics. This research analyses the learning styles of students and vision health professionals based on the VARK model, and the application of other adult learning methodologies in vision health education. My particular interest is to increase student engagement and learning by including game-like elements in learning, podcasting and movie case analysis.
My Research Supervision
Supervision keywords
Areas of supervision
Through research, teaching and the supervision of research students, it is my aim to raise awareness about how exposure to chemical substances and biotoxins at the workplace could cause early changes in the eye and visual function, how the eye and vision could be considering an important organ-sense to detect and prevent neurotoxicity. Also, the importance of self-care interventions to prevent eyes and vision’ work-related injuries and illness focus on patient education.
My Teaching
I have teaching expertise in different areas of Optometry and Vision Science such as: Optometry and Occupational Health, Public health, Visual Neuroscience, Optical Dispensing, Evolution and Vision, Administration and Marketing, Optical Enterprises Management. I am very comfortable teaching in these areas and have perspective regarding different international approaches to their teaching.
I am the course coordinator for:
Undergraduate- VISN 3111: Development and Ageing of the Visual System
Postgraduate- VISN 5531: Development and Ageing: Implications for Orientation and Mobility
Location
Level 2, Room 2.006A
North Wing, Rupert Myers Building