Professor Patsie Polly (SFHEA) is the Director and Fellow of the UNSW Scientia Education Academy, who is an Education Focussed Academic in the Department of Pathology within the School of Biomedical Sciences (SBMS), Faculty of Medicine & Health, UNSW Sydney.

Patsie is recognised nationally as a medical scientist, leading teacher and innovative education researcher. Patsie is a Scientia Education Fellow, Education Focussed Champion and Professor in Pathology, within the School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine & Health. Patsie has infused her extensive medical research experience into the classroom by applying the latest laboratory research practice. Patsie strategically integrates adaptive lessons, ePortfolio pedagogy and collaborative communities of practice to allow her students to learn these career-relevant skills. Her unique method blends virtual and real laboratory experiences to break new ground in engaging her students as researchers. Patsie has led reflective ePortfolio implementation to develop deep learning of teamwork and communication competencies in students, contextualising acquiring these skills for their future as medical researchers and health professionals. Patsie has been recognised with multiple institutional/national teaching awards, funding and invited institutional/national/international presentations and peer-reviewed research outputs in research communication, virtual laboratory lessons and ePortfolio use. Patsie is recognised internationally as a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy-UK. Patsie is a board member and research special interest group chair for the US ePortfolio organisation, AAEEBL.

Patsie has led the Cancer Cachexia Mechanisms Research Group within Mechanisms of Disease and Translational Research unit, SBMS since 2007. She has niche expertise in gene regulatory mechanisms underlying muscle wasting due to cancer cachexia and has developed gene and proteomic approaches for identifying biomarkers in muscle wasting. She is nationally and internationally recognised for molecular mechanisms of transcription factor-mediated gene regulation. Patsie has held three competitive international and national fellowships to conduct her research on gene regulation. She was an Alexander von Humboldt Fellow (Germany, 1997-1999), an NHMRC Howard Fellow (Sydney, 2000-2003) and a Japan Society for Promotion of Science (JSPS) Fellow (Japan, 2002). Patsie’s specific expertise is in unravelling molecular mechanisms that involve DNA-protein interactions and protein-protein interactions. In recognition of this, she is a sought-after collaborator (Cancer Cell; JNCI) and PhD supervisor.

Fellowships and Appointments

1997-1999        Alexander von Humboldt Fellow, Heinrich Heine Universitaet, Germany

2000-2002        NHMRC Howard Florey Fellow, Children’s Medical Research Institute, Sydney

2002                 JSPS Short Term Visiting Fellow, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Japan

2003-2004        Senior Research Scientist, Children’s Medical Research Institute, Sydney

2004-2009        Lecturer, Department of Pathology, School of Biomedical Sciences, UNSW

2007- Present    Senior Research Fellow Conjoint; USyd, NSW

2007- Present   Group Leader, Cancer Cachexia Mechanisms Research Group, Department of Pathology, SBMS, UNSW

2009-2015        Senior Lecturer, Department of Pathology, SoMS UNSW

2012-2015        Associate Professor (Conjoint), School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Queensland

2015-Present    Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, SBMS, UNSW Medicine

2014-2016        UNSW Academic Board Member, Faculty of Medicine Representative

2015-2016        Deputy Head, Department of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, UNSW Medicine, UNSW

2016-2017        UNSW Teaching Fellow

2017-2022        Education Focussed Academic Champion, Vice Chancellor’s Strategy Office, UNSW

2017-Present     Scientia Education Fellow

2018-Present    Senior Fellow Higher Education Academy UK

2019-Present    Professor 

2021-Present    Director, UNSW Scientia Education Academy

2024-Present    Nexus Fellow

Medical Research Expertise

I am a Professor (Department of Pathology) and lead the Cancer Cachexia Mechanisms Research Group, Mechanisms of Disease and Translational Research within SBMS with particular expertise in underlying gene regulatory mechanisms in muscle wasting due to cancer cachexia. I have developed gene and proteomic approaches for identifying biomarkers in skeletal muscle wasting and have extensive experience with molecular and cellular techniques required to study the molecular mechanisms of transcription factor-mediated gene regulation. My specific expertise is in unravelling molecular mechanisms that involve DNA-protein interactions using electrophorectic mobility shift assays and protein-protein interactions using GST-pull down assays. I have previously established research programs on molecular mechanisms of nuclear receptor and myogenic transcription factor action.

Medical Research:

Recognition: 7 awards as a PhD Scholar. 3 international and national fellowships. Alexander von Humboldt Fellow (AvH), Heinrich Heine Universität, Germany 1997-1999, NHMRC Howard Florey Fellow 2000-2003 Children’s Medical Research Institute, NSW and Short-Term Japan Society for Promotion of Science Fellow 2002, National Science Institute, Japan. I have delivered 23 invited presentations.

Publications: Published journal/reviews/book chapters and abstracts: 73 (1993-2019). Of those, 31 peer reviewed Journal articles, 13 peer reviewed review articles and book chapters, 29 peer reviewed published abstracts, 2 patents in 5 countries. I have an H index=19 with >1270 citations (Scopus); H index=21 with >1810 citations (Google Scholar).

Funding: $1.6 million (project grants [1992-2013]). $2.434 million (infrastructure grants, since 2008).

Learning and Teaching Expertise

I am the Convenor of 3^rd yr Pathology (PATH3205), SoMS Research Internship Co-ordinator (SOMS3001) and Co-convenor of 2nd yr Pathology (PATH2201/PATH2202) courses.

I have a national and international profile as an inspirational teacher who is an innovator in higher education. I have championed scholarly activities by creating multiple collaborative communities of practice that engage colleagues, tutors and students to enhance the learning and teaching experience at UNSW and beyond.

Education Research Projects:

Adaptive e-learning: Virtual Laboratories (v-Labs)

Microcredentialing Professional Skills and Graduate Attributes

Higher Education:

Recognition: 11 awards: 5 school, 2 faculty, 3 institutional, 1 national award and 4 nominations for national awards. UNSW Teaching Fellow (2016-2017). Scientia Education Fellow (2017-2021). I have delivered 80 invited institutional, national and international presentations.

Publications: Since 2008, I have generated 54 peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, international and national abstracts, and online resources on my scholarly approaches and education research. I have produced 6 course manuals, with ISBNs or ISSNs.

Funding: $5.16 million in higher education project grant funding, 2012-2019 to support development of eLearning resources.

International funding: 2019 Bavarian State Funding, Germany. P. Polly lead CI (Australia; UNSW), O.Friedrich lead CI (Germany; FAU); 2019 QuiS – FAU – International Collaborator; 2019-2020 DAAD Australian-German Exchange : ‘MyoRobot automated Biomechatronics Technology for Research, Higher Education and Teaching Using Virtual Skills Labs.’ P. Polly lead CI (Australia; UNSW), O.Friedrich lead CI (Germany; FAU)

Social Engagement, Global Impact, Leadership:

International: Chair, AAEEBL ePortfolio Research special interest group and AAEEBL Projects and Initiatives Standing Committee (both July 2017-present). Invited International Board Member, AAEEBL (March 2019-present). ePortfolios Australia, national conference organiser (2016 - present [Sydney host]-2018).

National: BEST Network lead (2012-2014); Alexander von Humboldt National Mentor (since 2014). ASMR Student Career Forum, Invited Speaker, 2014-2015; ASMR ‘Politics of Promotion’, Invited interview narrator and facilitator, 2017. ePortfolios Australia Committee member (since 2015).

UNSW: EF Academic Champion, (since 2017), Scientia Education Fellow (2017-2021), UNSW Teaching Fellow (2016-2017), UNSW Gene Technology Regulation Committee member (since 2008), UNSW Recognition of Education Excellence (2020-ongoing).

Faculty: Membership of multiple cross faculty promotion committees, as well as invited speaker of UNSW and Faculty of Medicine workshop activities for women. SoMS representative, cross-faculty BMedSci committee (since 2006), AWCAP Mentor (April 2020-ongoing).

SoMS: Honours co-ordinator and committee chair (2010-2013), Department of Pathology representative SoMS Honours committee (2008-2014) and SoMS teaching committee (2004-2016).

Deputy Head of Department Pathology, (2015-2016)

Committees

• SBMS Teaching Committee, Faculty of Medicine, 2004-Aug 2017
• BMedSc Committee, Faculty of Medicine/Faculty of Science, 2006-Present
• Developmental Cell Biology Group, NSW, 2007-2009
• Gene Technology Regulation Committee, UNSW, 2008-Present
• Department of Pathology Representative, SoMS Honours Committee, Faculty of Medicine, 2008-2013
• SoMS Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, 2010-2013
• SoMS Honours Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Chair 2010-2013
• Department of Pathology Representative, SoMS OHS Committee, Faculty of Medicine, June 2011-2015
• UNSW Academic Board, Faculty of Medicine Representative, Dec 2014-Dec 2016
• SoMS Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, 2010-2013
• SoMS Higher Degree Research Committee-2011-Present, Panel D Deputy Chair
• L&T May Forum, 2012 Working Party
• L&T May Forum, 2012 Table Facilitator
• Adaptive eLearning Forum, Organiser, Presenter and Panel Mediator, July 2012
• TCRN Education Working Group-Invited member, June 2013-Feb 2014
• ePortfolios Australia National Conference Organising Committee, 2016, 2017
• International AAEEBL Projects and Initiative Standing Committee, July 2017-present
• International AAEEBL Research Special Interest Group, Invited Chair, July 2017-present
• International AAEEBL Board Member, 2019-present