Tracy has been a full-time lecturer in Human Biology at UTas since 1991 and is currently mentor coordinator and 1st year coordinator for the School of Human Life Sciences. Tracy is also responsible for staff timetables in team-taught units in the school and is a first year advisor for the Bachelor of Health Science degree. Tracy is an active member of the M3H and M3L course advisory committees.
Career Summary
Tracy holds a BSc (Hons) majoring in animal physiology from The Flinders University of South Australia, and a Masters of Medical Science and Graduate Certificate in University Teaching and Learning, both from the University of Tasmania. Originally interested in comparative physiology research between marsupials and other mammals, Tracy’s interests have shifted to focus on the teaching perspective of academia, particularly in the early undergraduate years.
Research Interests
Tracy's initial scientific research interests centred around comparative physiology with a particular interest in aspects of metabolism and thermoregulation in marsupials. Tracy completed a MMedSc on circadian rhythms of behavioural and autonomic thermoregulation in two species of marsupials, investigating the effects of fever and hypoxia on thermoregulatory mechanisms in opossums and sugar gliders.
As a teaching academic, Tracy is interested in the research of aspects of tertiary teaching and learning, particularly in human biology, at the first year level. This involves determining ways to assist student learning, thereby encouraging first year students to embrace knowledge and become motivated learners. With the aid of two UniTas teaching development grants Tracy has developed a number of learning resources for first year Human Life Science students. Currently, Tracy is working with a number of colleagues to develop and implement game-based learning within 1st and 2nd year HLS units, and continues to be challenged to develop ways of motivating and engaging first year students
Research Areas:- Engaging a diverse cohort of students and improving learning outcomes, particularly in first year science-based units.
Read More
Teaching
Undergraduate teaching to students in biomedical science, health science, nursing and human movement degrees, particularly at the first and second year level. Tracy currently coordinates CXA171, CXA172 and CXA204.
Tracy lectures in the areas of biological chemistry, cell biology, basic metabolism, genetics and physiology and takes practicals and tutorials in these areas and anatomy, basic pharmacology and pathophysiology. Tracy is continually involved with extensive curriculum development in bioscience, cell biology and anatomy and physiology units in the School of Human Life Sciences.
UnitsFull Publication List
| 
