DrCraig Smith

Senior Lecturer, Pharmacology and Therapeutics

Faculty of Health/School of Medicine/Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation

  • Senior Lecturer, Pharmacology and Therapeutics
    Faculty of Health/School of Medicine/Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation
  • +61 3 524 79473 (Work)
  • Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus, 75 Pigdons Road, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216

TEACHING EXPERTISE

Dr Craig Smith is an experienced educator and educational leader whose teaching is closely informed by his internationally recognised research expertise in neuroscience and pharmacology. He is Unit Chair for two large third-year Biomedical Science units - HMM301 Principles of Pharmacology and HMM304 Therapeutic Development - and contributes teaching to the Doctor of Medicine program. Through these roles, he integrates contemporary research, real-world scientific examples, and evidence-based teaching practices into the curriculum, helping students develop the scientific knowledge and critical thinking skills required for careers in research, healthcare, and the biomedical sciences.

 

A hallmark of Dr Smith’s teaching is the integration of research and education. Drawing on his experience as an active researcher and research leader, he creates authentic learning experiences that expose students to the processes of scientific discovery, experimental design, and therapeutic development. He has supervised 8 Honours students within his own School of Medicine research laboratory. His teaching is guided by a commitment to student engagement, research-informed practice, and the development of graduates who are equipped to navigate rapidly evolving biomedical and healthcare environments.

 

Dr Smith's educational leadership is underpinned by his scholarly approach to teaching and learning. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), recognising his commitment to excellence in higher education, and has contributed to the medical education literature as corresponding author of a highly cited peer-reviewed publication. Through the integration of research, teaching, and educational scholarship, he seeks to foster deep learning, scientific curiosity, and student success.

TEACHING ACTIVITIES

  • UNIT CHAIR
    HMM301: Principles of Pharmacology
    2017 - present
  • UNIT CHAIR
    HMM304: Therapeutic Development
    2017 - present
  • UG, HONOURS OR MASTERS DEGREE SUPERVISION
    Honours student supervision
    8 students (2018 x 2; 2019 x 2; 2020; 2023 x 2; 2026)
  • CURRENT DOCTORAL SUPERVISION
    Role of Amygdala and Relaxin-3 in Mental and Physical Health
    Lara Voglsanger - School of Medicine
  • CURRENT DOCTORAL SUPERVISION
    Validating RXFP3 as a promising pharmacological target to treat stress-related mental illnesses
    Tanmayi Vinod Bhamburkar - School of Medicine
  • CURRENT DOCTORAL SUPERVISION
    Development of a Risk-factor based model for early detection of cognitive decline
    Manthi Pabasari Seneviratne - School of Medicine
  • CURRENT DOCTORAL SUPERVISION
    Characterizing the expression of RXFP3 within peripheral tissues of the mouse
    Maryam Dashti - School of Medicine
  • CURRENT DOCTORAL SUPERVISION
    Understanding the pathophysiology and molecular mechanism of Burkholderia strains
    Shrilaxmi Muralidhar Shastry - School of Medicine
  • CURRENT DOCTORAL SUPERVISION
    The antidepressant potential of relaxin-3 receptor agonists in rodents
    Saradindu Banerjee - School of Medicine
  • CURRENT DOCTORAL SUPERVISION
    Characterising host pathogen interactions in Neuromelioidosis caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei strains
    Varshith Muduguli Rudrabasavaraj - School of Medicine
  • CURRENT DOCTORAL SUPERVISION
    Harnessing Embryonic Bone Formation Process for Regenerative Engineering of Long Bones
    Gebreselassie Addisu Tilaye - School of Medicine
  • CURRENT DOCTORAL SUPERVISION
    Investigation of signalling mechanisms behind synapse formation using rabies virus.
    Justin Kane Foster - School of Medicine
  • CURRENT DOCTORAL SUPERVISION
    Relaxin-3?s involvement in depression-relevant behaviours and brain pathways
    Iqra Shoukat - School of Medicine
  • COMPLETED DOCTORAL SUPERVISION
    Investigating Cancer Progression and Targeted Therapeutics in High Grade Paediatric Astrocytoma
    Dona Ann Johns - School of Medicine - 2025
  • COMPLETED DOCTORAL SUPERVISION
    Anatomical and Functional Characterisation of Relaxin Family Peptide 3 Receptor
    Izel Eraslan - School of Medicine - 2024
  • COMPLETED DOCTORAL SUPERVISION
    Effect of Asthma on the Brain
    Eslam Muhammad Bastawy Ahmed - School of Medicine - 2024
  • COMPLETED DOCTORAL SUPERVISION
    Development of Natural Biopharmaceutical Functionalized Renewable Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering
    Aksha Dhawan - School of Medicine - 2025
  • COMPLETED MASTERS SUPERVISION
    The relaxin-3 system in the mouse brain and gut
    Lara Voglsanger - School of Medicine - 2021
  • COMPLETED MASTERS SUPERVISION
    Investigation of Molecular Mechanisms Behind Axonal Self-Destruction in Viral Infections
    Heather Irving - School of Medicine - 2026