ProfessorCatherine Bennett

As mentioned in my bio, I have developed and taught core methods subjects throughout my career. I led the introduction of the postgraduate program in infectious disease epidemiology at the University of Melbourne and have been fortunate enough to have this work recognised with University and National teaching excellence awards. I recently expanded the advanced epi unit for Deakin’s postgraduates and contributed to the development of our new Graduate Certificate in Epi Intelligence. These teaching programs dive into analytic epidemiology to fulfil the increased demand for real-world knowledge and application of epidemiological skill sets that have seen a resurgence since the beginning of the COVID pandemic. My team has also offered MPH projects in COVID-related research, for example see Shinae Tobin’s paper in my publication list.

My current PhD supervisions encompass candidates working in a variety of research areas, from quarantine as a public heath measure in pandemics, to oral cancer and diabetes in India to investigating the impacts of lifechanging events on bravery awards recipients. While their research interests differ, my approach to the supervision of HDR candidates focuses on being a mentor who will accompany and guide candidates on the journey of discovery (both within their chosen fields and within themselves as a researcher), help them to translate their knowledge into real-world, policy-relevant outputs, and assist them to become to the next generation of leaders in epidemiology. I regard supervision as a professional obligation and an incredibly important investment in individuals, institutions and in the advancement of public health more generally.