University of Tasmania, Australia

Dr Cassandra Saunders

Research Officer

Contact Details

General Responsibilities

Biography

Cassandra Saunders graduated with a Bachelor of Biomedical Science in 2003 and a Bachelor of Biomedical Science with Honours in 2004 at the University of Tasmania (UTAS). On completion of her undergraduate degrees, she then went on to complete postgraduate study with a Doctor of Philosophy in 2009, investigating the expression and function of two pain receptors, TRPV1 and TRPV2, in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells in both healthy individuals and those with end-stage kidney disease, also at UTAS. From 2009-2011, Cassandra worked as a lecturer and unit coordinator in the School of Human Life Sciences at UTAS, with a focus on Cell Biology and Biochemistry. She completed a Graduate Certificate in University Learning and Teaching at UTAS in 2011.

Cassandra's primary role within SERRU is the research and analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data related to students and education, and the provision of reports and discussion papers to the University's Senior Executive and Committees. Cassandra is currently involved in the development of a University Standards Framework and Online Tool that can be used to evaluate and benchmark current practices in order to facilitate continual improvement and better outcomes across the University and is a Research Assistant for an OLT Strategic Project which aims to prepare a national framework and evidence-based resources to support universities in shaping a coherent agenda over the 2013-2020 period to raise the professionalism of teaching in higher education.

Cassandra is also a Project Officer for the Higher Education Academy's International Inter-University Benchmarking of Academic Promotions Project in collaboration with the University of Wollongong (AUS), University of Leicester (UK) and University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne (UK).

Reports

Saunders, C and Booth, S. (Oct, 2012). The Development of a University Standards Framework at the University of Tasmania: Final Report

Saunders, C. (Aug, 2012). Orientation Review: Final Report

Saunders, C. (Aug, 2012). Semester Sequencing: Staff and Student Consultation Report

Saunders, C and Booth, S (July 2012). Review of Student Evaluation of Teaching and Learning (SETL) Policy and Procedure: Final Report

Saunders, C. (May/June, 2012). Review of SETL Policy and Procedure Consultation Paper

Saunders, C. (May, 2012). A Review of Current Policy and Practices in Student Evaluation Background Paper

Saunders, C. (May, 2012). Student Services and Amenities Fees (SSAF): Consultation Report

Saunders, C and Booth, S. (Mar, 2012). National Teaching Standards Framework (TSF) Project Discussion Paper

Saunders, C. (Mar, 2012). Review of Student Evaluation of Teaching and Learning (SETL) Policy and Procedure Discussion Paper

Saunders, C. (Feb, 2012). Australasian Survey of Student Engagement (AUSSE) 2011 Institution Report.

Publications

Journal Articles

Geraghty, DP, Ahuja, KDK, Pittaway, JK, Shing, C, Jacobson, GA, Jager, NGL, Jurkovic, S, Narkowicz, CK, Saunders, CIM, Ball, MJ, Pinkard, A, Vennayaram, RR and Adams, MJ. (2011). In vitro antioxidant, antiplatelet and anti-inflammatory activity of Carpobrotus rossii (pigface) extract. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, vol. 134, no. 1, pp. 97-103. (Full Text)

Heng, YJJ, Saunders, CIM, Kunde, DA and Geraghty, DP. (2011). TRPV1, NK1 receptor and substance P immunoreactivity and gene expression in the rat lumbosacral spinal cord and urinary bladder after systemic, low dose vanilloid administration. Regulatory Peptides, vol. 167, no. 2-3, pp. 250-258. (Full Text)

Saunders, CIM, Fassett, RG and Geraghty, DP. (2009). Up-regulation of TRPV1 in mononuclear cells of end-stage kidney disease patients increases susceptibility to N-arachidonoyl-dopamine (NADA)-induced cell death. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta â Molecular Basis of Disease, vol. 1792, no. 10, pp. 1019-1026. (Full Text)

Saunders, CIM, Kunde, DA, Crawford, A and Geraghty, DP. (2007). Expression of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) and 2 (TRPV2) in human peripheral blood. Molecular Immunology, vol. 44, no. 6, pp. 1429-35. (Full Text)

Conference Publications

Booth, S, Saunders, C and Yang, Y. (2012). Embedding a robust evaluative culture through policy review. Australasian Higher Education Evaluation Forum (AHEEF), 8^th-10^th October 2012, Rockhampton, p. 7. (Full Text)

Saunders, CIM, Fassett, RG and Geraghty, DP. (2009). Upregulation of TRPV1 in mononuclear cells of ESKD patients increases susceptibility to N-arachidonoyl-dopamine (NADA)-induced cell death. Nephrology, 7^th-9^th September 2009, Hobart, pp. A18.

Kunde, DA, Whitmore, B, Saunders, CIM and Geraghty, DP. (2008). Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) and TRPV2 mRNA expression and immunoreactivity on monocytes. Proceedings of AHMRC/ASCEPT, November 2008, Brisbane, p. 681.

Saunders, CIM, Kunde, DA, Fassett, RG and Geraghty, DP. (2008). Mononuclear cell transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) expression and susceptibility to N-arachidonoyl-dopamine (NADA)-induced cell death in end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients. Proceedings of AHMRC/ASCEPT, November 2008, Brisbane, p. 229.

Saunders, CIM, Kunde, DA, Fassett, RG and Geraghty, DP. (2007). Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) channel message and immunoreactivity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. Proceedings of ASCEPT-SEAWP, 2^nd-6^th December 2007, Adelaide, p. 66.

Heng, YJJ, Saunders, CIM, Kunde, DA and Geraghty, DP. (2006). Effect of systemic vanilloids on TRPV1, substance P and tachykinin (NK1) receptors in the rat lumbosacral spinal cord and urinary bladder. Proceedings of the Australian Health and Medical Research Congress, 26^th November-1^st December 2006, Melbourne, p. O86.

Saunders, CIM, Crawford, A, Kunde, DA and Geraghty, DP. (2005). Transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV) 1 and 2 channel message and immunoreactivity in human mononuclear cells. Proceedings of the Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists, 4^th-7^th December 2005, Melbourne, p. 87.

Saunders, CIM and Geraghty, DP. (2004). Substance P, tachykinin NK1 receptors and vanilloid receptors (TRPV1) in the rat urinary bladder and lumbosacral spinal cord: Effect of capsaicin administration. Proceedings of Advances in Urogenital Research, 12^th November 2004, Melbourne.