Researcher profiles
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Do you want to nominate an EASS researcher for us to profile? Contact Tess van Straaten with details. |
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Sally Ferguson
Assistant Director, Centre for Sleep Research
The bottom of a mineshaft is the last place Sally Ferguson thought a degree in physiology would take her. But as a senior researcher at UniSA, she’s traded in her lab coat for a hard hat.
'I was sick of working with depressed rats in a traditional laboratory,' Sally laughs.
All joking aside, Sally is now making a real difference in Australia and abroad. As a sleep researcher, the down-to-earth 35-year-old travels all over the country to help improve safety.
'Dealing with the people the research directly applies to, which I hadn’t experienced in a basic lab, is so motivating,' Sally says. 'Here, I get to see who the questions I'm trying to answer affect and that's so rewarding.'
Sally says every day is different and she loves the adventure of not knowing where her work will take her next.
'The strangest place I've been is Groote Island off the coast of the Northern Territory and Queensland. It's amazing to go to places and see things few people get to experience.'
Young and energetic, Sally is part of a new breed of research scientists challenging the all too common perception that research is boring.
'Increasing, the vibe in research is a lot younger and more dynamic,' she explains. 'People are excited about what they're doing and that excitement just feeds creativity and understanding.'
While Sally's work helps contribute to government policy and how organizations and individuals operate on a daily basis, she also takes time out to enjoy the view.
'There are moments when I'm watching the sunset over extraordinarily large dump trucks in the Kimberley or the Pilbara and it's so amazing, I just think I have the best job in the world.'
Profile by Tess van Straaten
Margaret Peters, School of Communication and A/g Dean Research: Education
If you’re ever at a heavy metal concert in Berlin, don’t be surprised if you bump into UniSA researcher Margaret Peters.
“My sons were in hysterics at the thought of their mother hanging out at heavy metal gigs” Margaret says, laughing.
Berlin is where a research career at UniSA took Margaret to study marginalised youth and popular culture.
“Kids get so fascinated about why I was hanging around them, but if they see that you are researching because you are genuinely interested and involved, there’s a willingness to participate.”
London, Boston, Newcastle and Adelaide were also part of Margaret’s current research project, which began in 2003 and is her second project at UniSA. Young DJ’s and dance performers were given cameras as part of the research to record themselves while performing in underground clubs and street performances.
This gave kids the opportunity to express themselves naturally, and gave Margaret and UniSA research colleague Geri Bloustein the unique opportunity to find out how music and dance really made disadvantaged kids tick.
“You need to be a very curious and interested person to be a good researcher,” Margaret explains. “I love to know what other people are doing and how they are doing it.”
And that means getting out of the office and studying the world. Margaret’s research is very hands-on, and that’s just the way she likes it.
“My kind of research is that I want to do it - I want to get my hands dirty!”
“Research gives you the opportunity to engage with people who make you excited about what you don’t know and the possibility of finding out. My reward for being a researcher is that I can contribute to the stock of knowledge.”
Margaret’s enthusiasm and quest for knowledge proves that research is not just a job, but a calling.
“I spent weekend workshops in Berlin watching young women from all over Europe and Russia expressing themselves through break dancing – some wearing head scarves and some with heavily painted faces - what’s not a privilege about that?”
Profile by Silvana Arena
Peter Winwood
School of Psychology 
Are you feeling tired? Overworked? Burnt out? Dr. Peter Winwood says the quality of your down time could help pep you up on the job.
And Peter should know. After more than 25 years of a high stress career in dentistry, he ditched his drill for a psychology degree and a research position at UniSA to investigate work fatigue.
“What I’m interested in is what people do in their out-of-work time to overcome stress in the workplace,” Peter says. “People are stressed at work these days and it’s easy to become a ‘couch potato’, but sitting in front of the TV doesn’t decrease stress hormones.”
Peter began PhD studies at UniSA in 2002 and his research into work-related fatigue and recovery began a year later. His focus is how work stress can cause health problems, particularly heart conditions, as well as stress management techniques to overcome workplace pressures.
“When people become chronically stressed, cortisol (the body's natural stress-fighting hormone) doesn’t switch off when you go home,” he explains. “Uncontrolled cortisol can lead to depression and problems with heart function, behaviour and the immune system. And that means a stressed worker is more likely to be absent from work due to colds and flu.”
The relevance of Peter’s research for us all is what keeps him coming back each day.
“Research is about knowing and understanding a little bit more than before,” Peter says. “For workers, getting adequate recovery may mean the difference between maintaining a career and abandoning it.”
Profile by Silvana Areana
Sue Page
Stick and stones may break bones, but calling UniSA researcher Sue Page a bookworm is anything but an insult – it’s a real compliment.
As a children’s literature researcher and lecturer, Sue’s current area of interest is the representation of refugees and Muslim Australians in children’s books, a topic selected out of personal interest.
“Children’s literature takes a completely different slant on humanity – so rather than divide and rule, literature is more about understanding, tolerance and how we can make a healthy society for the future.”
New Zealand born, Sue has been part of the team at UniSA for three years, and lectures seven courses in children’s literature, from realism to fantasy writing.
Her energy reflects her interest in research, in particular how issues presented in books relate to the lives of everyday people.
“The things that interest us in research are the kinds of things that we take back to our students in lecture theatres. I love this field and am passionate about it.”
“Without imagination, which books foster in everybody, it’s difficult to deal with change, understand relationships and adapt to new situations. Being able to put yourself in another person’s shoes is fostered in literature in a way that it’s just not in anything else.”
But why choose to be a researcher in literature and not be just an avid reader? Sue wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Finding things out and the research that I do is quite closely related to the way people think.”
“It’s a special buzz to see where people have come from, where they are going to and how they are making their journey”
Profile by Silvana Arena
Michelle Tuckey
Got a manager that’s bringing you down? A senior member of staff who won’t get off your back? UniSA psychology researcher Michelle Tuckey is on the case.
With a PhD in tow, Michelle has been investigating bullying in the workplace since 2005. In particular, Michelle is looking at how bullying changes a person’s ability to work effectively as well as methods of prevention. But if you think a thicker skin is all a bullied person needs, think again. Michelle says there are many effects of bullying, which can cause a person to work inefficiently.
“Workplace bullying has a very big impact on a person’s psychological and physical health, and their ability to perform at work. If a person is forced to work longer, harder hours under these pressures, then memory and overall performance may suffer. This research could help improve the lives of employees and volunteers.”
“It’s a really important problem that needs to be solved.”
And a widespread problem, too. Michelle estimates that 5 to 7 per cent of people are bullied on average once every three weeks, while regular weekly and fortnightly bullying affects up to 20 per cent of workers.
Alarmingly, one in two people will experience workplace bullying throughout
their working lives.
“If we can work out how to prevent bullying in the workplace, then we can stop
it having a huge effect on people’s lives”
Part of Michelle’s research investigates the well-being of frontline police officers, and her work has taken her out of the office and into the back of a police car – for research purposes, of course.
“I rode around in the back of a police car for a day, just to get a feel for how police officers do their job”
Michelle finds research interesting for other reasons, too. Trying to find real solutions to real problems is what gives her a big buzz.
“I like working out what the problem is, and finding ways to solve them. What’s great about doing research at UniSA is that students can get involved.”
“Receiving data back from research and getting an insight into something important – that’s the really exciting part.”
Profile by Silvana Arena