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About Me

I am an Associate Professor and Head of Course for Nutrition at CQUniversity’s School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences. As a former National Heart Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow, I have contributed to the prevention of hypertension and cardiovascular health through innovative dietary, lifestyle, and health literacy interventions. My research focuses on health behaviours, chronic disease management, gut health, and the links between physical and mental health, with a Field-Weighted Citation Impact exceeding 2.5.

As the leader of the HealthWise research group at CQUniversity’s Appleton Institute, I work with my team to empower consumers to make informed health decisions and combat health misinformation in diet, physical activity, and sleep. I am passionate about integrating research into teaching and training the next generation of nutritionists and researchers dedicated to improving health and well-being.

General

Universities Studied At

Griffith University, Australia (PhD)
Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia (Master)
Shahid Beheshti Medical University, Iran (Bachelor)

Universities Worked At

Griffith University

Awards

Senior Fellow Advance Higher Education (SFHEA), 2025
Queensland Young Tall Poppy Award, 2022
CQUniversity Student Voice Commendation 2021
Postdoctoral Fellowship, National Heart Foundation of Australia, 2020
CQUniversity Vice Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Researchers Commendation & Dean’s Award for Outstanding Early Career Research in 2020

Media Citations

The Conversation: Health Check: Should healthy people take probiotic supplements?
The Conversation: Why am I bloated? Here are some possibilities to consider
The Conversation: Here’s why having chocolate can make you feel great or a bit sick
Insider: A nutrition expert said probiotics can be helpful, but not everyone needs them

Professional Memberships

Committee member of:

Nutrition Society of Australia QLD
Queensland Cardiovascular Research Network
The Psychological wellbeing and Lifestyle in University Students (PLUS) Research Network;
Queensland Government Digital Health Research Committee

Recent Research Projects

10,000 Steps Queensland - ActiveKIT Project

From: 10/01/2023 to 31/12/2023
Grant: Competitive Grant (Category 2: Other Public Sector)
Funding Schemes: ActiveKit 2022
Total Funding: $100,000.00

Reducing salt intake to improve hypertension using highly personalized web-based advice

From: 01/04/2020 to 31/03/2023
Grant: Competitive Grant (Category 1: Aust Competitive Grant)
Funding Schemes: Heart Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship for funding commencing in 2020
Total Funding: $153,850.00

Review of healthy eating and food literacy programs for children and parents of young children

From: 12/07/2021 to 31/12/2021
Grant: Contract Research (Category 3: Industry and Other)
Funding Schemes: Contract Research - Centre for Rural & Regional Indigenous Health - Food Literacy Program - 2021
Total Funding: $14,849.00

Research and Feasibility Study into the redevelopment of Old Blackall Hospital

From: 29/07/2019 to 31/10/2021
Grant: Contract Research (Category 3: Industry and Other)
Funding Schemes: Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia (Queensland Section) Limited
Total Funding: $650,000.00

Research Supervision

Accreditation

I am currently accredited for supervision in the following:

3210 Nutrition and Dietetics
1117 Public Health and Health Services

Current Capacity

I am currently available to supervise more research candidates

Current Supervision

Doctor of Philosophy

Personalised web-based dietary feedback to improve diabetes self-management: DiabED project

Principal Supervisor

Master of Research

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health among South Asian migrants living in greater Sydney, New South Wales (NSW), Australia

Associate Supervisor

Research Interests

Health Sciences

Allied health and rehabilitation science - Allied health and rehabilitation science not elsewhere classified
Gut health, prebiotics and probiotics for physical and mental health.

Health Sciences

Public health - Preventative health care
Personalised online feedback-based interventions to reduce salt intake, improve diet and lifestyle, and prevent and manage chronic diseases.

Health Sciences

Public health - Public health not elsewhere classified
Combating health misinformation and improve health literacy in diet, physical activity and sleep.

Health Sciences

Public health - Social determinants of health
Factors influencing individual’s food choice and dietary behaviour.