Rate My Professor Heather Verkade

Heather Verkade is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology within the School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Melbourne, part of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences. She earned a Bachelor of Science with honours in Genetics and a PhD in cell cycle genetics at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute, both from the University of Melbourne. Her postdoctoral research focused on zebrafish developmental genetics at the University of California, San Francisco, and the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research. Verkade began her academic career at Monash University in 2007, where she developed a strong interest in teaching both in laboratories and classrooms. In 2014, she joined the University of Melbourne as a Senior Lecturer and Teaching Specialist in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, advancing to Associate Professor in 2019 in recognition of her excellence in teaching, education research, scholarship, and leadership in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.

Verkade's research centers on enhancing undergraduate student outcomes in biomedical sciences, particularly in biochemistry and molecular biology. Her projects address student misconceptions through active learning strategies, promote student-centered learning in large classes, support engagement with primary scientific literature, and provide career mentoring for academic staff in education scholarship. She served as Director of Learning and Teaching for the School of Biomedical Sciences for four years until 2024, fostering curriculum improvements centered on student success, integrating junior teaching staff into committees, and promoting consistency across departments. Additionally, she coordinates the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major and directs digital learning initiatives. Notable awards include the 2017 Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences Award for Learning and Teaching Achievement ($5000), the 2017 ASBMB Shimadzu Education Award ($2500), a 2018 MDHS Seed Grant ($4920), and a 2012 Faculty of Science Education Grant ($8000). Key publications encompass 'Misconceptions as a trigger for enhancing student learning in higher education: A handbook for educators' (2017), 'Undergraduate science students’ attitudes toward and approaches to scientific reading and writing' (Journal of College Science Teaching, 2016), 'Uptake of optional activities leads to improved performance in a biomedical sciences class' (Journal of Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 2015), and 'Training final year students in data presentation skills with an iterative report-feedback cycle' (Journal of Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 2015). Her contributions have profoundly shaped pedagogical practices in biomedical education.