Dr Donnalee Taylor - Research Portfolio

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About

Dr Donnalee Taylor is a behavioural scientist with research expertise in cognition (learning, memory and temperament), psychology, behaviour, wellbeing, hope theory and student support. In her role as a senior lecturer, professional education and development and first year experience coordinator she has implemented new support initiatives and created iAspire Student Support resources based on learning and transition pedagogy to improve student academic development.

Her grant proposals have attracted funding from government, industry and private funding bodies for rapid dissemination of results that have contributed to the human and animal cognition, health, behaviour and welfare bodies of knowledge that has helped facilitate real-word changes. Dr Taylor’s research includes refereed journal publications, peer reviewed national and international conference publications, guest speaker presentations and multi-media publications.

Teaching

TV1002: Veterinary Professional Life 2 (Level 1; TSV)
TV1003: Animal Structure and Function (Level 1; TSV)
TV1101: Veterinary Professional Life 1 (Level 1; TSV)
TV2001: Integrated Animal Structure and Function 1 (Level 2; TSV)
TV2002: Integrated Animal Structure and Function 2 (Level 2; TSV)
TV3002: Transitions from Health to Disease 2 (Level 3; TSV)
TV4001: Veterinary Clinical Sciences 1 (Level 4; TSV)
TV4002: Veterinary Clinical Sciences 2 (Level 4; TSV)
TV5211: Veterinary Professional and Clinical Practice 1/3 (Level 5; TSV)
TV5212: Veterinary Professional and Clinical Practice 2/3 (Level 5; TSV)
TV5213: Veterinary Professional and Clinical Practice 3/3 (Level 5; TSV)

Interests

Professional

Creator of iAspire Student Support resources in addition to creating and delivering unique student engagement and networking activities.
Secondary Teachers Professional Development, Joint Curriculum and University Science Tasters for Student Preparedness for University – Providing professional development and capacity building for secondary teachers to build their confidence in addressing the ‘crisis’ in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. Higher Education Participation and Partnership Program (HEPPP B) funded 2014 ($23,071).

Research

Hope Theory similar to Positive Psychology assesses levels of hope as well as agency and pathway thoughts. The importance of pathway thoughts in pursuing implicit or explicit goals provides a target for mental cognitive sequences.
Capacity and Resilience building: The components of capacity building tends to include a conception of collective development that taps into the abilities of individuals, communities and/or organizations to address perceived inherent obstacles. Capacity building focused on a partnership approach to increase self-sustaining abilities of individuals to recognize, analyse and effectively solve challenges while utilizing their existing and new found knowledge.
Student support and transition through first year and second year known as the sophomore slump: Research and Development of the first year experience at university and how instructional theory tools can improve students’ wellbeing and academic success in second and third year. SSAF Competitive Grant, Research and Development of the first year experience at university and how instructional theory tools can improve students’ wellbeing and academic success in second and third year. Funded in 2014, 2015 & 2016 ($10,200).

Teaching

Teaching and Measuring Hope (Hope Theory): An individual’s pathways and agency thinking are learned over the course of one’s child hood and later casts an affective tone on goal pursuit processes in general and are either broken or reinforced by subsequent success in goal pursuit.
Mental Health & Wellbeing: The importance of providing knowledge and training in mental health and wellbeing to build capacity in mental health knowledge within their professional training will build their resilience and normalize mental health. The key is to capacity build our students to better care for themselves and improve helping behaviours for others.

Experience

2016 to present - Senior Lecturer, Professional Education & Development, James Cook University (Townsville, OLD)
2016 to present - Veterinary Science Learning and Teaching Committee, James Cook University (Townsville, OLD)
2013 to present - First Year Experience Coordinator, James Cook University (Townsville QLD)
2013 to 2017 - Lecturer, James Cook University (Townsville QLD)
2014 to 2015 - Graduate Certificate Education, James Cook University (Townsville QLD)
2012 to 2013 - Research Associate, Faculty of Medicine & Psychiatry, University of Sydney (Concord NSW)
2011 - Lecturer, Charles Sturt University (Wagga Wagga NSW)
2008 to 2011 - PhD Cognition and Behavioural Science, University of New England (Armidale NSW)
1997 to 2002 - Market Manager, Corporate Furniture Manufactures (Canada)

Research Disciplines

Socio-Economic Objectives

Honours

Awards

2017 - Women & Leadership Australia Award for Advanced Leadership Program (NEELI) National Excellence in Educational Leadership Initiative.
2010 - Keith & Dorothy Mackay Travel Award used for international research travel.
2010 - OhS University of New England Travel Award used for international research travel.

Fellowships

2008 to 2011 - Cooperative Research Centre for Sheep Industry Innovate (Sheep CRC)
2008 to 2011 - Australian Wool Education Trust (AWET)

Memberships

2013 to 2015 - Higher Education Research & Development Society of Australia (HERDSA)
2009 to 2015 - Australasian Society for the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASSAB)
2009 to 2015 - International Society for Applied Ethology (ISAE)

Other

2015 - The SP2 "Your JCU Subject and Teaching" survey highlighted 100% subject content satisfaction for the BM1003 subject that Dr Taylor coordinated and taught, along with 95% student satisfaction for her teaching content and style with 5% undecided.
2013 to 2015 - Student recognition for her contribution to student transition and support over the years. Announced at the Biomedical and Medical Laboratory Science (BMML) Society end of year dinner and graduation celebration 2015.

Publications

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

Taylor D and Harrison G (2018) Supporting biomedical students struggling with second-choice-syndrome to thrive rather than just survive first year. Journal of College Student Retention, 20 (2). pp. 176-196
Taylor D (2017) A chronicle of just-in-time information: the secret to building first year university student wellbeing and resilience based on a three year initiative. Student Success, 8 (1). pp. 35-47
Holland C and Taylor D (2016) Was that said with a smile?: factors influencing effective online negotiations. Australasian Dispute Resolution Journal, 27. pp. 103-110
Dobos R, Taylor D, Trotter M, McCorkell B, Schneider D and Hinch G (2015) Characterising activities of free-ranging Merino ewes before, during and after lambing from GNSS data. Small Ruminant Research, 131. pp. 12-16
Taylor D, Schneider D, Brown W, Price I, Trotter M, Lamb D and Hinch G (2011) GPS observation of shelter utilisation by Merino ewes. Animal Production Science, 51 (8). pp. 724-737
Taylor D, Price I, Brown W and Hinch G (2011) Effects of Merino flock size, paddock complexity and time of day on response to trained leaders. Small Ruminant Research, 97 (1-3). pp. 35-40
Taylor D, Brown W, Price I and Hinch G (2010) Training Merino sheep to respond to visual and auditory cues. Animal Production Science, 50 (6). pp. 541-545

Other research outputs

Taylor D (2016) Biomedicine Freaky Friday Student Support Initiatives: engaging students socially and academically. [Digital recording]
Taylor D (2016) iAspire student support: an introduction to statistics. [monograph]
Taylor D (2016) iAspire Student Support: exam tips. [monograph]
Taylor D (2016) iAspire Student Support: maximize your exam potential. [monograph]
Taylor D (2016) iAspire Student Support: what is your preferred learning style? [monograph]

More: ResearchOnline@JCU stores 27+ research outputs authored by Dr Donnalee Taylor from 2008 onwards.

Supervision

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current