A/Prof Suzanne Munns ~ Associate Dean, Learning and Teaching; Associate Professor

My research program focuses on the integration of physiological systems, particularly the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, during relevant challenges such as respiratory disease, exercise, temperature alterations, digestion and pregnancy. The choice of my experimental model has been primarily reptilian, providing increased scope for investigating physiological integration, though my work has broad applicably to disease models and animal conservation.  Current projects investigate lung function and lung diseases particularily chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the predicted effects of climate change in physiological performance and disease that threaten animals of the tropics.

My research program involves investigations into:

• early diagnosis and treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• the effect of lung compression on pulmonary function
• respiratory mechanics during exercise and lung disease
• lung diffusion capacity and lung volume in echidnas
• the physiological effects of predicted climate change in reptilian models
• diseases effecting tropical reptiles (bouyancy disorders, emphysema, kidney failure, ranavirus)

Teaching

• BM5001: Professional Placement 1 Part 1 of 2 (Level 5; TSV)
• BM5002: Professional Placement 2 Part 2 of 2 (Level 5; TSV)
• BM5003: Clinical Measurements 1 Part 1 of 2 (Level 5; TSV)
• BM5004: Clinical Measurements 2 Part 2 of 2 (Level 5; TSV)
• MD1020: Introduction to Integrated Medical Studies Part 2 of 2 (Level 1; TSV)
• MD2011: Integrated Human System Pathophysiology Part 1 of 2 (Level 2; TSV)
• PP3101: Advanced and Integrated Physiology (Level 3; TSV)
• PP3251: Systemic Pathophysiology and Therapeutics (Level 3; TSV)
• PP5101: Advanced and Integrated Physiology (Level 5; TSV)
• PP5251: Systemic Pathophysiology and Therapeutics (Level 5; TSV)

Interests

Research

• Lung function during exercise and pregnancy
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Physiological effects of predicted climate change
• Herpetology and Comparative Physiology

Teaching

• Developing research skills in undergraduate students
• Determining the effectiveness of e-learning modalities in terms of assessment performance and student satisfaction
• Developing teaching techniques that scaffold threshold concepts throughout an integrated curriculum

Experience

• 2014 to present - Associate Professor, James Cook University
• 2014 to present - Associate Dean Learning and Teaching, James Cook University
• 2012 to present - Editorial Board, PLOS One
• 2010 to present - Biomedicine Teaching and Learning Commitee, James Cook University
• 2010 to present - Faculty MHMS Teaching and Learning Commitee, James Cook University
• 2009 to 2014 - Senior Lecturer, James Cook University
• 2005 to 2008 - Lecturer, James Cook University
• 2002 to 2005 - Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California, Irvine
• 2000 to 2001 - Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Adelaide
• 1996 to 2000 - PhD, University of Melbourne

Research Disciplines

• Physiology (0606)
• Curriculum and Pedagogy (1302)

Socio-Economic Objectives

• Expanding Knowledge (9701)
• Education and Training (9399)

Awards

• 2014 - Office for Learning and Teaching Australian Awards for University Teaching: Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning for "Demand Evidence and think critically: building research excellence in tomorrow's scientists"
• 2013 - Faculty Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning http://www.jcu.edu.au/learnandteach/public/groups/everyone/documents/awards/jcu_126766.pdf
• 2012 - James Cook University 3 Minute Thesis: Winner Established Research and Winner Overall
• 2009 - Faculty Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning
• 2009 - Australian Teaching and Learning Council Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning http://www.jcu.edu.au/learnandteach/public/groups/everyone/documents/advice/jcuprd_050561.pdf
• 2003 - Scholander Award, American Physiological Society

Memberships

• 2002 - American Physiological Society
• 2002 - Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology
• 1999 - Society for Experimental Biology
• 1995 - Australian Society for Comparative Physiology and Biochemistry

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

• Andrewartha S, Munns S and Edwards A (2016) Calibration of the HemoCue point-of-care analyser for determining haemoglobin concentration in a lizard and a fish. Conservation Physiology, 4 (1). pp. 1-6
• Munns S, Edwards A, Nicol S and Frappell P (2015) Pregnancy limits lung function during exercise and depresses metabolic rate in the skink Tiliqua nigrolutea. Journal of Experimental Biology, 218 (6). pp. 931-939
• Munns S (2013) Does podcasting increase allied health student performance in foundation physiology classes? International Journal of Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education, 21 (3). pp. 42-59
• Munns S (2013) Gestation increases the energetic cost of breathing in the lizard Tiliqua rugosa. Journal of Experimental Biology, 216 (2). pp. 171-180
• Schmitt T, Munns S, Adams L and Hicks J (2013) The use of spirometry to evaluate pulmonary function in olive ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) with positive buoyancy disorders. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, 44 (3). pp. 645-653
• La Fauce K, Ariel E, Munns S, Rush C and Owens L (2012) Influence of temperature and exposure time on the infectivity of Bohle iridovirus, a ranavirus. Aquaculture, 354-355. pp. 64-67
• Munns S, Owerkowics T, Andrewartha S and Frappell P (2012) The accessory role of the diaphragmaticus muscle in lung ventilation in the estuarine crocodile Crocodylus porosus. Journal of Experimental Biology, 215. pp. 845-852
• Axelsson M, Dang Q, Pitsillides K, Munns S, Hicks J and Kassab G (2007) A novel, fully implantable, multichannel biotelemetry system for measurement of blood flow, pressure, ECG, and temperature. Journal of Applied Physiology, 102 (3). pp. 1220-1228
• Munns S and Daniels C (2007) Breathing with big babies: ventilation and oxygen consumption during pregnancy in the lizard Tiliqua rugosa. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology, 80 (1). pp. 35-45
• Hartzler L, Munns S, Bennett A and Hicks J (2006) Metabolic and blood gas dependence on digestive state in the Savannah monitor lizard Varanus exanthematicus: an assessment of the alkaline tide. Journal of Experimental Biology, 209 (6). pp. 1052-1057

Conference Papers

• Konovalov E, Sealey R and Munns S (2017) A cohesive Student Support model provides integrated support to at risk students at a regional Australian university. Proceedings of the Students Transitions Achievement Retention and Success Conference. In: STARS 2017: Students Transitions Achievement Retention and Success Conference, 2-5 July 2017, Adelaide, SA, Australia
• Munns S and Chilton L (2014) Demand evidence and think critically: building research excellence in tomorrow's scientists. ,

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ResearchOnline@JCU stores 22+ research outputs authored by A/Prof Suzanne Munns from 2003 onwards.