August 2025

Learning Anatomy Differently: Innovative Approaches to Support Neurodivergent Students

Primary Supervisor: Dr Claudia M. Diaz
Co-Supervisor: Dr Adam Brett
Location: All campuses/Online, Albury
Keywords: innovation, autism spectrum disorder, ADHD,
Tourette’s, dyslexia, cPTSD, OCD
Type of Project: Quantitative and qualitative
Project availability: Until December, 2026

Australian Universities are currently attracting large and extremely diverse student populations, including an increase in neurodivergent students. Neurodivergent individuals have brain functioning and processing styles that are different from what is considered typical or neurotypical. Neurodivergence includes a variety of divergences in the brain which includes, but is not limited to, Autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, Tourette’s, dyslexia, dyspraxia, auditory processing disorder, cPTSD, OCD and sensory processing disorder. It is estimated that 15-20% of the world’s population is neurodivergent. In Australia it is estimated that 15-20% of students, 11% of Australian employees are neurodivergent. In Australia neurodivergent people are not as likely to attend university compared to neurotypical people and they face many challenges such as sensory overload, social and emotional challenges, academic difficulties and often a lack of appropriate support.

This research project aims to investigate the experiences and perceptions of neurodivergent students using innovative approaches to learn anatomy, including assessment, in several subjects using surveys (quantitative), focus groups and interviews (qualitative). Furthermore, we will explore approaches to enhance the peer interactions between neurodivergent and neurotypical students for better recognition and understanding of neurodivergence to help create a more inclusive learning environment and support systems for these individuals. This project will promote acceptance and understanding of neurological differences that are not necessarily deficits, and that may present as strengths using these different ways of learning.

Interested? Start the conversation here by contacting Dr Claudia M. Diaz

The role of malaria in physiological response to co-occurring diseases in Southeast Asia’s past and present

Primary Supervisor: Dr Melandri Vlok
Location: Orange
Keywords: bioarchaeology, palaeoepidemiology, paleopathology, infectious disease, pathophysiology, immune response

Project availability: Semester 30, 2026, Semester 60, 2026, Semester 30, 2027

Synopsis:

This project aims to review archaeological and modern data sets to explore interactions between malaria and other tropically significant infectious diseases. The research will focus on reconstructing epidemiological patterns in the present and the past, as well as physiological explanations for differential disease severity of malaria and co-occurring infectious diseases.

Interested? Start the conversation here by contacting Dr Melandri Vlok mvlok@csu.edu.au

Reconstructing infant palaeodemography using proteomic approaches

Primary Supervisor: Dr Melandri Vlok
Location: Orange
Keywords: biochemistry, demography, mortality, bioarchaeology, proteomics

Project availability: Semester 60, 2026, Semester 30, 2027

Synopsis:

Southeast Asian prehistoric archaeological human skeletal assemblages typically have excellent infant preservation. Biological sex is well known to factor into infant mortality with males presenting a higher risk of death in early life. Traditional osteological techniques, however, cannot determine the biological sex of archaeological infants as the methods rely on the development of secondary sex characteristics that emerge during puberty. This project applies the use of proteomic methods on determining sex from an early agricultural site in mainland Southeast Asia to assess whether this sex bias in mortality is represented in ancient cemetery populations.

Interested? Start the conversation here by contacting Dr Melandri Vlok mvlok@csu.edu.au

Puberty and stress during the agricultural transition of Southeast Asia

Primary Supervisor:Dr Melandri Vlok
Location: Orange
Keywords: bioarchaeology, endocrinology, growth and development, osteology

Project availability: Semester 60, 2026, Semester 30, 2027

Synopsis:

Assessment of pubertal timing and bone age has been well established in the field of bioarchaeology for a decade. Southeast Asian prehistoric cemetery assemblages represent some of the richest preservation of children and young adults in the world. By combining pre-documented literature with new analysis, this project aims to assess changes in the pubertal timings over the agricultural transition in Mainland Southeast Asia. The project will consider how pubertal timings may have been affected by changes in environment, physiological stress, societal changes and shifts in fertility.

Interested? Start the conversation here by contacting Dr Melandri Vlok mvlok@csu.edu.au

Bone marrow conversion and reconversion timings in childhood anaemia and thalassaemia in ancient Southeast Asia

Primary Supervisor: Dr Melandri Vlok
Location: Orange
Keywords: bioarchaeology, anaemia, osteology, palaeopathology, genetic disease

Project availability: Semester 30, 2026, Semester 60, 2026, Semester 30, 2027

Synopsis:

This project aims to review the timings of the development of skeletal pathological features that have been attributed to anaemia. Specifically, this project will review the potential role of various forms of anaemia in causing skeletal pathology, biomechanical and age-related factors that interplay with lesion development, and the potential role of marrow reconversion in delaying marrow conversion windows. The timing of skeletal lesion development in bioarchaeological cases of generalized anaemia and thalassemia in ancient Southeast Asia will be re-evaluated.

Interested? Start the conversation here by contacting Dr Melandri Vlok mvlok@csu.edu.au

Micronutrient Deficiency during the Metal Period Philippines

Primary Supervisor: Dr Melandri Vlok
Location: Orange
Keywords: bioarchaeology, nutritional disease

Project availability: Semester 30, 2026, Semester 60, 2026, Semester 30, 2027

Synopsis:

In 2025, an individual with disability from the Metal Period in the Philippines (~2000 years ago) was identified to have suffered from scurvy. This project aims to assess whether scurvy was unique to this individual’s circumstances or whether the condition was ubiquitous in the community. The project will involve paleopathological diagnosis and assessment of the impacts of mortality related to the disease in a cemetery sample.

Interested? Start the conversation here by contacting Dr Melandri Vlok mvlok@csu.edu.au

School of Dentistry & Medical Sciences 2025. Charles Sturt University is an Australian University, TEQSA Provider Identification: PRV12018. Charles Sturt University CRICOS Provider 00005F.