Scopus Young Researchers

Monday, 22 September 2014

UON academics have featured prominently in the 2014 Scopus Young Researcher of the Year Awards, receiving honours in three of five categories.

Associate Professor David LubansAssociate Professor David Lubans received a Scopus Award in the Humanities and Social Sciences division, for his school-based research focusing on the physical activity and eating habits of children and adolescents.

For her work into child obesity, dietary assessment and food addiction, Dr Tracy Burrows won a Scopus Award in the Medicine and Medical Sciences category.

The research activities of both Associate Professor Lubans and Dr Burrows are conducted in conjunction with the Hunter Medical Research Institute's (HMRI) Cardiovascular Health Program.

Dr Tracy BurrowsThe prestigious Scopus Awards recognise outstanding young scientists and researchers in Australasia who have made significant contributions in their areas of research. Evaluated by expert panellists from Australia and New Zealand, applicants are judged on research output, impact and esteem.

A 2014 Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellow, Associate Professor Lubans* led the Supporting Children's Outcomes using Rewards, Exercise and Skills (SCORES) program, a year-long physical activity and movement skills intervention, conducted by a team of UON researchers. The SCORES project produced significant fitness benefits for more than 200 young Hunter school children, with its outcomes published in leading sports science journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.

Dr Burrows** has been instrumental in the delivery of more than 50 healthy lifestyle intervention programs which focus on improving diets of the community. Conducted with a variety of population groups, including Indigenous and low-income families, Dr Burrows' interventions have significantly improved the dietary intakes of individuals, and families. Her research has also explored factors affecting the success of family-based dietary interventions, and targeted parents with cardiovascular disease in order to improve the heart health of their children. Her recent research involves international collaborations which investigate food addiction.

UON Associate Professor Daniel Quevedo was also named runner-up in the Engineering and Technology section for his research into network control systems.

*Associate Professor Lubans is on the Research Management Committee and the Theme Lead for school-based research at the UON PRC in Physical Activity and Nutrition, as well as the organising committee for the National Physical Activity Conference to be held in Canberra, 2014. He is a member of the International Advisory Committee for the International Conference on Diet and Activity Methods programmed for Brisbane in 2015, and was the Australasian Child and Adolescent Obesity Research Network (ACAORN) Obesity Prevention Stream Co-Leader from 2010-2013.

** Dr Burrows is an advanced practising dietitian and member of the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA), current food and nutrition stream leader of the Australian Child and Adolescent Obesity Research Network (ACAORN), and Australia New Zealand Society for the study of Obesity (ANZOS). Dr Burrows has been involved in numerous conference organising committees and is also involved with UON's School Health Sciences Research Management Committee and the Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics Management Committee.

HMRI is a partnership between the University of Newcastle, Hunter New England Health and the community.

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