Dr Sabrina Syed

Dr Sabrina Syed

Honorary Lecturer

School of Education

Career Summary

Biography

Dr. Sabrina Syed, also known as Sabrina S. Shejuty, is a bilingual feminist writer with over a decade of experience in academia. As a qualified secondary teacher in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, Sabrina has taught at several universities since 2012 and worked in secondary schools both in Australia and internationally. She recently completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Mathematics education and joined Charles Sturt University in 2025.

Dr. Syed's educational journey began in Dhaka at BCIC School for primary education, followed by Agrani School for her secondary years. She completed her higher secondary education at Holy Cross College and subsequently enrolled in Dhaka University. Pursuing her Honours at the Institute of Educational Research (IER) and later her master's degree, she embarked on a career as a lecturer at a private university in Dhaka for over five years. Her decision to pursue higher education was influenced by a challenging experience of workplace harassment after returning from maternity leave. In 2017, driven by her aspirations, Dr. Syed moved to Newcastle, Australia, to pursue her dream of attaining a PhD. The picturesque coastal charm of Newcastle captivated her, prompting her to establish a new life for herself and her family. 

Driven by a commitment to address issues faced by women, Dr. Syed focused her doctoral research on women's experiences in higher education, exploring intersectional disadvantages impacting their academic pursuits in Australian universities. Despite the challenges, she continued her activism for women, contributing creative articles to WomenChapter, a well-known online news portal. She expanded her reach by publishing English articles in newspapers such as Greenleft and Newcastle Herald, alongside academic contributions to journals and book chapters. 

In summary, Dr. Syed is an emerging early career researcher in the field of education, known for her dedication to advancing equity in education and championing inclusivity in learning environments and broader society. Through her innovative research, she addresses pressing issues such as intersectional discrimination, progressive pedagogy, and inclusive educational policies, collaborating with policymakers and educators to drive positive change. Her commitment to ensuring equal opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds has already begun to make waves, attracting attention through her insightful contributions to academia and social discourse.


Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Newcastle
  • Bachelor of Education (Honours), University of Dhaka - Bangladesh
  • Master of Education, University of Dhaka - Bangladesh

Keywords

  • Educational Psychology
  • Higher Education
  • Identity Development
  • Intersectionality
  • Professional Identity
  • Teacher Professional Development

Languages

  • Bengali (Mother)
  • English (Fluent)

Fields of Research

Code Description Percentage
390203 Sociology of education 30
390305 Professional education and training 40
390307 Teacher education and professional development of educators 30

Professional Experience

Academic appointment

Dates Title Organisation / Department
6/1/2025 -  Lecturer Charles Sturt University
School of Education
Australia
16/1/2023 - 31/12/2024 Post-Doctoral Researcher College of Human and Social Futures | University of Newcastle
Australia

Professional appointment

Dates Title Organisation / Department
7/12/2018 - 18/12/2020 Research Assistant

  • ·         Observed and assessed classes using the Quality Teaching model during regular lessons at recruited primary and secondary school sites.
  • ·         Facilitated student survey completion.

Teachers and Teaching Research Centre
Australia
1/8/2016 - 15/10/2017 Teacher’s Trainer (Primary and Secondary)

  • Conducted sessions for primary and secondary school educators and school leaders to introduce core skills, which include emphasising digital literacy, critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, student leadership, collaboration, communication, and citizenship.
  • Contributed to the implementation of baseline evaluation surveys and end-of-course assessments.

British Council, Dhaka
Bangladesh
1/8/2012 - 15/10/2017 Lecturer

Coordinated certificate programs for the newly appointed in-service teachers. 
Coordinated students’ advising program. 
Prepared and delivered lectures and conducted workshops for teaching-learning lessons. 
Participated in setting the course, curriculum revision, and academic planning. 
Initiated internal research projects and undertook consultancies on students' development and progress, teaching process  improvement, learning materials and teaching aid effectiveness, and other relevant teaching-learning issues.

BRAC University
Teaching and Learning Centre
Bangladesh

Teaching appointment

Dates Title Organisation / Department
1/6/2021 - 31/12/2023 Teacher

  • Teaching, marking, and conducting online sessions for CSSOC302A: Research skills development.
  • Preparing course materials and publishing resources for students via Moodle.
  • Supervise research proposals.

TAFE NSW
Australia
1/1/2020 - 31/12/2024 Sessional Academic Staff College of Human and Social Futures | University of Newcastle
Australia
30/1/2018 - 13/4/2018 Volunteer Tutor (Secondary)

  • Assisted teachers in the classroom.
  • Provided support to the students in the Learning Hub

Learning HUB, Newcastle High School, Hamilton, NSW
Australia
1/1/2009 - 30/6/2009 Trainee Teacher (Secondary)

  • Planned and delivered Science and Mathematics lessons.
  • Designed and evaluated assessment tasks.

Dhanmondi High School,Dhaka
Science and Mathematics
Bangladesh

Awards

Award

Year Award
2020 Student Engagement Award 2020
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Newcastle
2020 Research Excellence Award 2020
The University of Newcastle

Teaching

Code Course Role Duration
EDUC2102 Educational Psychology
The University of Newcastle
Tutor 1/1/2020 - 31/12/2024
EDUC6010 Advanced Studies in Education
University of Newcastle
Course coordinator 1/1/2024 - 31/12/2024
EDUC1103 Schooling, Identity and Society
University of Newcastle
Tutor 1/1/2020 - 31/12/2023
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Publications

For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.


Chapter (1 outputs)

Year Citation Altmetrics Link
2023 Syed S, Lee I-F, 'An intersectional understanding of international female doctoral students' experiences: A narrative inquiry', International Graduate and Doctoral Student Experience: Navigating Relationship, Resources, and Resilience, Star Scholars Network, USA 10-22 (2023) [B1]
Co-authors I-Fang Lee

Conference (5 outputs)

Year Citation Altmetrics Link
2024 Syed S, 'Intersectional (Dis)Advantages of International Female Higher Degree by Research (HDR) Students in Australia', Proceedings of the 2024 AERA Annual Meeting (2024)
DOI 10.3102/2094682
2024 Prieto-Rodriguez E, Syed S, 'Technology-enhanced Mathematics Retraining for Quality Teaching.', Newcastle, Australia (2024)
Co-authors Elena Prieto
2023 Syed S, 'Accessing technologies while transiting to independent researchers: International doctoral students' narratives', Melbourn, Australia (2023)
2022 Syed S, 'Stories within stories: An Intersectional understanding of international female doctoral students' experiences', Melbourne, Australia (2022)
2020 Syed S, 'An Intersectional Understanding of International Female Doctoral Students' Narratives', BCE Official Conference Proceedings
DOI 10.22492/issn.2435-9467.2020.13
Show 2 more conferences

Journal article (1 outputs)

Year Citation Altmetrics Link
2023 Syed S, 'The Intercultural Values and Social Connectedness of International Female Doctoral Students in Australia', Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies in Education, 12 131-145 (2023) [C1]

Thesis / Dissertation (1 outputs)

Year Citation Altmetrics Link
2022 Syed S, Exploring international female doctoral students' narratives through the lenses of intersectionality and feminist standpoint theory, University of Newcastle (2022)
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Grants and Funding

Summary

Number of grants 3
Total funding $1,120,690

Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.


20231 grants / $5,000

Global Strategic Partnership Grant 2023$5,000

Funding body: University of Newcastle Global Engagement and Partnerships (UON Global)

Funding body University of Newcastle Global Engagement and Partnerships (UON Global)
Scheme Global Strategic Partnership Travel Grant with ASEAN-based PhD Alumni
Role Lead
Funding Start 2023
Funding Finish 2023
GNo
Type Of Funding Internal
Category INTE
UON N

20221 grants / $1,000

HERDSA Grant 2022$1,000

Funding body: The Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA)

Funding body The Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA)
Scheme Conference Grant
Role Lead
Funding Start 2022
Funding Finish 2022
GNo
Type Of Funding External
Category EXTE
UON N

20171 grants / $1,114,690

UNIPRS Central Scholarship$1,114,690

Funding body: UNIPRS & UNRS Central Scholarship

Funding body UNIPRS & UNRS Central Scholarship
Scheme UNIPRS & UNRS Central Scholarship
Role Lead
Funding Start 2017
Funding Finish 2022
GNo
Type Of Funding Not Known
Category UNKN
UON N
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Research Supervision

Number of supervisions

Completed0
Current1

Current Supervision

Commenced Level of Study Research Title Program Supervisor Type
2023 PhD Check Before You Click: How Do We Help Mathematics Teachers Become Critical Consumers of Online Education Resources? PhD (Education), College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle Co-Supervisor
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Research Projects

Analysis of Factors Influencing Major Selection by Students at Universities in Australia and Vietnam 2024 - 2025


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Dr Sabrina Syed

Position

Honorary Lecturer
School of Education
School of Education
College of Human and Social Futures

Contact Details

Email sabrina.syed@newcastle.edu.au
Phone 0240550773
Mobile 0469024686
Links Personal webpage
Facebook
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