Allyson Holbrook

Professor Allyson Holbrook is a leading academic in the School of Education at the University of Newcastle, Australia, and holds the position of Assistant Dean (Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) in the College of Human and Social Futures. She is President of the Australian Association for Educational Research and a member of the ARC College of Experts. Her research focuses on doctoral education, higher-order thinking, research training, and the psychological and emotional challenges faced by PhD candidates.

• Education: PhD (La Trobe University), Master of Tertiary Education Management (University of Melbourne), Bachelor of Economics (La Trobe University)
• Key Roles: Director of the Centre for the Study of Research Training and Impact (SORTI), ARC Discovery Grant recipient

Research Interests: Transformative knowledge processes in higher education, doctoral supervision and assessment, research training policies, professional learning in STEM fields, and the impact of research on policy and practice. Her work emphasizes the paradigm shifts experienced by doctoral candidates and strategies to support their well-being through structured training and supervision.

Recent Articles Focus: Doctoral candidate wellbeing, oral defense mechanisms, examiner feedback dynamics, and interdisciplinary approaches to research training. Over 110 conference presentations and 70+ journal articles highlight her contributions to understanding doctoral education challenges globally.

Labs/Initiatives: Sorti Centre focuses on research training innovation, professional development pathways, and digital learning tools. Collaborations include international universities and organizations like the NSW Department of Education.