Sabrina Syed

Sabrina Syed is a researcher at Charles Sturt University (CSU), with a strong focus on educational equity, intersectionality, and the experiences of international female doctoral students. She holds a PhD from the University of Newcastle and advanced degrees in Education from the University of Dhaka.

Education:

• PhD, University of Newcastle (2022)
• Master of Education in Educational Psychology, University of Dhaka
• Bachelor of Education in Physics, Chemistry & Maths, University of Dhaka

Her research centers on narrative inquiry and feminist standpoint theory, particularly examining the intersectional challenges faced by international female Higher Degree by Research (HDR) students in Australia. She also investigates out-of-field mathematics teaching and strategies for improving teacher preparation and professional development. Her work emphasizes lived experience, identity, and social justice in educational contexts.

The recent publications show a clear trend toward qualitative, narrative-based studies in higher education, with strong emphasis on intersectionality, student discourse, and systemic barriers. Her research spans teacher retraining programs, doctoral student transitions, and the role of technology in research independence, primarily within the Australian academic landscape.

Scientific Awards and Grants:

• General Scholarship (2009)
• Global Strategic Partnership Grant (2023)
• HERDSA 2022 Travel Grant
• Research Excellence Award (2020)
• Student Engagement Award (2020)

Sabrina is actively involved in academic and community engagement, including HDR supervision training, public lectures, and panel discussions on migration, belonging, and women of colour empowerment. She has advocated for policy changes benefiting international students and contributed media commentary on political and social issues in Bangladesh. While formal grants are limited in description, her successful grant acquisitions indicate active research funding.

She participates in research networks focused on student experience, intersectionality, and educational innovation, contributing to both scholarly and public discourse through conferences and media engagement.