Chandnee Ramkissoon

Dr Chandnee Ramkissoon

Postdoctoral Research Fellow (A) (with PhD)

School of Public Health

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD (as Co-Supervisor) - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Adelaide Exposure Science and HealthDr Chandnee Ramkissoon is an early career academic in Occupational Hygiene and Health at the Adelaide Exposure Science and Health (AESH) Unit, in the School of Public Health. She leads high-quality evidence-based research to explore the pathways of exposure to environmental and occupational hazards, ways to control them, and their impact on human health. Much of her research involves both laboratory analytical methods and, importantly, ‘real-world’ field-based study design, to approach a research question. 

Dr Ramkissoon is among the few researchers nationally to lead a program of work designed at preventing occupational lung disease in dust-generating industries. The global re-emergence of severe lung disease in the manufacturing (engineered stone) industry has informed her research directions in the last few years. Her research exploring the exposure science and toxicological profile of hazardous dust (e.g. respirable crystalline silica) in this occupation has directly contributed to national policy changes on the use of engineered stones in Australia, which is essential to reduce the burden of disease in this occupational group. Dr Ramkisson leads effective multidisciplinary research collaborations and industry engagement across numerous research projects and grant applications on this topic.

Dr Chandnee Ramkissoon is a multidisciplinary scientist, having graduated with an MSci Environmental Science from the University of Nottingham, UK in 2015. By 2016, she was competitively awarded a joint Adelaide-Nottingham PhD scholarship, which made her part of the first cohort of the Adelaide-Nottingham Alliance PhD scholars. Her interdisciplinary research skills and collaborations are reflected in her current role. 

Current research opportunities for students:

Research Project 1

Title: Preventing occupational lung disease: development of education materials to improve health literacy in at-risk workers

Project Description:

Australia is currently grappling with the re-emergence of severe lung disease (silicosis) in dust-generating industries. This is likely due to the over-exposure of workers to high volumes of respirable crystalline silica (RCS) dust in their workplace. Targeted silicosis prevention education and awareness are essential if Australia is to make progress toward eliminating silicosis. The aim of this project is to develop educational and awareness resources (including online materials, infographics, fact sheets, etc) to contribute to ongoing campaigns aimed to reduce worker exposure to hazardous materials in the workplace.

Research Project 2

Title: Validating the performance of air purification techniques: managing the human health consequences of smoke exposure in buildings.

Project Description:

This project runs in collaboration with researchers at the Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI). This new collaboration will generate pilot findings on the efficacy of air purification strategies to reduce occupant exposure to bushfire-related smoke compounds in indoor settings. This project has a focus on smoke taint compounds in the wine industry and brings together Exposure Scientists with demonstrated expertise in particle characterisation and public health, and Analytical Chemists and Wine Scientists specialising in identifying and analysing bushfire-related smoke compounds. The outcomes from this research will inform future study design to optimise the role of air purification techniques in building systems to reduce airborne contaminant exposure and improve indoor air quality, as well as provide the foundation for engaging industry partners and developing collaborations for grant applications.

Contact me for other opportunities

  • Appointments
    Date Position Institution name
    2020 - ongoing Postdoctoral Research Fellow University of Adelaide
    2016 - 2014 PhD candidate University of Adelaide and University of Nottingham (UK)

  • Awards and Achievements
    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    2016 Scholarship Beacon of Enlightenment PhD Scholarship University of Adelaide Australia -

  • Language Competencies
    Language Competency
    Creoles and pidgins French based Can read, write and speak
    English Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review
    French Can read, write, speak and understand spoken
    Hindi Can read, speak and understand spoken

  • Education
    Date Institution name Country Title
    2016 - 2020 University of Adelaide Australia PhD
    2011 - 2015 University of Nottingham United Kingdom MSci Environmental Science

2023      $240,000 iCARE Dust Diseases Board Postdoctoral Fellowship 

2023      $6,700 Australian Academy of Science Rod Rickards Travel Fellowship

2023      $55,581 Safe Work Australia Contract Research 

2023      $27,000 AWRI-UoA Collaborative Research Fund

2023      $9,305 Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences Early Grant Development Support Scheme, University of Adelaide

2022      $2,500 Workplace Health Without Borders (WHWB). 5-day course on the Basic Principles of Occupational Hygiene

2021      $5,996 Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Research Infrastructure Grant, University of Adelaide

2023                   Sessional teaching for the PUB HLTH 7119 - Master of Public Health (MPH) course.

2023 - present    Course Co-coordinator for the HLTH SC 3014 - Work Integrated Learning (Public Health) course.

2017 - 2020        Lab demonstrator for the SOIL&WAT 2500WT - Soil and Water Resources course.

 

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2023 Co-Supervisor Prevention of Occupational Lung Diseases from Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica in the Construction Industry: A Mixed- Methods Approach Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Gebisa Guyasa Kabito

  • Other Supervision Activities
    Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name
    2022 - 2023 Principal Supervisor Variability of bushfire smoke: consequences for air quality in and around vineyards University of Adelaide Summer Research Scholars - Undergraduate Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences Other - Sinan Abid
  • Position: Postdoctoral Research Fellow (A) (with PhD)
  • Phone: 83134957
  • Email: chandnee.ramkissoon@adelaide.edu.au
  • Campus: Thebarton
  • Building: 28 Anderson Street, floor 3
  • Org Unit: Public Health
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