Rate My Professor Toni-Ann Alsop

Dr. Toni-Ann Alsop serves as a Senior Teaching Fellow in the Department of Physiology at the University of Otago, part of the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences within the Division of Health Sciences. She holds an MSc, PhD, and Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGcertHEd), all from the University of Otago. As a teaching-focused academic, she is committed to undergraduate teaching and learning, as well as supporting tauira/student well-being and success. Her expertise encompasses physiology and science education, with a particular emphasis on student numeracy. Alsop has developed course materials covering membrane and ion transport, gastrointestinal physiology, and numeracy/mathematics tailored for health sciences students. She contributes significantly to student support as one of the Physiology Department's kaiāwhina Māori, offering academic and pastoral assistance, advocacy, and guidance on scholarships to Māori students. Additionally, she participates in Te Rōpū Tautoko Kaiako me kā Tauira, the Māori Strategic Framework Student/Teaching Group.

In her teaching portfolio, Dr. Alsop delivers courses such as HUBS 191 Human Body Systems 1, HUBS 192 Human Body Systems 2, PHSL 231 Neurophysiology, PHSL 232 Cardiovascular Physiology, PHSL 233 Gastrointestinal and Renal Physiology, and PHSL 251 Exploring Human Physiology. She engages in outreach initiatives including Hands On Otago, Advanced Science Academy, and the department's high school outreach program targeting primary and secondary students. Her research background includes epithelial ion transport, reflected in her PhD investigations into the vaginal cul-de-sac of the brushtail possum Trichosurus vulpecula. Key publications comprise Alsop, T.-A., McLeod, B. J., & Butt, A. G. (2016). Variations in epithelial Na+ transport and epithelial sodium channel localisation in the vaginal cul-de-sac of the brushtail possum, Trichosurus vulpecula, during the oestrous cycle. Reproduction, Fertility & Development, 28(3), 328-336; Alsop, T.-A., McLeod, B. J., & Butt, G. (2009). Epithelial HCO₃⁻ secretion and mucus hydration in the vaginal cul-de-sac of the brushtail possum (conference presentation); Rizwan, S., & Alsop, T.-A. (2016). Applied teaching versus foundation knowledge... (FYBC proceedings); and Cain, E., Alsop, T.-A., et al. (2018). The emerging role of the antioxidant uric acid... (poster). These works highlight her contributions to both physiological research and educational strategies.