Researcher biography
Dr Luli Faber is a teaching-focused academic in the School of Biomedical Sciences at The University of Queensland whose research examines how motivation, emotions and emotion regulation influence student learning, engagement and well-being in higher education. Her work in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) focuses on identifying strategies that help undergraduate students remain motivated, manage stress, and achieve stronger academic outcomes.
Her research investigates how psychological processes during learning can be harnessed to improve student experiences and performance. In particular, she studies motivation regulation, emotion regulation, student engagement and learning strategies, with the aim of informing evidence-based teaching practices that support both academic success and student well-being. This work also guides the design of innovative learning activities that foster key graduate capabilities, including cultural capability, critical thinking and science communication.
Dr Faber's research is conducted within the SBMS Biomedical Education Research Group and has contributed to a growing body of work examining the factors that shape student motivation and learning in biomedical science education. Her projects integrate quantitative and qualitative approaches to better understand how students navigate challenges during university study and how educators can support their learning.
Prior to moving into education research, Dr Faber conducted neuroscience research investigating synaptic transmission and plasticity in brain regions involved in emotional processing, including the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. Her work focused on the role of potassium channels, including SK channels, in regulating neuronal activity.
Honours projects are available within the SBMS Biomedical Education Research Group, including projects examining:
- motivation regulation strategies that improve undergraduate learning and academic outcomes
- emotion regulation strategies used by first-year university students.