Jae is a lecturer with teaching experience across biomedical and pharmaceutical sciences. He grew up in Dunedin, New Zealand, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree majoring in Neuroscience from the University of Otago. He then completed a master’s degree at the Centre for Neuroendocrinology, where he explored the neuroprotective effects of estrogen. 

Before pursuing further studies, Jae worked as a research officer and laboratory demonstrator at the Department of Anatomy and Physiology, and later ventured into entrepreneurship as a managing director of a hospitality business in New Zealand. His journey then brought him to Melbourne, Australia to undertake a PhD at Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS), Monash University. Under the supervision of Professor Joseph Nicolazzo and co-supervised by Associate Professor Jennifer Short, his research focused on developing novel therapies for Alzheimer’s disease by targeting the blood-brain barrier to restore P-glycoprotein expression and function, crucial for clearing neurotoxic peptides from the brain. The project was in collaboration with The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health and the Bio21 Institute, and his studies were presented and disseminated at international conferences and international journals.

Since joining the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jae has become an inspiring educator and researcher, teaching in numerous units across the Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences degrees. His engaging and innovative teaching style has earned him numerous awards and achievements, including Education Excellence Awards, Lecturer of the Year Awards and successful innovation grants. Jae’s passion for teaching and research is evident, as he continues to connect academic content to real-world applications, fostering curiosity and inspiring future professionals in health and disease therapeutics. He has keen interest and networks in biotech and pharmaceutical startups and expanding partnerships in Australia and internationally.

Focus on the integration of artificial intelligence in higher education, with a particular emphasis on custom large language models (LLMs) to enhance student learning, skill development, and assessment.

Investigate human–computer interaction (HCI) in educational contexts, exploring how co-designed AI tools can personalise feedback, support problem-solving, and foster authentic, student-centred learning experiences.

The design and evaluation of authentic assessments, including oral (viva) examinations and objective structured practical examinations (OSPEs) in pharmaceutical sciences.

This work bridges pedagogy, technology, and discipline-specific expertise, aiming to create scalable, real-world learning solutions that improve student engagement, equity, and graduate capabilities.

Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science / Advanced (Honours)

BPS1011 Human Physiology 1: Cells to Systems (Teaching, Unit Coordinator / Chief Examiner)

BPS3011 Disease Focus Pharmacology (Teaching – Alzheimer’s disease)

Master of Pharmaceutical Science

MPS5102 Target ID and Validation

MPS5201 Drug Stories: Lessons from the Past and Now (Teaching – mRNA vaccine development, Unit Coordinator / Chief Examiner)

Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons) / Master of Pharmacy

PHR5052 Inquiry and Innovation Methods (Teaching, Unit Coordinator / Chief Examiner)