Dr Eden Robertson
- Bachelor of Psychology (Honours), Macquarie University
- Graduate Certificate in Adolescent Health and Wellbeing, University of Melbourne
- PhD (Medicine, Paediatrics), UNSW Sydney
- Principles of Project Management, Open Universities, University of South Australia
- Foundations of University Learning and Teaching, UNSW Sydney
Dr Eden Robertson is an experienced psychosocial researcher, with a special interest in supporting children with a serious illness and their families. Dr Robertson has completed a Bachelors of Psychology (Honours), Graduate Certificate in Adolescent and Young Adult Health and Wellbeing, and a PhD in childhood cancer (2019) - for which she earnt a UNSW Dean's Award for Outstanding PhD Theses. In 2020, Eden received a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship which she undertook at St Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, TN. During her time in Memphis, she undertook research with the Quality of Life team to better support children and their families at end-of-life and into bereavement.
Despite being part-time in academic since her PhD conferral (2019-2024), Eden has an h-index of 15 and nearly 1,000 citations. She is an effective science communiator and frequently invited to speak and host workshops for students and ECRs. Complementing her academic career, Eden has held senior roles with national for-purpose organisations and is a Board Director for the Association for the Wellbeing of Children in Healthcare.
Eden contributes to the broader research community as a grant reviewer, Executive Management Group member for the Kids Cancer Alliance, organising committee member for the Tow Research Awards, and supervisor for PhD Candidates and medical students for their fourth year research projects.
Driven by the need to improve the wellbeing of children and young people with a serious illness, Eden takes pride in conducting meaningful research that can be implemented to bring about positive change.
- Publications
- Media
- Grants
- Awards
- Research Activities
- Engagement
- Teaching and Supervision
- Chief Investigator F (MRFF 2023 National Critical Research Infrastructure: Life and health After Childhood cancEr (LACE) - a national linkage project)
- Chief Investigator D (2022 Kids Cancer Alliance: Precision medicine for childhood cancer - Understanding and supporting families' information needs)
2024
- Randwick Clinical Campus Publication Award Q1, 2024
- UNSW Medicine and Health, Research: Community Engagement Award, nominee
2023
- 'Developing Brain' Research Paper Award Recipient
- Social Impact Measurement Network Australia Collaboration Award – Runner-up
2021
- 40 Under 40: Most influential Asian-Australian Awards, nominee
2020
- Fulbright Postdoctoral Scholar
-
International Society of Pediatric Oncology Young Investigator Award
2019
- FameLab Australia science communication, semi-finalist
-
UNSW Dean’s Award for Outstanding PhD Theses
-
International Society of Pediatric Oncology Social Media Award
2018
- International Society of Pediatric Oncology Social Media Award
-
UNSW Sydney Arc PGC ‘Outstanding Student Award’
Eden is currently undertaking research in low vision. From 2023-2024, Eden led Australia's Inherited Retinal Disease Priority Setting Partnership, which was launched at NSW Parliament House in September 2024. She is now leading several projects exploring community perspectives around cell therapies and organoids.
Eden is skilled in qualitative research and co-design, and passionate about partnering with the community to drive more meaningful impact.
Alongside these research focusses, Eden continues to collaborate and publish across childhood cancer and other rare diseases such as genetic epilepsy.
My Research Supervision
2023-2027
Dr Paranamanage Gayani Kalpana De Silva (PhD Candidate, QUT; secondary supervisor)
Project: Priority Setting Partnership in childhood cancer
2020-2023 (submitted October, 2023)
Jessica Gereis (PhD Candidate, UNSW; secondary supervisor)
Project: Communication aid for children and parents enrolled in a precision medicine trial