Overview
Background
Dr Sobia Zafar is a specialist paediatric dentist, clinical senior lecturer and the discipline lead in paediatric dentistry at The University of Queensland. She also holds an affiliated position of Senior Research Fellow at the Child Health Research Centre. She is the current president of the Australia and New Zealand Society of Paediatric Dentistry (ANZSPD) Qld section and the councillor for the International Association of Dental Research (IADR) ANZ for Brisbane section.
Sobia completed her DClinDent and PhD from the University of Otago, New Zealand. Her research and clinical interests are in dental education, digital dentistry, and children's oral health, including those with special needs. She is frequently an invited speaker nationally and internationally on these subjects. Sobia has over 100 publications, comprising full journal papers, a book chapter and published abstracts, in national and international high-quality peer-reviewed journals. Sobia has successfully supervised 40 Honours research students, five HDR (PhD and MPhil) and two DClinDent students to completion. Sobia was the winner of the "Best Research Supervisor Award" for Higher Degree Research students in 2022 and also in 2023.
She is a passionate teacher involved in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching at UQ and in the wider dental profession in Australia and overseas. She has also conducted multiple hands-on courses locally and overseas for the Australian Dental Association Qld branch. Sobia has received numerous teaching awards and fellowships in recognition of her contributions, including from UQ the HABS Commendation for Substantive Contributions to Student Learning (2020), HABS Programs that Enhance Learning (APEL) Commendation (2021), HABS Commendation for Substantive Contributions to Student Learning Award (2022), and a UQ Teaching Excellence Award for APEL Commendation (2022). In 2022, she gained a Fellowship from the Faculty of Dental Trainers of the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh, UK, as peer recognition for her accomplishments in dental education. She has recently received the Excellence in Health Professional Education Award from the Australian and New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators (ANZAHPE) and Flinders University (2023).
Sobia is a highly recognised and respected community leader. Sobia is involved with various dental charities, including the Australian Dental Health Foundation, the Esesson Foundation, and the Turbans4Australia, to provide emergency and essential dental care to underprivileged children (refugees, asylum seekers, those with special needs, and from disadvantaged communities) in the Brisbane and Gold Coast regions. Her efforts as a community leader and leading health professional have been recognised with awards within UQ (the 2022 LeadHers Rise Community Award) and at the national level (the 2022 Appreciation Award from Turbans4Australia). As recognition from her dental peers, she was granted a Fellowship of the Pierre Fauchard Academy.
Availability
- Associate Professor Sobia Zafar is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Qualifications
- Higher Education Academy, Higher Education Academy
- International College of Dentists, International College of Dentists
- Member, Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons, Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons
Research impacts
Awards
- 2025 Excellence in Teaching, Research, Supervision, Service and Philanthropy Award, Australia and New Zealand Society of Paediatric Dentistry Qld (ANZSPDQ)
- 2024 Distinguished Service Award - Australian Dental Association Qld (ADAQ)
- 2023 Queensland Young Tall Poppy Science Award Finalist - Outstanding early career researchers
- 2023 Best Rsearch Supervisor Award - Winner - UQ SoD Research Day
- 2023 Excellence in Health Professional Education Award - The Flinders University - ANZAHPE
- 2022 HABS Commendation for Substantive Contributions to Student Learning Award (Early Career Researcher),The University of Queensland
- 2022 LeadHers Community Leadership Award, The University of Queensland
- 2022 Appreciation Award for Community Work, Turbans4Australia, Green and Gold Charity, Australia
- 2022 UQ Techaing Excellence Award for Programs that Enhance Learning Commendation, The University of Queensland
- 2022 Best Research Supervisor Award, UQ School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland
- 2021 HABS Award for Programs that Enhance Learning Commendation, The University of Queensland
- 2020 HABS Commendation for Substantive Contributions to Student Learning Award, The University of Queensland
- 2015 Awarded Best student presenter prize at Annual Research Day, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, New Zealand
- 2015 Winner IADR NZ division Travel Award, University of Otago, New Zealand
- 2012 Awarded Runner up Colgate senior category IADR ANZ Division, University of Otago, New Zealand
- 2012 Awarded Best student presenter prize at Annual Research Day, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, New Zealand
- 2010 University of Otago Doctoral Scholarship, New Zealand
- 2007 Awarded Best Junior Researcher prize, University of Cape Town, South Africa
- 2001 Gold Medal in Oral Pathology (National University of Sciences and Technology, Pakistan)
- 2001 Distinction in Oral Pathology (National University of Sciences and Technology, Pakistan)
- 2000 Gold Medal in Oral Medicine & Periodontology (National University of Sciences and Technology, Pakistan)
- 1999 Gold Medal in Dental Anatomy, Histology &Tooth Morphology (National University of Sciences and Technology, Pakistan)
Professional Memberships
- 2020 - present The Australian Collaborative Education Network Limited (ACEN)
- 2020- present International Association of Dental Traumatology (IADT)
- 2020- present The Australian Collaborative Education Network Limited (ACEN)
- 2016- present Australian Dental Association (ADA)
- 2015- present Australia & New Zealand Society of Paediatric Dentistry (ANZSPD)
- 2012- present International Association of Dental Research (IADR)
Media
- 2022 - UQ News - Link: https://tinyurl.com/28mu7cxn
- 2022 - Bite Magazine - Link: https://www.bitemagazine.com.au/virtual-teaching-at-australian-uni-improves-dental-reality/
- 2022 - Australian Muslim Achievement Awards - Finalists and Winners - Mission of Hope, Australia - Link: https://missionofhope.org.au/amaa-2022-finalists-and-winners/
- 2020 - Dental Mirror - ADAQ Spring Issue - https://adaq.informz.net/adaq/data/images/Dental%20Mirror/ADAQ_Mirror_Sep2020_web-compressed.pdf
- 2019 - Dental Mirror - ADAQ December issue Link: https://indd.adobe.com/view/5d9fb8f1-c605-4ddd-a710-6b6eac77046d
Works
Search Professor Sobia Zafar’s works on UQ eSpace
2023
Journal Article
Association between disability status and dental attendance patterns in Australian children: a national survey
Sawhney, Seerat, Vu, Theresa, Chen, Fiona, Wong, Kingsley, Zafar, Sobia and Lopez-Silva, Claudia (2023). Association between disability status and dental attendance patterns in Australian children: a national survey. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, 51 (3), 443-451. doi: 10.1111/cdoe.12755
2023
Journal Article
Undergraduate dental students’ perception of paediatric dental teaching in an urban and rural Australian dental school
Hossain, Nadeem, Kaur, Harmeet, Mohanasundaram, Divyadarshini, Calache, Hanny and Zafar, Sobia (2023). Undergraduate dental students’ perception of paediatric dental teaching in an urban and rural Australian dental school. International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry, 33 (2), 158-167. doi: 10.1111/ipd.13030
2023
Journal Article
Amelioration strategies for silver diamine fluoride: moving from black to white
Almuqrin, Amjad, Kaur, Inder Preet, Walsh, Laurence J., Seneviratne, Chaminda Jayampath and Zafar, Sobia (2023). Amelioration strategies for silver diamine fluoride: moving from black to white. Antibiotics, 12 (2) 298, 1-18. doi: 10.3390/antibiotics12020298
2023
Book Chapter
Quantitative real-time gene profiling of human alveolar osteoblasts using a one-step system
Coates, Dawn E., Zafar, Sobia and Milne, Trudy J. (2023). Quantitative real-time gene profiling of human alveolar osteoblasts using a one-step system. Oral biology: molecular techniques and applications. (pp. 417-427) edited by Gregory J. Seymour, Mary P. Cullinan, Nicholas C.K. Heng and Paul R. Cooper. New York, NY, United States: Humana Press. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2780-8_24
2023
Journal Article
Blended learning in undergraduate dental education: a global pilot study
Ali, Kamran, Alhaija, E.S.A., Raja, Mahwish, Zahra, Daniel, Brookes, Zoe L., McColl, Ewen, Zafar, Sobia, Kirnbauer, Barbara, Al Wahadni, Ahed M., Al-Fodeh, Rami S., Bani-Hani, Thikrayat Ghazi, Daher, Saba O. and Daher, Hasan O. (2023). Blended learning in undergraduate dental education: a global pilot study. Medical Education Online, 28 (1) 2171700, 1-9. doi: 10.1080/10872981.2023.2171700
2023
Journal Article
Prediction of mesio-distal dimensions of the unerupted permanent canines and premolars using measurements of different groups of erupted teeth: retrospective cross-sectional analysis of digital records in Western Australians
Abaid, S., Zafar, S., Kruger, E. and Tennant, M. (2023). Prediction of mesio-distal dimensions of the unerupted permanent canines and premolars using measurements of different groups of erupted teeth: retrospective cross-sectional analysis of digital records in Western Australians. European Archives of Paediatric Dentistry, 24 (2), 203-210. doi: 10.1007/s40368-022-00778-8
2022
Journal Article
Association between lack of dental service utilisation and caregiver‐reported caries in Australian Indigenous children: A national survey
Toh, Jia R., Wooi, Nadine, Tan, Si N., Wong, Kingsley, Lopez‐Silva, Claudia and Zafar, Sobia (2022). Association between lack of dental service utilisation and caregiver‐reported caries in Australian Indigenous children: A national survey. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 58 (12), 2218-2224. doi: 10.1111/jpc.16192
2022
Conference Publication
Vital pulp treatment options, are decisions related to dentists’ experience and patients’ socioeconomic class?
Alfaisal, Y, Peters, O, Zafar, S and Peters, C (2022). Vital pulp treatment options, are decisions related to dentists’ experience and patients’ socioeconomic class?. Oral Health Alliance Symposium, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 15 October 2022.
2022
Conference Publication
Barriers to widespread endodontic practice amongst general dental practitioners in Queensland, Australia
Huynh, R., Peters, C., Zafar, S. and Peters, O. (2022). Barriers to widespread endodontic practice amongst general dental practitioners in Queensland, Australia. Oral Health Alliance Symposium, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 15 October 2022.
2022
Conference Publication
Barriers to widespread endodontic practice amongst general dental practitioners in Queensland, Australia
Huynh, R., Peters, C., Zafar, S. and Peters, O. (2022). Barriers to widespread endodontic practice amongst general dental practitioners in Queensland, Australia. Oral Health Alliance Symposium, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 15 October 2022.
2022
Conference Publication
Vital pulp treatment options, are decisions related to dentists’ experience and patients’ socioeconomic class?
Alfaisal, Y., Peters, O., Zafar, S. and Peters, C. (2022). Vital pulp treatment options, are decisions related to dentists’ experience and patients’ socioeconomic class?. Oral Health Alliance Symposium, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 15 October 2022.
2022
Conference Publication
Students’ perception of undergraduate education and training in Special Needs Dentistry at an Australian Dental School
Waterland, L., Chen, G., Pyun, M., Fu, D. and Zafar, S. (2022). Students’ perception of undergraduate education and training in Special Needs Dentistry at an Australian Dental School. Oral Health Alliance Symposium, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 15 October 2022.
2022
Conference Publication
Paediatric crowns: biocompatibility and acid resistance studies
Hogerhyde, T., Walsh, L.J. and Zafar, S. (2022). Paediatric crowns: biocompatibility and acid resistance studies. 61st Scientific Meeting of the International Association of Dental Research (IADR) ANZ, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 26-28 September 2022.
2022
Conference Publication
Are parents seeking oral health-related information from the parent-held-child-health-record book?
Zafar, S., Nahal, G., Tasneem, R., Vo, G. and Peters, C.I. (2022). Are parents seeking oral health-related information from the parent-held-child-health-record book?. 61st Scientific Meeting of the International Association of Dental Research (IADR) ANZ, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 26-28 September 2022.
2022
Journal Article
“What about us?”- the drawbacks of current bruxism assessment criteria in evaluating vulnerable groups
Lai, Y. Y. L., Downs, J. A., Zafar, S., Wong, K., Walsh, L. J. and Leonard, H. M. (2022). “What about us?”- the drawbacks of current bruxism assessment criteria in evaluating vulnerable groups. Oral Diseases, 30 (2), 792-793. doi: 10.1111/odi.14337
2022
Conference Publication
Understanding the building blocks of UQ School of Dentistry Undergraduate curriculum
Liang, M., Wei, S.M., Peters, O. and Zafar, S. (2022). Understanding the building blocks of UQ School of Dentistry Undergraduate curriculum. UQ School of Dentistry Annual Research Day, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 29 July 2022.
2022
Conference Publication
Paediatric crowns - biocompatibility and acid resistance studies
Hogerheyde, T., Walsh, L.J. and Zafar, S. (2022). Paediatric crowns - biocompatibility and acid resistance studies. UQ School of Dentistry Annual Research Day, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 29 July 2022.
2022
Conference Publication
Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the final year dental clinics
Warsi, A., Mensforth, E., Hur, Y., Zafar, S. and Peters, C. (2022). Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the final year dental clinics. UQ School of Dentistry Annual Research Day, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 29 July 2022.
2022
Conference Publication
Evaluating parental source of information for their child’s oral health
Nahal, G., Tasneem, R., Vo, G., Peters, C. and Zafar, S. (2022). Evaluating parental source of information for their child’s oral health. UQ School of Dentistry Annual Research Day, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 29 July 2022.
2022
Conference Publication
Students’ perception of undergraduate education and training in special needs dentistry at an Australian dental school
Zhaoyun, G.C., Huynh, L., Pyun, M., Fu, D., Zafar, S. and Lopez-Silva, C. (2022). Students’ perception of undergraduate education and training in special needs dentistry at an Australian dental school. UQ School of Dentistry Annual Research Day, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 29 July 2022.
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Sobia Zafar is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Assessment of the effects of professionally applied Silver Diamine Fluoride on early childhood caries
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Laurence Walsh, Associate Professor Jaya Seneviratne
-
Master Philosophy
Impact of Barriers for Perception Dental Care Services of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Mothers on Australian Healthcare System
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Asaduzzaman Khan, Professor Lauren Ball, Dr Diep Ha
-
Doctor Philosophy
Ergonomics in Dentistry
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Laurence Walsh
-
Master Philosophy
Exploring Factors in Dentists' Decision-Making in Vital Pulp Therapy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ove Peters
-
Doctor Philosophy
Therapeutic Efficacy of Dental Analgesia through a Poly Light-Emitting Diode (LED) for dental procedures.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Laurence Walsh, Professor Peter Reher
-
Master Philosophy
Virtual reality teaching and its effect on veterinary students' practical outcomes
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Frances Shapter, Dr Ben Wood, Dr Allison Stewart
-
Master Philosophy
Virtual reality teaching and its effect on veterinary students' practical outcomes
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ben Wood, Dr Frances Shapter, Dr Allison Stewart
Completed supervision
-
2024
Master Philosophy
The impact of oral piercings: an in vivo and in vitro study
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Laurence Walsh
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Evaluating oral health and its impacts in Rett syndrome- stepping-stones to achieving a better quality of life
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Laurence Walsh
-
2023
Master Philosophy
The effects of decontamination practices and diet on preformed paediatric crowns, and their biocompatibility in the oral cavity
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Laurence Walsh
-
2024
Master Philosophy
Exploring Factors in Decision-Making in Vital Pulp Therapy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ove Peters
-
2024
Master Philosophy
Barriers to Widespread Endodontic Practice Amongst General Dental Practitioners in Queensland, Australia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ove Peters
Media
Enquiries
Contact Associate Professor Sobia Zafar directly for media enquiries about their areas of expertise.
Need help?
For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team: