Sobia Zafar
Source: https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/22311 Parent: https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/16238
Associate Professor
Sobia Zafar
Email: : s.zafar@uq.edu.au
Phone: : +61 7 336 58048
Positions
Clinical Associate Professor : School of Dentistry : Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences
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.
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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
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Search Professor Sobia Zafar’s works on UQ eSpace
All (196) Journal Article (87) Other Outputs (4) Conference Publication (103) Book Chapter (2)
2026
Journal Article
Targeting Biofilms With Nanotechnology: A Comparative Study of Silver and Selenium Nanoparticles
Almuqrin, Amjad, Seneviratne, Chaminda Jayampath, Khan, Sadaf Aiman, Walsh, Laurence J. and Zafar, Sobia (2026). Targeting Biofilms With Nanotechnology: A Comparative Study of Silver and Selenium Nanoparticles. International Dental Journal, 76 (2) 109366, 109366. doi: 10.1016/j.identj.2025.109366
Targeting Biofilms With Nanotechnology: A Comparative Study of Silver and Selenium Nanoparticles
2026
Journal Article
Validation and comparison of Blenkin Taylor Atlas and the London Atlas on an Australian population subset for dental age estimation
Huynh, Richard, Samuel, Selwin G., Anand, Vennila, Zafar, Sobia and Al-Qahtani, Sakher (2026). Validation and comparison of Blenkin Taylor Atlas and the London Atlas on an Australian population subset for dental age estimation. International Journal of Legal Medicine. doi: 10.1007/s00414-025-03701-0
2025
Conference Publication
Strengthening oral health outcomes in culturally diverse families: a systematic review using the lens of the RE-AIM framework
Awadh, I. and Zafar, S. (2025). Strengthening oral health outcomes in culturally diverse families: a systematic review using the lens of the RE-AIM framework. Bridging Minds, Shaping Futures: CALD HDR Engagement Forum, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 10 December 2025.
2025
Journal Article
A comparative study of postural impact and benefits from loupes in undergraduate and graduate dentists
Danylak, Stefan, Sloan, Alastair J., Walsh, Laurence J. and Zafar, Sobia (2025). A comparative study of postural impact and benefits from loupes in undergraduate and graduate dentists. Journal of Dentistry, 163 106162, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jdent.2025.106162
2025
Journal Article
Exploring postural risk reduction in dental training: An observational study using motion and haptic sensors
Danylak, Stefan, Sloan, Alastair J., Walsh, Laurence J. and Zafar, Sobia (2025). Exploring postural risk reduction in dental training: An observational study using motion and haptic sensors. New Zealand Dental Journal, 121 (4), 157-165.
2025
Journal Article
Beyond the Drill: Can Digital Gadgets Redefine the Future of Dental Education?
Felszeghy, Szabolcs, Kada, Adam, Jackson, Amanda, Didilescu, Andreea, Quinn, Barry, Meisha, Dalia, Pasqualini, Damiano, Valenzuela, Daniela Alejandra Pino, Adanir, Nejdet, Cuellar, Esther Carramolino, Spagnuolo, Gianrico, Rederiene, Gitana, Gul, Gulsun, Duncan, Hal, Ahmed, Hany Mohamed Aly, Pesce, Jorge Alberto Tricio, Ahmed, Khaled, Andriukaitiene, Laura, Zadrozny, Łukasz, Ponto‐Wolska, Małgorzata, Cox, Margaret J., Pino, Maria Florencia Sittoni, Hopp, María Paz Rodríguez, Nagasawa, Masako, Pang, Mengwei, Liukkonen, Mikko, Mutluay, Murat, Manchorova, Neshka, Flacco, Nicla ... Chau, Reinhard Chun Wang (2025). Beyond the Drill: Can Digital Gadgets Redefine the Future of Dental Education?. European Journal of Dental Education eje.70079. doi: 10.1111/eje.70079
Beyond the Drill: Can Digital Gadgets Redefine the Future of Dental Education?
2025
Journal Article
Challenges in evaluating the analgesic effects of photobiomodulation in dentistry: a narrative review
Zachar, Jessica Joanna, Reher, Peter, Zafar, Sobia and Walsh, Laurence J. (2025). Challenges in evaluating the analgesic effects of photobiomodulation in dentistry: a narrative review. Journal of Dentistry, 162 106077, 106077. doi: 10.1016/j.jdent.2025.106077
2025
Conference Publication
What gets measured in CALD oral health interventions? A RE-AIM approach
Awadh, I., Ha, D., Boyd, R., Khan, A., Ball, L., Nisar, M. and Zafar, S. (2025). What gets measured in CALD oral health interventions? A RE-AIM approach. DHSV Public Oral Health Conference 2025, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 31 October 2025.
What gets measured in CALD oral health interventions? A RE-AIM approach
2025
Journal Article
Tailored synthesis and profiling of capped silver and selenium nanoparticles for topical applications in paediatric dentistry
Almuqrin, Amjad, Seneviratne, Chaminda Jayampath, Walsh, Laurence J. and Zafar, Sobia (2025). Tailored synthesis and profiling of capped silver and selenium nanoparticles for topical applications in paediatric dentistry. Dentistry Journal, 13 (10) 456, 1-16. doi: 10.3390/dj13100456
2025
Conference Publication
Building Smiles Early: Oral Health Across the First 1,000 Days
Zafar, Sobia (2025). Building Smiles Early: Oral Health Across the First 1,000 Days. Cook Islands Annual Health Conference 2025 – The First 1000 Days, Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 1–2 October 2025.
Building Smiles Early: Oral Health Across the First 1,000 Days
2025
Conference Publication
E Puapinga Katoa Te Nio Tamaraki’: A multi-stakeholder roadmap for oral health of mothers and children in the Cook Islands
Lal-Kumar, Seema, Lee, Hyewon, Williams, Bob, Morse, Zac, Unuia, Upokotea, Moekapiti, Ngametua, Tangimetua, Moana Michaela, Nio, Kirianu and Zafar, Sobia (2025). E Puapinga Katoa Te Nio Tamaraki’: A multi-stakeholder roadmap for oral health of mothers and children in the Cook Islands. Cook Islands Annual Health Conference 2025 – The First 1000 Days, Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 1–2 October 2025.
2025
Conference Publication
The First 1000 Days of Life: Breastfeeding in The Cook Islands—An ecological perspective using Bronfenbrenner's Model
Lal-Kumar, Seema, Dayal, Hem, Seve-Williams, Nuhisifa, Morse, Zac and Zafar, Sobia (2025). The First 1000 Days of Life: Breastfeeding in The Cook Islands—An ecological perspective using Bronfenbrenner's Model. Cook Islands Annual Health Conference 2025 – The First 1000 Days, Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 1–2 October 2025.
2025
Conference Publication
From myth to evidence: infant feeding practices and early childhood caries
Zafar, S. (2025). From myth to evidence: infant feeding practices and early childhood caries. Pacific Society for Reproductive Health (PSRH) Webinar, Online, 17 September 2025.
From myth to evidence: infant feeding practices and early childhood caries
2025
Conference Publication
Analysis of Trueness Deviation in a Kennedy’s Class II Arch.
Ohm, R., Zafar, S., Thomson, D. and El Masoud, B. (2025). Analysis of Trueness Deviation in a Kennedy’s Class II Arch.. International College of Prosthodontists 21st Biennial Meeting, Toronto, ON, Canada, 2-5 September 2025.
Analysis of Trueness Deviation in a Kennedy’s Class II Arch.
2025
Journal Article
Influence of patient demographics and socio-economic status on treatment choices for permanent mature teeth with painful vital teeth: a pilot study in the Australian public dental system
Alfaisal, Y., Peters, O. A., Idris, G., Zafar, S. and Peters, C. I. (2025). Influence of patient demographics and socio-economic status on treatment choices for permanent mature teeth with painful vital teeth: a pilot study in the Australian public dental system. Australian Dental Journal, 70 (3), 160-170. doi: 10.1111/adj.13069
2025
Journal Article
Specialists' perspectives on social stories in managing individuals with autism in the dental care setting
Zafar, Sobia, Griffiths, Mim, Hartfiel, Emily, Malawkin, Andie and Lopez-Silva, Claudia (2025). Specialists' perspectives on social stories in managing individuals with autism in the dental care setting. Special care in dentistry, 45 (4) e70085, 1-7. doi: 10.1111/scd.70085
2025
Journal Article
The first 1000 days of life: breastfeeding in the Cook Islands—an ecological perspective using Bronfenbrenner's model
Lal-Kumar, Seema, Dayal, Hem, Seve-Williams, Nuhisifa, Morse, Zac and Zafar, Sobia (2025). The first 1000 days of life: breastfeeding in the Cook Islands—an ecological perspective using Bronfenbrenner's model. International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry, 36 (1) ipd.70028, 67-73. doi: 10.1111/ipd.7002
2025
Conference Publication
Community-based, low-cost solutions for managing childhood dental caries
Zafar, S. (2025). Community-based, low-cost solutions for managing childhood dental caries. Health Promotion Bureau, Online, Sri Lanka, 14 August 2025.
Community-based, low-cost solutions for managing childhood dental caries
2025
Journal Article
Quality of YouTubeTM Videos on the Clinical Use of Silver Fluoride
Zafar, S., YongHong Low, K., Yi Teh, W., Hong Chan, S. and Walsh, L.J. (2025). Quality of YouTubeTM Videos on the Clinical Use of Silver Fluoride. European Archives of Paediatric Dentistry, 26 (6), 1-10. doi: 10.1007/s40368-025-01102-w
Quality of YouTubeTM Videos on the Clinical Use of Silver Fluoride
2025
Conference Publication
Reflect, Record, Reform: The Integration of Digital Logbooks in Dental Training
Abdoni, S., Yang, G., Roellgen, R., Zachar, J. and Zafar, S. (2025). Reflect, Record, Reform: The Integration of Digital Logbooks in Dental Training. UQ SoD Research Day, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 25 July 2025.
Reflect, Record, Reform: The Integration of Digital Logbooks in Dental Training
Current funding
- 2026 - 2029
Bridging the Gap: Improving Access to Equitable Dental Care for Children from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Background
NHMRC Targeted Call for Research - Oral Health Care in Australia 2024
Open grant - 2024 - 2026
Topically applied antimicrobial nanocomposites in Dentistry
SDI
Past funding
- 2023 - 2025
Bridging the gap: Providing oral care to children from culturally and linguistically diverse communities
ADHF Community Service Grants
Open grant - 2023
Motion sensor and haptic technologies in evaluating and training postural habits for optimum ergonomic clinical practice
Australian Dental Research Fund Inc
Open grant - 2023
The impact of oral piercings: An investigation into the rate of metal dissolution and metal ion release under acidic challenge
Australian Dental Research Fund Inc
Open grant - 2022 - 2023
Oral health manifestations and risk in Rett syndrome: a clinical crosssectional study
Australian Dental Research Fund Inc
Availability
Associate Professor Sobia Zafar is: : Available for supervision
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Available projects
Project summary: Co-design culturally safe strategies to improve prevention, detection, and treatment of early childhood caries (ECC), a dental disease that affects children, especially those from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds in Australia.
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Supervision history
Current supervision
- Doctor Philosophy
##### Ergonomics in Dentistry
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Laurence Walsh - Master Philosophy
##### Understanding and Reducing Paediatric Dental Presentations to Emergency Departments: A Clinical andHealth Economic Study in Metro South Health
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Mehwish Nisar - Doctor Philosophy
##### Bridging Gaps: Enhancing Oral Health in Culturally Diverse Paediatric Populations
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Asaduzzaman Khan, Professor Lauren Ball, Dr Diep Ha - Doctor Philosophy
##### Topically Applied Antimicrobial Silver and Selenium Nanoparticles in Dentistry
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Laurence Walsh, Associate Professor Jaya Seneviratne - Master Philosophy
##### Investigating the effectiveness of Silver Fluoride in hypomineralisied molars as alternative treatment modality ¿ an interventional study
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Laurence Walsh - 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
Doctor Philosophy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Laurence Walsh - 2024
Master Philosophy
##### The impact of oral piercings: an in vivo and in vitro study
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Laurence Walsh - 2023
Master Philosophy
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
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ove Peters
Enquiries
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