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Biography
As Head of the Education Division, my priority is to champion the outstanding teaching in the SoLS and across the University and to ensure that our staff feel valued, supported, and fulfilled in their roles. I am deeply committed to staff development, recognising and celebrating the vital contributions our educators make to student success and the wider academic community. With a background in both school and university education, my teaching philosophy is rooted in inclusivity, support, and research-informed practice. I've held academic and leadership roles across several institutions, combining my scientific background with a passion for student and staff success. What drives me most is creating an environment where colleagues can thrive, and students are inspired to become confident, lifelong learners.
My teaching philosophy centres on creating a safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environment while implementing a research-inspired curriculum. I am dedicated to empowering students to become "good learners" and to take advantage of life's opportunities. Throughout my career, I have integrated scientific research with teaching, I studied for a PGCE at the University of Leeds and obtained Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) after teaching in inner city schools in the Leeds and Wolverhampton area. My undergraduate degree was from Aberystwyth University, which is where I learned to sail and surf, hobbies which I still love to this day, and I then worked in the pharmaceutical industry. My PhD in Biochemistry at the University of Birmingham led to post-doctoral positions at both the University of Birmingham and Aston University. I then joined Sheffield Hallam University, where I received my first research grants as a Principal Investigator and became a course leader. Before joining the University of Nottingham, I was Principal Lecturer in Student Experience and Programme Director for Biosciences undergraduate honours courses at the University of Wolverhampton. I am actively involved in various professional networks and committees; my greatest satisfaction comes from positively impacting students which I hope gives an insight into my character.
Expertise Summary
I have taken on lead roles in all areas of the academic cycle, and I deliver strategic academic leadership to ensure successful development and delivery of School of Life Sciences courses with a particular focus on PSRB requirements, the OfS Regulatory Framework and Conditions, the new QAA benchmarks, NSS and employability, under the role of Head of the Education Division. Externally, I have had a lead role in successful RSB accreditation, particularly mapping learning outcomes to the PSRB requirements, and recently the External Examiner for the BSc (Hons) Genetics programme at the University of Liverpool.
My research now focuses on pedagogy which includes a key role in the multi-college awards project designing and integrating problem-based learning (PBL) and have led a departmental research project evaluating the effectiveness of audio vs written feedback on our students' achievement. I have a successful research portfolio focusing on membrane protein research, I have supervised 4 PhD students as Director of Studies to completion. I have acted as the external examiner for 6 UK PhD viva voce and 1 overseas viva voce (University of Gothenburg). I have also acted as the internal PhD examiner on 6 occasions at my previous institutions. I have >30 publications including a recent paper in Cell, (Google Scholar H-Index = 22) and >1000 citations since 2019. My research was rated as 4* at REF 2021.
Teaching Summary
Experienced in teaching across Biosciences including Biomedical Science, Pharmacy, Pharmacology, and Biological Sciences.
Leads curriculum development with focus on PSRB, OfS, QAA, NSS, and… read more
Research Summary
My research now focuses on pedagogy which includes a key role in the multi-college awards project designing and integrating problem-based learning (PBL) and have led a departmental research project… read more