About
I’m passionate about science, research and educating people about science and research. Since September 2023, I have been working as a lecturer in biosciences, particularly on the Biomedical Sciences (C130) programme, where I am year 2 lead. I am module organiser for LIFE221 (The Immune System in Health and Disease), LIFE365 (Advanced Skills in Biological and Medical Sciences) and LIFE204 (Endocrine and Neuro-physiology). I am involved in laboratory teaching for LIFE227 (Techniques in Cell Biology). I supervise dissertation projects for LIFE363 (Research Project) and I am an Academic Advisor for LIFE223 (Essential Skills for the Life Sciences 2). In addition, I am Year 2 departmental disability contact (DDC) for students with surname A-H.
How did I get to where I am today? My undergraduate degree in biochemistry from the University of Cambridge, gave me a good grounding. I subsequently undertook my PhD in a leukaemia at the University of Liverpool. I stayed at the University of Liverpool, for two postdoctoral positions, one in white blood cells (neutrophils) in autoimmune conditions and one researching the biology of dying. As such, I have a strong background and interest in translational biology, blood sciences, cancer and immunology. I have a growing interest in proteomics, volatilomics and metabolomics.
During my time as a postdoctoral research scientist at the University of Liverpool, I supervised students in the laboratory - including Max Lyon, an intercalating medical student, for a MRes rotation. I also supervised intercalating MRes medical students: Prashant Aggarwal and James Baker who worked on the Biology of Dying project. All three of these students were able to contribute to journal publications. During my postdoctoral research I undertook a "Teaching for Researchers" course and was awarded an Associate Fellowship of Higher Education Award (AFHEA).
In 2020, I moved into teaching. I worked for three and half years on the graduate entry medicine programme (MBBCh) at Bangor University in partnership with Cardiff University, developing medical education in North Wales. Students learnt in a case-based way, and I facilitated case-based learning discussions, I had oversight of three "cases" in North Wales, in particular one case was on my specialism of cancer. I oversaw "student selected components" (SSCs) for students in year 2, 3 and 4 of the programmes while I worked there.
Over the years, I’ve have been involved in a variety of outreach / public engagement activities to educate and inform the public about science, health and medical conditions. I have taught children about microbes, the basics of the immune system and the importance of vaccinations and good hygiene and research into autoimmune diseases in primary schools and at Meet The Scientist events at Museums (2016-2017). I have been involved in a Pint of Science programme (2017-2018), including winning two shots of sciences in 2017 and 2018 (2-minute talks summarising my research). I have spoken and presented to multidisciplinary teams at hospices, to patients at a cancer support group (2018-2019) and to the general public on World Cancer Day in the foyer of the Royal Liverpool Hospital (2018). I was involved in demonstrating learning anatomy using VR headsets and airway management using high-fidelity manikins at a Welsh festival, through the Welsh language (Summer 2023).