Biography

After my first MBiochem degree at the University of Bath with neuroscience placements at both University College London and Wake Forest University (NC USA) I went on to complete a CASE PhD studentship in Molecular Neuroscience at the MRC Centre for Synaptic Plasticity at the University of Bristol sponsored by GlaxoSmithkline. This led to postdoctoral work and a Teaching Fellowship at the University of Bristol in the Anatomy and Pharmacology departments before my appointment as a lecturer at Edinburgh Napier University in 2007, when I achieved Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy. I continued molecular and developmental neuroscience research and now focus on pedagogical research. At the moment I am particularly interested in gamification of the curriculum to improve student engagement, and the use of a modified Lego Serious Play methodology to encourage reflection and deep learning of threshold concepts in biology. I am also investigating the impact of this method on student's creativity and social interaction in the classroom. I was promoted to Senior Lecturer and Subject Group Leader in Biomedical Sciences & Microbiology in 2013 and I became Head of Life Sciences in May 2017 with strategic responsibility for over 50 academic staff and in the region of 700 students, alongside teaching and research. I represent the University at Heads of University Biosciences and Scottish Lifescience Association meetings. I currently teach on Pharmacology and Cell Biology modules at undergraduate and postgraduate level and am involved in a number of postgraduate research projects. I was awarded Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy in 2016, when I also became a Member of the Royal Society of Biology.