Biography
Dr Sharron Vass BSc (Hons) PhD SFHEA is a lecturer of Biomedical Sciences within the School of Applied Sciences, at Edinburgh Napier University, Scotland, UK.
Research Interests
In 2005, Dr Vass completed her PhD studies at the Institute of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Edinburgh. Her PhD project involved investigating the molecular ‘glue’ that holds chromosomes together and what happens to chromosome structure when that glue is absent. Through this project she developed a keen interest in cell biology and a passion for fluorescence microscopy.
She then undertook post-doctoral research at the Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, where she was investigating the role of metalloproteinase enzymes in cell migration processes. She developed novel microscopy techniques for visualizing the formation of developing blood vessels in live zebrafish embryos and was invited to share these techniques at the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm (2012).
Dr Vass was awarded a lectureship at Edinburgh Napier University in 2014, where she established her own research group focusing on the molecular pathways regulating cell migration in cancer cells. Using highly migratory melanoma cells she is investigating the KISS1/R signaling cascade. She has also been instrumental in developing novel research models for investigating the toxicity of vaping fluids on human lung epithelial cells.
Academic Leadership
Dr Vass gained Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy in 2015, and Senior Fellowship in 2022. She is passionate about Widening Participation and Inclusion within the HE landscape and has worked on a number of projects to enhance student experience.
She has extensive trans-national educational experience and had developed and delivered teaching and assessment materials in Sri Lanka, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Since 2018, Dr Vass has been Programme Leader for the MSc Biomedical Sciences in Hong Kong, which is offered in conjunction with our partner organisation HKU SPACE. This MSc programme is recognised by the Hong Kong Hospital Authority and applications have increased dramatically in the last two years.
Dr Vass is passionate about public engagement with science and the promotion of STEM careers. She has been an invited speaker at a number of events including; An Afternoon of Science, Soap Box Science, and Monster Confidence.