- Pathobiology and Extracellular Vesicle Research Group
About me
My role as Lecturer in the Centre for Education and Teaching innovation started in 2023, when I returned to University of Westminster. Prior to that I held the position as Module Leader for Biology at the University of Essex in the Foundation Pathways.
My background is in the Life Sciences having graduated from the University of Westminster with a First Class Honours in Biochemistry with Foundation in 2015. I continued my research at a doctoral student in 2016 with my supervisor Dr Mark Odell investigating a novel drug delivery system to treat diseases of the brain. Whilst completing my PhD I was also a part time visiting lecture within the School of Life Sciences at the University of Westminster from 2018 and the CETI from 2020.
I am also the coordinator of the Foundation Mentoring Scheme, a scheme designed specifically to create communities of connectedness and belonging to students.
Teaching
I currently teach Life Sciences students on the Foundation core modules 3ACHE003W: Introduction for Academic Practice, as the Deputy Module Leader, and 3ACHE004W: Critical Thinking for Academic and Professional Development. I am the interim Module Leader for 5PHSC004W: Power Privilege and Public Health Challenges, an elective module in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Student partnership and co-creation inform my teaching principles and practices. Including the student voice and lived experience builds stronger relationships and sense of connection, as well as provides valuable insights to their needs.
Research
Over the course of the 4 years of my PhD I developed a drug delivery system made from African sunflower oil that formed small vesicles (nanoparticles) that have been shown to encapsulate a range of compounds and cross biological barriers, including the blood brain barrier in mice. This research and collaboration have led me to be a member of the Pathobiology and Extracellular Vesicles Research Group in the School of Life Sciences developing novel research. The research group aims to unravel the interplay of innate, adaptive, and epigenetic contribution to pathobiological processes, leading to the identification of novel molecular targets and therapies to improve human health during their lifespan and to expand our understanding of the One Health concept.
My interests and research also extend to and include partnership pedagogy, building communities of belonging and connection. I have collaborated with colleagues on projects such as co-creating an anti-racist critical thinking module and presented our research nationally and internationally.
Publications
For details of all my research outputs, visit my WestminsterResearch profile.