University of Birmingham
College of Medical and Dental Sciences
Postdoctoral / Early Career (PERCAT) Masterclasses
2013/14
Lunch 12.30 – Masterclass 1.00 – 2.00
(1)
Wednesday 30 October 2013 (LT4, Medical School) - Career Planning
Kate Crane is Deputy Head of People and Organisational Development Department and
business partner to MDS. Her specific responsibilities are for:- leadership and
management development in the College of Medical and Dental Sciences, the delivery of a
wide range of training courses in the leadership arena, facilitating workshops, coaching,
mentoring and senior management development. Kate is actively involved in many
projects including the Senior Leadership Programme, Postdoctoral Training and Career
Development initiative, Women in Academic Medicine and Science and Athena SWAN.
Kate’s previous roles have been mainly in the private sector, with the 8 years before
joining the University spent working at Warwickshire Police as Force Training and Development Manager.
Jessie Hitchcock is a final year PhD student in the School of Immunity and Infection.
As part of her Medical Research Council-funded PhD program, she undertook a threemonth Science Policy Internship at the Academy of Medical Sciences in London. As
part of this internship, Jessie spent time within the Policy teams of both the MRC and
the Association of Medical Research Charities and attended various events in
Parliament. Jessie completed her Masters and undergraduate degrees in the School of
Biosciences at the University of Birmingham.
(2)
Monday 18 November 2013 (LT3, Medical School) - Science Policy
Dr Martin Turner, Senior Policy Officer, Association of Medical Research Charities
Martin joined AMRC in October 2011 after finishing his PhD. AMRC represents 125 UK
medical research charities, including the Wellcome Trust and Cancer Research UK, and
works with the government and others to ensure charities can fund world-leading science to
benefit patients. Martin's work spans much of AMRC's activities but is focused on policy and
public affairs. Recently he has been making the case for greater public investment in
science, promoting research within the NHS and working to allow a more open public
conversation about animal research. As part of AMRC's public affairs work, Martin coordinates the APPG on
Medical Research, a group of MPs and peers with an interest in medical research that hold events in Parliament
to discuss and promote topics important to the research community.
He has a PhD in molecular biology from the University of Sheffield and gained his undergraduate degree from
Manchester University. He has also worked in pathology for the NHS and founded a science communication
charity called Science Brainwaves, which is now the South Yorkshire branch of the British Science Association.
He also writes on a freelance basis for Understanding Animal Research, Research Fortnight and other
publications.
(3)
Wednesday 11 December 2013 (N143, IBR Seminar Room) - Quality in Scientific Research
Zsuzsanna Nagy received her medical degree in Romania, Targu-Mures and subsequently
a DPhil from Oxford University. Her postdoctoral period in Oxford was followed by two
independent fellowships. She came to Birmingham in 2004. Her scientific interests are in
Dementia research, specifically the development of novel biomarkers and therapeutic
strategies. Her work led to the development of 6 patent families and more than 50 peer
reviewed publications.
(4)
Monday 20 January 2014 (WF15, Medical School) - Science and Politics
Lynne Jones graduated in Biochemistry at Birmingham University in 1972, she received a
doctorate for research in the involvement of inositol phospholipids in stimulus-response
coupling at the cell membrane. In the late seventies, she became involved in local politics
and was elected to Birmingham City Council in 1980 and chaired the Housing Committee
1984-87. She served as Labour MP for Birmingham (Selly Oak) between 1992 and 2010
pursuing interests that often lead her into conflict with the Labour Leadership, as a result of
which she remained a back bencher!
(5)
Wednesday 26 February 2014 (WF15, Medical School) - Fellowships and Funding
Dr Eliot Marston, Acting Head of Research & Knowledge Transfer. Although a scientist by
training (with a degree in Genetics, a Research Masters in Immunology & Oncology and a
PhD in childhood leukaemia research, as well as a Medici Fellowship in the commercial
application of scientific research), Eliot currently works in research management.
As Deputy Head of Research & Knowledge Transfer for the College, he balances a range
of activity from development of research support infrastructure, strategic application
drafting, and major project management with direct support for individuals within the School
he supports, Clinical & Experimental Medicine. He manages a team of enthusiastic
research support administrators who have College-wide remits to help deliver the preaward and post-award support for research grant funding. He also has an institutional role
for overhauling and improving the infrastructure available to underpin and promote public engagement activity.
(6)
Wednesday 26 March 2014 (LT4, Medical School) - Technology Transfer and Patents
Tommy Rennison, Cancer Research Technology
Tommy’s first degree was split between the University of Sheffield and the Université Paul
Sabatier in Toulouse after which he graduated with a masters in chemistry. During that
time Tommy developed a strong interest in the design and synthesis of modern targeted
drugs, specifically for the treatment of cancer. In the further pursuit of this interest he was
attracted to the Northern Institute for Cancer Research where he completed a CRUKfunded PhD and subsequent Research Associate position. During this time Tommy began
to investigate the field of technology transfer and scientific business development, and gained a position in the
Research and Enterprise team at Newcastle University. This helped him achieve his current role at Cancer
Research Technology, where he is privileged to work with some of the world’s leading academics in the field of
cancer research.
Nina White – profile to follow
(7)
Wednesday 16 April – (N143, IBR Seminar Room) Writing for the popular press – CRUK
Dr Kat Arney joined Cancer Research UK in 2004, after spending six years as a laboratory
researcher. Part of the Science Communications team, she translates science-speak into
plain English, so that everyone can understand the charity’s work. Kat loves communicating
about science, including writing for the charity’s award-winning Science Update Blog, and
regularly comments in the media on the latest discoveries as well as giving talks to staff and
supporters. She also helps to present the highly successful Naked Scientists BBC Radio
show and Naked Genetics podcast, has fronted two BBC Radio 4 science documentaries –
Whatever Happened to the Chemistry Set? and Fighting the Power of Pink – and the programme Costing the
Earth, and is a freelance science writer and harpist in her spare time.
(8)
Wednesday 7 May (N143, IBR Seminar Room) - Career opportunities in Schools
Tony Evans is married with two children and lives in Droitwich Spa. He graduated as a
Geneticist (B.Sc.Hons) from the University of Wales College of Cardiff in 1993 and went on to
complete a Ph.D at the Medical School, University of Birmingham, supervised by Professor
Margaret E Smith in the Department for Physiology. He studied at the Medical School
between 1993-1996 and during his time there, gained substantial teaching and demonstrating
experience under the direction of Professor Kumar. This led to a career into teaching and in
1996; he commenced his PGCE (Secondary- Biology) at Worcester.
In 1997, Tony
simultaneously completed his PGCE at Worcester and completed his Ph.D “Opioids and the control of glucose
transport in insulin sensitive tissues”, graduating from the Medical School in July of that year, before
commencing his teaching career the following September.
He secured his first teaching post at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School in Birmingham. He taught science to
students from all the ability ranges aged 11-18, as well as Biology to GCSE and A-Level. During his six years at
this school, Tony undertook several courses focussed initially upon Middle and Senior Leadership and gained
further responsibilities and promotions eventually leading to the positions of Head of Biology and Head of Year.
He also gained the important position of “Gifted and Talented Coordinator”.
After 6 enjoyable years at Thomas Aquinas, Tony secured the position of Assistant Headteacher at the largest
school in Worcestershire (1750) The Chase High School in Malvern. There his responsibilities included;
Timetable, Curriculum, Specialist Status, Oversight of ICT, RE and Science. He also continued to teach science
to the lower school and A- Level Biology to the sixth form. He became part of a Leadership Team of seven, and
he began some serious professional development by thinking about potential Headship by enrolling for the
NPQH (the Headship Qualification). In order to become a Headteacher, it was essential to gain this qualification
and he completed this in October 2007.
Tony was promoted to Deputy Headteacher at North Bromsgrove High School in September 2007. This was a
significant development in his career, because previously, St Thomas Aquinas and The Chase in Malvern were
recognised as “good” schools by OFSTED. North Bromsgrove was designated by OFSTED, as a school with
“special measures” between 2003 to 2005, and the context of the school was therefore very different. At North
Bromsgrove, Tony had the opportunity to Deputise for his Headteacher, lead curriculum change, write the
timetable, and have oversight for the pastoral system.
On March 1st 2012, following a three day interview procedure, Tony gained the position of Headteacher at
Prince Henry’s High School. He is now responsible for approximately 1250 pupils, a staff body of over 150, and
a budget totalling several million pounds. In May 2013, the school was inspected by OFSTED under the brand
new framework introduced in September 2012, and Prince Henry’s received an “outstanding” judgement in
every category.
Tony was delighted that for his very first Speech Day at Prince Henry’s, Professor Prem
Kumar was able to be guest speaker.
Further details about the school can be found at
www.princehenrys.worcs.sch.uk.
Helen Wood is married with two young children and lives in Cheltenham. She
graduated from the University of Bristol in 1998 with a Degree in History (B.A.Hons).
Helen then joined the School of Education at Bristol, to study for her PGCE. Whilst
there, she did a placement at a school in the Gambia and subsequently taught English
as a foreign language in Japan.
Helen secured her first teaching post in1999 at Prince Henry’s School Evesham, where
she is currently one of the Deputy Heads. After starting as a main-scale teacher of
History, she was quickly promoted to Deputy Head of Sixth Form, before becoming Head of Sixth Form in 2004.
At the time The Sixth Form was one of the largest in Worcestershire, with almost 400 students.
Helen’s career at the school has been varied and rewarding. She has taken students all over the world, to
destinations such as Florence, Barcelona, Berlin, New York and Peru. Helen participated in a ‘Growing leader’
programme which involved working with the leadership team of a local High School, before being appointed
Assistant Headteacher in 2007. Her responsibilities (alongside being Head of Sixth Form) included Teaching
and Learning, Staff Development and Performance Management.
After having two children Helen passed on the responsibility for the Sixth Form but continued to work as an
Assistant Headteacher, taking on responsibility for ITT/NQT and new staff induction. This was a particularly
significant period in the school’s development as Helen was able to focus on improving the quality of teaching
from ‘good’ to ‘outstanding’ with Ofsted judging it such in 2010 and again in 2013.
In September 2013 Helen was appointed to the position of Deputy Head, increasing her responsibilities to
include the curriculum and as such as been working with a range of institutions in the area to establish a
Teaching Alliance, working to tackle national issues such as ‘Closing the gap’.
(9)
Wednesday 18 June 2014 (N143, IBR Seminar Room) - Setting up a Lab
Dr Dan Tennant did his BA and MSci at Cambridge University, reading Natural Sciences. After
his Ph.D. at the University of Manchester in diabetic neuropathy, investigating the role of
hypoxia and metabolic alterations on Schwann cell number in peripheral nerves. Once
completed, he went to the CR-UK Beatson Institute for Cancer Research in Glasgow to take up
a post-doctoral fellowship. While in Glasgow, Dan spent five and a half years investigating
tumour hypoxia, and elucidated a role for prolyl hydroxylases (PHDs) in tumour growth. He
then took up a lectureship at UoB in April 2011. Dan's lab now consists of 4 Ph.D. students, 3
post-doctoral research fellows and a technician, and is doing research into hypoxia and metabolism in cancer.
Dr Aga Gambus moved to Birmingham in 2011 with the remaining of her postdoctoral Sir
Henry Wellcome fellowship. In 2013 Aga started her independent group after being awarded
MRC Career Development Fellowship and Birmingham Fellows Fellowship. Aga’s research
focuses on understanding the regulation of chromosomal DNA replication
(10)
Monday 7 July 2014 (N143, IBR Seminar Room) - Making the most of European funding and
engagement
Xavier Rodde is the Head of Head of Research Information and EU Funding Support at the
University. He has been involved in Framework Programme activities since FP5 and has
supported many people take part in European activities since then. Xavier has played an
instrumental part in helping the University play a full role in FP7. He is now driving the
University’s involvement in Europe 2020 and the Innovation Union, and the relevant
programmes like Horizon 2020. He is also involved in establishing connections with
institutions and organisations within Europe and outside where the University can make a
step-change contribution to the development and delivery of their strategies. Xavier is a Town
and Country Planner by training holding a Degree in Geography, MSc in Town and Country
Planning and MA in European Regional Economic Development.