I completed my BSc (Hons) in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Bath in 2000 and my PhD in Molecular Neuroscience from University College London School of Pharmacy in 2004.

I moved to Boston, Massachusetts in 2005 to undertake postdoctoral research, firstly studying the genetics and neurobiology of Alzheimer’s disease at Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School and subsequently investigating the genetics of schwannomatosis disease at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School.

I returned to the UK in 2009 to join The University of Manchester as a Research Associate where I continued investigating the molecular genetics of tumours of the central nervous system and was awarded a Young Investigator Award from the Children’s Tumor Foundation in 2011. I took up my role as Lecturer in Cancer Genomics in 2013 and became a Senior Lecturer in 2020. My current research is centred on investigating the genetic mechanisms that cause schwannoma and meningioma tumours.

My research interests are in identifying the molecular genetic causes underlying tumours of the nervous system, particularly those associated with Neurofibromatosis type 2 and Schwannomatosis. My recent research has been focussed on the discovery of new genes involved in the pathogenesis of schwannoma and meningioma tumours. I have recently found that the SWI/SNF chromatin remodelling complex subunit, SMARCE1, causes clear cell meningiomas. I am currently searching for further genes and investigating the mechanisms of involvement of known genes.

BSc Pathology - research project supervisor 2014/15 & 2016/17

BIOL 30452 (Clinical Genetics) - Academic year 2011/12

BIOL 31402 (Human Genetics and Evolution) - From academic year 2012/13

MRes Genetic Medicine - From academic year 2014/15 to 2015/16

MSc Genomic Medicine - From academic year 2015/16 Module Lead (Molecular pathology of Cancer)

MMS PEP tutor - From academic year 2015/16

MSc Genomic Sciences - From academic year 2016/17 - Module Lead

BIOL21090 (UG dissertation supervisor) - From Academic year 2016/17

MSci - Project supervisor 2017/18

Supervision of laboratory based project students

Member of the British Neuroscience Association.

2000     BSc (Hons) Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Bath.

2004     PhD Molecular Neuroscience, University College London School of Pharmacy.

2015     Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

2016     PGCertHE