Nicola joined the University of Glasgow's School of Education in 2021 with over 20 years teaching expertise in a range of secondary science education contexts as well as 5 years experience as an associate tutor for the PGDE physics, PGDE chemistry and masters led education courses at the University of Dundee.

She began her teaching career in Malawi as a physical science teacher and on returning to Scotland taught physics and science within the Stirling and Angus local authorities. During that time, she had responsibility for overseeing NQTs for over a decade and for leading a variety of whole school initiatives such as “visible learning” based on expertise developed during studying for her M Ed. in Professional Enquiry. 

Since joining the university Nicola has contributed to the development and delivery of science seminars and practitioner enquiry courses across the ITE programmes.

Throughout her career she has made key contributions to a range of organisations such as the SQA (Scottish Qualifications Authority), ASE (association for science education), IOP (institute of physics) and Education Scotland. Nicola is currently the ITE Physics representative on the IOP Scotland Education committee. 

Nicola works in collaboration with local schools to support the implementation of practitioner enquiry and which in turn inform practitioner enquiry courses within the School of Education. Her research focusses on the impacts of such collaborations. 

Nicola is interested in support for students undergoing academic transitions. This includes exploring the lived experience of international taught post graduate students who completed their undergraduate degrees overseas and the lived experience of STEM undergraduate students transitioning into teacher education courses.

Nicola is also interested in the attitudes of undergraduate Physics and Engineering students towards careers in Physics teaching. Her research in this area explores barriers to entry to initial teacher education. 

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2023 - 2204 Glasgow Knowledge Exchange Fund Award ‘Practitioner Enquiry at Govan High School: A deep understanding of school improvement’ 

MEduc year 5 Dissertations

Nicola teaches on the following science courses:

• PGDE Secondary Science and Physics
• PGDE Primary Science
• MEduc year 2 - year 4 Science
• MEduc year 3 Science meets the Arts (SmArts) elective

Nicola also teaches on the following enquiry course

• MEduc 4 Curriculum Enquiry

Nicola is the course leader for MEduc 4 Curriculum Enquiry and the co-ordinator of the Curriculum Enquiry strand of the MEduc programme. 

Prizes, awards & distinctions

• 2013: CSciTeach (ASE)
• 2012: Long service award (ASE)
• 2008: Volunteer of year (Volunteer Scotland)

Professional & learned societies

• 2003 - 2009: Committee Member, Association of Science Education (Scotland)
• 2005 - 2012: Committee Member, Association of Science Education (UK 11-19)
• 2012 - 2015: Committee Member, Institute of Physics (Scotland)
• 2022: Initial Teacher Education Representative, Institute of Physics (Scotland)

Nicola is a member of the following professional bodies and holds a CSciTeach award:

• Association of Science Education
• General Teaching Council for Scotland

Nicola is the initial teacher education member of the Institute of Physics Scotland Education committee.

In 2024 Nicola was awarded a College of Social Sciences Teaching Excellence Award in the Early Carear category.