Job group: Lecturer

Work: Full Time

Theme: Teaching, work-life balance

The University of Glasgow has played a very big part in my life.  As an undergraduate student, I studied pharmacology at the University of Glasgow and then continued my studies to complete my PhD in molecular pharmacology.   After my PhD studies, I moved away from Glasgow, completing successive post-doctoral positions at the Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Dundee.  However, I then returned home to the University of Glasgow to complete a postdoctoral position with Prof Graeme Milligan before taking up a lectureship position. My main research interests have largely focused on understanding the role of G protein-coupled receptors in metabolic conditions, such as diabetes and obesity.  These are areas that I continue to have a strong interest in.

As a lecturer in the School of Molecular Biosciences, I predominantly teach first year undergraduate biology and junior and senior honours pharmacology.  I also contribute to Masters and PhD supervision. One of the great, if slightly surreal, perks of my current position has therefore been the chance to teach within the degree subject that I initially studied as an undergraduate.  As a wide-eyed undergraduate student, I couldn’t ever have imagined doing that.  More generally, my job as a lecturer offers me the opportunity to teach and mentor a large and diverse range of students.  Therefore, this requires an understanding of the wide variety of needs and support that students require.  Overall, my job is extremely rewarding.  It is always nice to see the students that you have met in the very first weeks of their undergraduate experience eventually graduating and moving on to a wide variety of interesting, successful careers. 

Teaching can, however, also present challenges.  These can range from workload pressures, tight deadlines and challenges associated with student pastoral support.  Achieving a work-life balance can therefore be difficult, especially during the academic year.  However, away from work, I enjoy spending time with friends, family and my two cats.  My partner is a primary school teacher so there is always a danger that our dinner table talk will cover topics related to education.   Football and music are also a big part of how I relax.  I play the piano and enjoy going to gigs.  I am also a keen Airdrieonians fan, although watching the games isn’t always relaxing. 

First published: 23 August 2021

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