Lecturer in Biochemistry and Systems Biology
Queen Margaret University
Total years of experience :4 years, 7 Months
Lecturer in Biochemistry, Systems Biology, Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Cellular Biology and Genetics and Human Physiology modules for Human Biology, Dietetics,
Nutrition and Applied Pharmacology undergraduate students.
I am involved in organising lectures, tutorials, labs and exams. I am also involved in marking exams and lab reports.
Supervising and training honours students on laboratory techniques used in their honours projects.
Dealing with clients from French and Arabic speaking countries; selling machinery, liquid solutions and consultancy services in the wet wipes industry
Search Engine Optimisation, Web Design, Content Management Systems such as Joomla and Wordpress
Dealing with the development and formulation of wet wipe liquids as samples for clients
Visiting suppliers and manufacturers and traveling abroad to visit clients’ sites
Carried out personal care duties to maintain activities of daily living for patients to ensure a high standard of care within a 30-bedded clinical area in the Acute Receiving and Assessment Unit.
Working within defined policies, procedures, standards and protocols of the ward, directorate of division to ensure maintenance of safe working practices for patients and colleagues.
Titled: Spatial Learning and Memory in Normal mice, Hypoperfused mice and a mouse model of Alzheimer’s Disease; A Spontaneous Object Exploration and Morris Water Maze study
Gained experience in handling mice and undertaking cognitive and memory experiments
Involved with three consecutive externally funded projects, one with Albert Bartlett and two with Pomegreat, studying the effects of pomegranate juice (Pomegreat) on work-based stress and testosterone levels and the effects of Purple potato on antioxidant status and markers of cardiovascular risk in healthy volunteers
Recruiting volunteers and helping organising the projects from initial stage to ultimate publications
Carrying out all the laboratory work independently adhering to Good Clinical Practice
Effective communication with fellow researchers, doctorate students and line mangers
Coached and mentored postgraduate and undergraduate students on various laboratory queries
Collecting all the data for advanced statistical analysis using Excel and using Windiets for food diaries
Identified and proposed new techniques to improve accuracy of results (validating new FRAP technique)
Technical skills used (venepuncture, ELISA and antioxidant measurements, Vicorder and Windiets)
Key achievement
One article published in the Journal of Nutritional Science in 2012
One article published in Clinical Biochemistry in 2013
Four conference abstract publications:
Society for Endocrinology BES, Endocrine Abstracts 28 P313 (Harrogate, UK) in 2012
Scottish Cardiovascular Forum, 15th Annual Meeting (Dundee, UK) in 2012
5th International Conference on Polyphenols and Health. (Barcelona, Spain) in 2011
International Conference on Functional Foods. (Oxford, UK) in 2010
Carrying out fine wire Myography to assess properties of small blood vessels
Preparing solutions and buffers needed, collecting samples from the Pentland research centre, vessel preparation and mounting and helping in analysing the results with a fellow researcher
Preparation of samples and solutions for laboratory classes
Cleaning the laboratory equipment and glassware
Key achievement
Poster published in the Scottish Cardiovascular Forum (Aberdeen, UK) in 2011
In the first year of my MSc, I studied a module in Imaging In Medicine (Distinction) and my final assignment was a poster and a dissertation on the physics of Diffusion Tensor MRI Tractography and its use in allowing us to better understand how a brain disorder is related to the structure deformation and to asses neurodegeneration and the process of demyelination particularly in Alzheimer’s Disease and possible therapies. In my second year I studied Issues In Brain And Behaviour (Distinction) and my poster and a dissertation investigated how Cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s Disease correlates with changes in specific white matter tracts detected by Diffusion Tensor MRI Tractography. In my third year, I obtained a Home Office Personal Animal Licence in Jan 2012, which was required for my final module research dissertation (Distinction) on the subject of Alzheimer’s Disease on laboratory mice, which was carried out at the Neuroscience - University of Edinburgh.
BSc Applied Pharmacology (B): Queen Margaret University, UK
HNC in Biomedical Sciences with Biotechnology (2 merits): Stevenson College, UK
Baccalaureate Certificate, Life and Natural Sciences (67.3%): Algiers, Algeria