Category: Biomedical science

Shantel looking into microscope

My placement experience at University Hospitals Sussex Pathology East

How I felt starting my placement and the advice I would give to others

My placement was in the Cellular Pathology department at University Hospitals Sussex Pathology East. When I started I felt excited to have the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills gained from the first two years of studying Biomedical Science BSc(Hons) in a professional clinical setting. I was keen to delve into the variety of different diagnostic tests carried out in the hospital to gain a better understanding of what a practicing biomedical scientist does. However, I felt nervous about the step up in responsibility and autonomy that comes with working in the healthcare setting. I was also worried about the amount of work that would be required to complete the registration training portfolio whilst working full time.

Continue reading “My placement experience at University Hospitals Sussex Pathology East” →

Shantel CarringtonLeave a comment
Dr Sarah Pitt Media Fellow 2022 promo

Media fellowship puts biomedical expert behind the scenes at the BBC

University of Brighton’s Dr Sarah Pitt will team up with the BBC Science Unit as part of a Media Fellowship from the Association of British Science Writers.

As a virologist, Dr Pitt has made regular appearances on TV, radio and in print since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, providing expert insights on the disease itself, as well as infection rates, new variants and vaccinations. More recently, she has been called upon to comment on other topics such as the discovery of polio in London water and the ongoing monkeypox outbreak. Continue reading “Media fellowship puts biomedical expert behind the scenes at the BBC” →

Stephanie ThomsonLeave a comment
Students wearing organ donor hoodies

Funding boost for student-led drive on minority ethnic organ donation

University of Brighton students are playing a key role in encouraging people from minority ethnic backgrounds to consider organ and blood donation.

The University of Brighton’s Donor Research Team has been awarded new funding as part of this year’s Community Investment Scheme led by NHS Blood and Transplant, which will receive £440,000 funding as part of the Government’s effort to tackle health inequalities in minority ethnic communities.

Continue reading “Funding boost for student-led drive on minority ethnic organ donation” →

Stephanie ThomsonLeave a comment
Brighton pier and beach in the sunshine

From Setúbal to Brighton

My name is Carla, I am from Setúbal, Portugal, and I am a final year Biomedical Sciences BSc(Hons) student at the University of Brighton.

I moved to the UK when I was 16 years old, and I’ve been living here for eight years. I did most of my education in Portugal. I studied in Portugal until 10th grade, but when I moved to the UK, I enrolled in college, and I did GCSEs, A-levels, and an access course before I started university in 2018. Continue reading “From Setúbal to Brighton” →

Stephanie ThomsonLeave a comment
Profile pic of Nadia Terrazzini

Meet Dr Nadia Terrazzini

Nadia trained at the National Institute for the Study and the Cure of Cancer in Milan (Italy) and has since worked on a variety of immunology research projects spanning from cancer gene therapy to DNA vaccines, to immunosenescence. She is a member of the Centre for Stress and Age-Related Disease (STRAND), the Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Devices  and the Brighton and Sussex Cancer Research Network.

Dr Nadia Terrazzini is the course leader for Biological Sciences BSc(Hons), Biological Sciences MSci and Biological Sciences BSc(Hons) (with integrated foundation year).

The way I like to teach

My professional field of expertise is Immunology and I teach it at undergraduate and postgraduate level. I am very passionate about promoting the understanding of Immunology to students, who often find this subject very complex. Enhancing its accessibility is a priority in my work. To foster engagement, I try to introduce an element of fun in my teaching and I strive to keep my lectures student-centred and highly interactive, including everyday analogies (e.g. comparing the working of the immune system to a football match), story-telling and animated PowerPoint diagrams or animations.

I also use online game-based learning platforms such as Kahoot and Nearpod to make complex immunology mechanisms and concepts more approachable and easier to visualise. Students engage with the teaching using their laptop/tablets, so that I can introduce questions, polls and videos, pace the lecture and create breaks that give students time to reflect on the learning and work with peers in small groups. I also include examples of experimental data in my presentations and I design assessments to test the students’ ability to understand and interpret scientific data presented in literature. This supports students’ professional development as scientists and ultimately their employability.

Continue reading “Meet Dr Nadia Terrazzini” →

Stephanie ThomsonLeave a comment
Head shot of Neesha, Biomedical Science student

Why I decided to become an Inclusive Practice Partner

What is the Inclusive Practice Partners (IPP) Scheme?

The Inclusive Practice Partners Scheme is a collaboration between students and academic staff at the University of Brighton. It is a programme that aims to diversify and decolonise the curriculum and pedagogy within higher education. What this essentially means is that students work alongside staff to produce a list of recommendations for improvement within these areas in their own subject area. I study Biomedical Science and I have forwarded changes in some of the literature searches, in how critical analysis is marked for future students, and recommended unconscious bias training and guest speakers within modules based on my own lived experiences of studying my course. Continue reading “Why I decided to become an Inclusive Practice Partner” →

Neesha SivaratnamLeave a comment

University of Brighton leads drive to boost BAME student organ donation

Researchers and students have teamed up for a project to tackle shortages in relation to blood and organ donation in BAME communities across the UK.

With the help of funding from NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), Simonne Weeks (Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Science) and Rebecca Craig (Senior Lecturer in Nursing) have overseen a project with students from Black, Asian, Mixed Heritage and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds to create  online awareness initiatives to support students across the UK to register an informed choice to donate organs, and tell others. Continue reading “University of Brighton leads drive to boost BAME student organ donation” →

Stephanie ThomsonLeave a comment