I have been teaching for over ten years and this is my third year at the Centre for Foundation Studies, where I lead the Life Sciences programme. I teach on the Animal Biology, Human Biology, Introduction to Marine Biology and Independent Project modules.

I entered university as a mature student, after working in many different roles in horticulture, catering and customer service. Once I had started I found I really loved being in education, and after my undergraduate degree I continued my studies to complete a PhD. My PhD subject looked at seaweed harvesting and the effect on animals that use it as habitat. During and after my PhD I had various teaching roles including biology lecturer on an international foundation programme. Alongside my studies and teaching I also worked in academic publishing as a self-employed editorial assistant.

My experience as a mature student means I understand some of the challenges returning to education brings and also how rewarding it is. The Life Sciences Foundation Year is a fantastic route into higher education for mature students and a great next step into higher education if you are joining from school or college. A mix of academic and experiential learning creates a dynamic and co-operative learning environment where you will build important transferable skills required for degree success.