Biotechnology MSc: Who teaches this course

About the faculty

Staff teaching on this course

T Biotechnology students he Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing teaches this course. The Faculty's wide selection of undergraduate and postgraduate courses covers a diverse range of subject areas, from aerospace to geography; from maths and computing to biotechnology; and many more. Our collaborative set-up provides new opportunities for our students, and we design our courses with industry professionals to ensure you stay up to date with the latest developments.

Life Sciences

The School of Life Sciences is a dynamic and forward-looking School within the University, which has grown steadily since it was founded in 1989. Our diverse range of courses is taught by well-qualified academics, and aims to provide students with the skills they need to be successful in the modern world.

The School has invested heavily in developing its labs for both teaching and research. As well as specialist instrumentation laboratories, there are subject labs for biochemistry; microbiology; histology; anatomy; immunology; cell biology; nutrition; radiotracer studies; and physiology and sports science (including biomechanics and an environmental testing chamber).

The South West London Academic Network

This course is jointly delivered by three major universities in South London – Kingston University; Royal Holloway, University of London; and St George's, University of London – which together form the Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences, part of the South West London Academic Network (SWan).

This ensures that you have access to the latest technology and expertise, including specialist laboratories to provide facilities, for example, in bioinformatics, analytical chemistry, pharmaceutical technology, microbiology, immunology, genomics and proteomics.

The three universities all have strong reputations in both teaching and research, extensive experience of teaching genetics, molecular biology and analytical chemistry at postgraduate level, and excellent links with industry. The course will be taught by academics actively engaged in research, ensuring that it is informed by the latest developments in the field.

Staff teaching on this course

Dr Lori Snyder

Title: Course director and module leader for Biotechnology, Medical Biotechnology and the Research Project
Email: l.snyder@kingston.ac.uk

Qualifications:

Biology BSc (1993), The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia, USA
Biology MA (1995), The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia, USA
Microbiology and Molecular Genetics PhD (2001), Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Previous employment:

University of Birmingham, Centre for Systems Biology, Research Fellow, 2007–08
University of Oxford, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, Post-doctoral Scientist, 2000–07

Research interests:

Bacterial comparative genomics and transcriptomics
Bacterial horizontal gene transfer, particularly involving minimal mobile elements
Pathogenesis, genomics, and transcriptomics of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis

Other professional activities:

Editor in chief of Sequencing
Editorial board member of the Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology

Recent publications:

'The complete genome and proteome of Laribacter hongkongensis reveal potential mechanisms for adaptations to different temperatures and habitats', P.C.Y. Woo, S.K.P. Lau, H. Tse, J.L.L. Teng, S.O.T. Curreem, R.Y.Y. Fan, A.K.L. Tsang, G.K.M. Wong, Y Huang, N.J. Loman, J.C. Cai, J.D. Huang, M.J. Pallen, L.A.S. Snyder, P.K.H. Tam, S. Lok, L.C. Tsui, K.Y. Yuen, PLoS Genetics (in press)
'Comparative analysis of two Neisseria gonorrhoeae genome sequences reveals evidence of mobilization of Correia Repeat Enclosed Elements and their role in regulation', L.A.S Snyder, J.A Cole and M.J. Pallen, BMC Genomics 10: article 70 (2009)
'Uncovering the microbial unknown', L.A.S Snyder, N.J Loman, M.J Pallen and C.W Penn, Microbial Ecology 57: 1-3 (2009)
'Bacterial flagellar diversity and evolution: seek simplicity and distrust it?' L.A.S. Snyder, N.J. Loman, Klaus Fütterer and M.J. Pallen, Trends in Microbiology 17: 1-5 (2009)
'xBASE2: A comprehensive resource for comparative bacterial genomics', R.R Chaudhuri, N.J. Loman, L.A.S. Snyder, C.M. Bailey, D. Stekel and M.J. Pallen, Nucleic Acids Research 36: D543-546 (2008)

Dr Frances Harris

Title: Senior lecturer
Email: f.harris@kingston.ac.uk

Research fields: Frances' research focuses on farming and food production systems, taking a participatory and interdisciplinary approach. She has particular research interests in Africa.

Specific topics of interest include:

community-based natural resource management;
sustainable livelihoods; and
soil fertility management.

Paul Waller

Title: Module leader for Research and Enterprise in Biotechnology
Email: paul.waller@kingston.ac.uk

Dr Stephen Barton

Title: Module leader for Separation Science I and Separation Science II
Email: s.barton@kingston.ac.uk

Specialist subjects:

Separation science
Atomic and molecular spectroscopy
Thermal analysis

Research fields:

Materials science
Conducting polymer composites
Intraocular lenses

Recent publications:

'The Effects of Irradiation on Intraocular Lenses' in Polym. Degrad. Stabil., 2006; 91: 2315-2317 (with C.M. Pratt, E. McGonigle, M. Kishi and P.J.S. Foot)
'Preoperative Opacification of Acrylic Intraocular Lenses in Storage', accepted for publication in J. Mater. Sci: Mater Med, 2007 (with C.M. Pratt, E. McGonigle, M. Kishi and P.J.S. Foot)
'Conductive Polyaniline/Poly (Epichlorohydrin-Co-Ethylene Oxide) Blends Prepared In Solution', Polymers and Polymer Composites, 15, 1, p1-7, 2007 (with Z.K, Abbas, P.J.S. Foot and H. Morgan)

Membership of professional bodies:

Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry (MRSC)
Chartered Chemist (CChem)
Chartered Scientist (CSci)

Dr James Barker

Title: Module leader for Molecular and Atomic Spectroscopy
Email: j.barker@kingston.ac.uk

Specialist subjects: James has given expert witness evidence in the defence of drink-drive cases at both Magistrates and High Court. He is also a Former Chair of the Register of Analytical Chemists. His specialist areas are analytical chemistry, pharmaceutical and forensic analysis.

Research fields:

Traditional Chinese medicines and analysis of bioactive ingredients
Mass spectrometry
Forensic analysis of drugs of abuse
Toxicological evaluation and monitoring of contaminated landfill sites and radiological analysis

Recent publications:

'Determination of metal ion content of beverages and estimation of target hazard quotient: a comparative study', T. Hague, A. Petroczi, P. Andrews, J. Barker, D. Naughton, Chem Central Journal, 2:13 (2008)
'Accurate determination of uranium in soils using electroplating and closed vessels microwave digestion', H.S. Amoli, J. Barker, Chemia Analityczna, 52, (1), 35 (2007)
'Rapid Analysis of americium and plutonium in environmental samples by alpha spectrometry', H.S. Amoli, J. Barker, Ind. J. Chem., Sect A, 46, (10), 1618, (2007).
'Closed Vessel Microwave Digestion for Uranium Analysis of Soils using Alpha Spectroscopy', H. Salar-Amoli, J. Barker, and A. Flowers, Radioanal Nucl Chem, 273, No.2, 281 (2007)
'Apoptotic effect of Oldenlandia diffusa on the leukaemic cell line HL60 and human lymphocytes', S. Willimot, J. Barker, L. Jones, and E.I. Opara, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 114, No. 3 (2007)

Membership of professional bodies: