Dr Ahmed Elbediwy
- Faculty of Health, Science, Social Care and Education
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry
- Penrhyn Road
Senior Lecturer and Course Leader for BSc Biochemistry
About
Dr Ahmed Elbediwy is an internationally-recognised, award-winning academic leader, senior lecturer, and course leader at Kingston University, London. He was crowned the 2026 Royal Society of Biology (RSB) UK Higher Education Bioscience Teacher of the Year and has won four Kingston Student Union Academic Impact awards amongst numerous local and national nominations.
Dr Elbediwy’s dual expertise bridges world-class cancer cell biology research and trailblazing, evidence-based, inclusive pedagogy. As the architect of the highly acclaimed DK-Ecosystem (Digital-First, Kinaesthetic-Led), his research and practice are dedicated to dismantling the privilege of proximity for diverse student cohorts, translating high-level academic theory into measurable student attainment and profound institutional systems leadership.
Biography and academic journey
Dr Elbediwy’s academic career is marked by a rigorous trajectory of scientific inquiry and educational excellence. He earned his BSc (Hons) in Molecular Biology from Queen Mary, University of London, followed by a PhD in Molecular Cell Biology from University College London (UCL), where his seminal thesis work on epithelial differentiation was published in the Journal of Cell Biology.
He completed a highly successful postdoctoral research career at the Francis Crick Institute, London and the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, publishing multiple high-impact Q1 studies in oncology and cell biology. During this time, he initiated his commitment to professional education through collaboration with UCL, earning his Associate Fellowship of the HEA (AFHEA).
In 2019, Dr Elbediwy joined Kingston University as a Lecturer, quickly integrating his research expertise into the Biomolecular Science teaching team. He quickly achieved Advance HE Fellowship (FHEA) and was promoted to Senior Lecturer and Course Leader for BSc Biochemistry in 2020. Under his stewardship, the course has achieved unprecedented heights. He subsequently led BSc Biological Sciences as Course Leader (2022–2024). In recognition of his sustained, university-wide impact in educational leadership, he was awarded Advance HE Senior Fellowship (SFHEA) and elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology (FRSB).
Key achievements and impact metrics
- 2026 RSB UK Higher Education Bioscience Teacher of the Year: Crowned winner in June 2026 by the Royal Society of Biology for outstanding, transformative contributions to bioscience education.
- Kingston Student Union Academic Impact Awards: Recipient of an unprecedented four awards: Outstanding Contribution to Teaching, Outstanding Contribution to the Student Experience, Most Student-Friendly Staff and Most Engaging Teacher.
This is alongside 18 cumulative category nominations, including KSU awards, KU People Awards, THE awards and Alliance University Awards.
- Student co-creation and peer-reviewed pedagogic publications: Investigating several teaching themes, he has worked with over 30 undergraduate students as co-researchers, co-authoring eight peer-reviewed pedagogic journal papers (Compass, New Directions).
Scientific and pedagogic research
Dr Elbediwy maintains a vibrant, interdisciplinary research portfolio spanning molecular oncology and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL).
- High-impact cancer biology research: With over 2,000 citations, his research investigates the mechanics of epithelial cell polarity, tight junction formation, and the Hippo signalling pathway (specifically the YAP/TAZ mechanotransduction axis), which controls tissue growth and tumour progression.
- Supervision of PhD and masters by research students: He has supervised a large number of PhD and Masters by Research (MScR) students to completion and has an active research laboratory currently.
- Current laboratory key themes: Cancer Signalling, Initiation of Cancer, Using natural compounds for cancer therapy and Drug repurposing in Cancer.
His seminal co-authored outputs are published in elite journals such as eLife, Nature Cell Biology, Developmental Cell, Journal of Cell Biology, Development, Cells, and the Journal of Cell Science.
- Pedagogic scholarship: His educational research rigorously investigates a number of key themes such as student transition barriers from FE to HE, the burdens of young adult student carers, commuter student stress, academic-led motivation, and the impact of artificial intelligence in assessments as well as numerous blogs, published across major platforms including SEDA, Advance HE, Compass, and New Directions in the Teaching of Natural Sciences.
National standing, governance and leadership
Dr Elbediwy’s influence extends from local course design to high-level national sector leadership and governance:
- BAME Staff Network Co-Chair: leading strategic, institution-wide meetings for minoritised academics, formally discussing any key themes to the Senior EDI Partner to drive institutional policy dialogue.
- National governance and peer review: Appointed Core Committee Member for the Royal Society Newton International Fellowships and serves as an invited Expert Reviewer for the Royal Society.
- External examining and curriculum audit: Acts as External Examiner for Anglia Ruskin University and the University of East London.
- Institutional Systems Leadership: As part of task and finish groups involved with developing academic integrity guidelines to be used across the Kingston University student base and also a founding member of the Teaching Management Guide (TMG) working group.
- Global media presence: His health and oncology expertise has reached a global audience of 4 million readers on The Conversation, with widespread syndication in major outlets (The Independent, Daily Mail, The Sun, New York Post) and featured broadcasts on the BBC World Service and Times Radio.
- Student wellbeing advocate: He is a certified Mental Health First Aider and Mind Suicide Prevention Champion, holding a Level 3 Award in Mental Health First Aid with the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH).
Qualifications
- SFHEA (2022)
- Advance HE Online Professional Development Course for External Examiners (2020)
- FHEA (2019)
- AFHEA (2018)
- Mental Health First Aider (2023)
- Level 3 RSPH Mental Health (2023)
- DPhil in Molecular Cell Biology (University College London) (2013)
- B.Sc (Hons) in Molecular Biology (Queen Mary, University of London) (2005)
Domains
Publications
Gallery of work
Union of Kingston Students: Academic Impact Awards 2022
Winner: Outstanding Contribution to Learning and Teaching
Union of Kingston Students: Academic Impact Awards 2022
At the ceremony
My Completed PhD student (Simge Karagil)
My undergraduate project student who won best project in Dept of Applied and Human Sciences
Graduation 2023
My undergraduate project student who won the Oxford University Press Prize
Biomedical Science students at graduation
Graduation 2023
Union of Kingston Students: Academic Impact Awards 2023
At the ceremony