Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine Staff Awards 2023

This award recognises teams that have engaged in outstanding collaborative research. It recognises team science, where successful collaboration has been critical to the success of the research.

Winner: CRIBS Team,
School of Life Course & Population Sciences
A truly multidisciplinary team comprising academics, researchers, policy makers, doctors, nurses, midwives, health economists, social scientists, gender experts and community representatives, all with a single ambition: to improve the lives of women and babies in Sierra Leone.

This award recognises individuals who have provided excellent support, guidance, management or mentorship to early career research staff.

Winner: Dr Emma Robinson,
Senior Lecturer in Machine Learning for Biomedical Applications, School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences
An outstanding supervisor who fosters a culture of collaboration and positivity and provides exceptional pastoral care to her students and junior staff. Dr Robinson is a true role model and fervent advocate for diversity in STEM, especially at the intersection of neuroscience and computer science.

This award recognises individuals or teams who have made a major impact on the world through their research. It recognises a broad spectrum of research impact, including impact on healthcare, influencing national or international guidelines or policy, economic impact such as commercialisation and societal impact including impact on the local community.

Winner: Covid Symptom Study App Team,
Schools of Life Course & Population Sciences and Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences
A collaborative and multidisciplinary team whose work shaped health policy during the pandemic by identifying new symptoms, tracking disease hotspots, characterising Long Covid and more.

This award will recognise individuals or teams demonstrating outstanding innovation in research. This may encompass new discoveries or methods and may include collaborations or partnerships.

Winner: Dr John Maher,
Clinical Senior Lecturer in Immunology, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences
Dr Maher’s ground-breaking discoveries have led to new CAR T-cell immunotherapy treatments for cancer, minimising the need for costly and invasive procedures in patients.

This award recognises exceptional contributions to research support from a team of professional services staff within the Faculty, including technical services.

Winner: John Darker,
School Technical Manager, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences
John Darker has made an exceptional contribution to his School and to the Faculty. Co-chair of the ‘Access King's’ network, he has been instrumental in improving disabled access on site, improving staff safety and identifying ways to make even better use of facilities.

This award recognises the achievements of an early career researcher who has made a major contribution to research within the Faculty.

Winner: Dr Hannah Cowan,
Research Associate, School of Life Course & Population Sciences
Dr Cowan is a rising star who has demonstrated excellent leadership of the 'Utopia Now!' project and is making important contributions to research on health inequalities.

This award is for individuals (or teams) who have made significant contributions in developing, promoting and embedding equality, diversity and an inclusive culture within the Faculty.

Winner: Success for Black Engineers Working Group,
School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences
This team has worked hard to support black engineering students at school and during their time at university and has been passionate in addressing the unequal outcomes experienced by students from diverse and underrepresented groups.

This award recognises individuals who have made a substantial contribution to the Faculty above and beyond their normal duties. This may include significant leadership of internal or external networks/initiatives that add value to the Faculty.

Joint Winners: Triona Fielding,
Education Operating Services, Faculty Central Services and
Dr Michaeljohn Kalakoutis,
Research Associate, School of Basic & Medical Biosciences
Triona Fielding is the technical representative on the FoLSM Research Staff Network Committee and established the Guy's Campus Technical Network Group with the aim of improving collaboration, visibility, recognition and career development for technicians at King's. Dr Kalakoutis is Chair of the School of Basic & Medical Bioscience (BMBS) Research Staff Representative Committee and has led on the development of several departmental and school activities, including the 2022 BMBS Careers Day and a Public Engagement in Science event.

This award recognises individuals or teams who have made a significant contribution to outreach and engagement. This may include patient, public involvement and engagement, widening participation, local or global engagement, external engagement on sustainability issues or any other issues of importance to the Faculty.

Winner: Extended Medical Degree Programme Team,
Centre for Education
For over 20 years the Extended Medical Degree Programme Team has provided access to medical education for those not traditionally represented, thereby diversifying the profession and providing much needed and aspirational role models for our local communities.

This award recognises a member or small team of professional services staff who have provided outstanding, responsive and innovative support, either expert or general to colleagues in the Faculty. This award may also recognise contributions to developing others, including outstanding line management, mentorship or support for training and development of professional services colleagues. It may also include leading innovation that has impacted significant improvement in support for a local or wider area of activity; responding to unforeseen circumstances and going above and beyond expectations; collaborating with colleagues across the Faculty and College to bring a positive change to working practice.

Winner: Deborah Hart,
Executive Director of TwinsUK, School of Life Course & Population Sciences
Deborah Hart has shown exceptional leadership of the professional services team at the Department for Twin Research & Genetic Epidemiology and has made a major contribution to the success of the cohort and multiple complex studies at TwinsUK.

This award will recognise a member of technical services staff within the Faculty who has made a significant ‘above and beyond’ contribution to research, teaching or sustainability within the Faculty. Nominations may be for both individuals and teams if appropriate.

Winner: Justin Lock,
Senior IT Officer, School of Life Course & Population Sciences
Justin Lock has provided outstanding IT technical support and guidance to colleagues within the School of Life Course & Population Sciences. He consistently goes above and beyond to troubleshoot problems and find solutions.

This award recognises the contribution of an individual (or team) over time which has led to a sustained positive impact on the learning and teaching community, or overall student experience at King's.

Winner: Dr Alistair Hunter,
Senior Lecturer, Centre for Education
Described as the ‘backbone of the year one anatomy teaching’, Dr Hunter consistently brings incredibly complex content to life for students with energy and charisma.

This award recognises the contribution of a pioneering individual (or team) who has taken on new, innovative approaches to designing effective learning environments, delivering creative and inspirational teaching.

Winner: Dr Rachel Hunt,
Lecturer in Bioscience Education, Centre for Education
Dr Hunt is known for continuously introducing innovative ways to convey information to her biochemistry students, beginning at induction with a ‘virtual escape room’ activity designed to enable students to become familiar with university terminology and support systems whilst also seeding peer networks and friendships.

This award recognises an individual (or team) who shows commitment and dedication to widening participation by creating a diverse and inclusive environment, through curriculum content and design, teaching practice, and/or supporting students and colleagues.

Winner: Dr Kevin Walsh,
Lecturer, School of Life Course & Population Sciences
Dr Walsh has championed racial equality and worked to improve diversity within the field of dietetics. He provides outstanding support to students in relation to their progression and professional development, including those with complex needs.

This award recognises an individual (or team) who consistently applies feedback practices that are integral to supporting student development and learning.

Winner: Mr Chu Yiu,
Consultant Surgeon, Centre for Education
Mr Yiu is a passionate teacher, both in delivering central block content at the medical school and in educating students in the hospital clinical setting. Students value his ability to consistently provide appropriate, timely and focused feedback.

This award recognises an individual (or team) who frequently goes the extra mile to support students in and outside of the classroom.

Winner: Dr Grace Walden,
Teaching Fellow, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences
Dr Walden is someone students feel comfortable to talk to. She consistently provides support, guidance and reassurance and is very caring in her approach.

This award recognises an individual (or team) who purposefully include students in co-curricular opportunities and who support students in engaging in ways to connect their academic experience to broader initiatives such as service, internships, employability skills, or through involvement in improving the curriculum.

Winner: Dr Mahmood Bashir,
Clinical Educational Supervisor, Centre for Education
Dr Bashir is committed to looking ‘outside the box’ to find learning experiences that will help our students grow. He ensures students feel supported and goes above and beyond in helping them obtain clinical knowledge, skills and attributes.

Winner: Dr Rocio Martinez Nuñez,
Senior Lecturer, School of Immunology & Microbial Sciences
Dr Martinez Nuñez led a team of scientists and managers to develop, validate and implement the King’s Covid test for staff and students during the pandemic.

Winner: Professor Richard Phillips,
Deputy Dean MBBS, Centre for Education
Professor Phillips has demonstrated sustained excellence in the delivery of teaching over the last 25 years, and contributed significantly to careers planning, academic support, ethics, mitigating circumstances and more. He has been absolutely crucial to the success of the Faculty and its medical students.

Winner: Professor Ian McFadzean,
Professor of Bioscience Education, Centre for Education
Professor McFadzean has made an outstanding contribution to education within the Faculty over his 30 year career, inspiring students and leading the University Teaching Excellence Framework submission.