Lydia Hanna

I graduated from the University of Bristol in 2008 with a BSc (Hons) in Neuroscience with Year in Industry, spending a year at the Pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly. In 2012, I obtained a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Bristol (in collaboration with Eli Lilly), where I studied the pharmacology and functions of the group II metabotropic glutamate receptors (in the rodent brain). From the field of learning and memory, I used my neurophysiology skillset to then investigate the neurocircuitry underlying circadian rhythmicity and later on, energy homeostasis/food intake, as a postdoc working at the University of Manchester and the University of Exeter, respectively. In 2018 as Lecturer in Pharmacology and Therapeutics, I taught undergraduate pharmacy students at the University of Reading, before joining the team here at Royal Holloway in 2019 as a teaching focussed (TF) Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences.

At Royal Holloway I am tasked with teaching Physiology content (which I love to do!) and I am always looking for ways by which I can enhance the student learning experience. One of my main teaching aims is to promote active learning through (good old) social interaction and use of 'real-world' case studies. Moreover, I also like to incorporate the student voice and perspective into the (co-)design of various learning activities that I run in-class. Finally, the use of online (anonymous) polling software, such as Vevox, is a regular feature in my lectures, something which the students enjoy participating in (as evidenced from their feedback).

Adminstrative roles:

• Module leader and main lecturer for:
  • BS0999: Foundation Project (Biosciences) (Level 3).
  • BS1061: Introductory Animal Physiology (Level 4).
  • BS1062: Introduction to Human Physiology in Health and Disease (Level 4).
  • BS2050: Human Physiology in Health and Disease (II) (Level 5).

• Deputy Chair of Departmental Assessment Board (DAB) and Academic Misconduct (AM) Liaison for the Biological Sciences Department.

Teaching qualification(s):

• FHEA (Fellow) status: awarded a Pass with Commendation (Jan, 2022).
  • Extended essay titled: 'Evaluating the use of Labster during COVID-19: can virtual laboratory simulations enhance the student learning experience?'

Science communication, interacting with the public and talking about what/why we do what we do, is I believe a really important thing. Along with my colleague Dr Philip Chen, we organised the very first Physiological Society outreach event at RHUL, to celebrate #PhysiologyWeek 2023. See the YouTube link here.