Bioscience Faculty Introduction
Collated by Ines Hui
KCL's bioscience lecturers introduce themselves and discuss their modules as well as what's in store for CYO students this year.
Dr Alison Snape
Which department and CYO modules do you teach?
I’m head of the Biochemistry Teaching Department. I specialise in education, so my role is to teach classes, look after students and work with colleagues to deliver the best education possible. I run the CYO Biochemistry module, and I also teach on CYO Chemistry and the Skills module.
What can students expect from the CYO and your module?
CYO can be very rewarding for students but also quite challenging as there is so much going on. You will probably feel it starts slowly, but don’t worry, you will soon have plenty to do. The Biochemistry module has some overlap with A level, which I hope you will find reassuring. It’s designed to give students a strong foundation whether they plan to continue the subject in later years or specialise elsewhere. Some of the material is quite basic, but I try to highlight links to latest research so you can get a feel for the excitement of higher-level study.
What is your favourite event/activity/time of year at KCL (especially one you may be looking forward to this year)?
One of my favourite activities is working with students in practical classes. It’s a great chance to chat and find out what students are experiencing and what questions they have. I’ve missed this and I’m looking forward to going back to it.
Any fun facts about yourself or KCL that you would like to share:
I can’t think of any fun facts about King’s that I can share with students (!), but I can talk about my name. Snape is an unusual surname, and I spent a good part of my life politely correcting people’s spelling and pronunciation. Then Harry Potter came along, so everyone now knows the name and I don’t have to explain anymore. But I have never read the books so please don’t ask me about the rules of Quidditch.
What are your personal hobbies?
I love open spaces and grand landscapes so enjoy (gentle) hiking. I also like swimming, especially open-air swimming - when I get the chance, which isn’t often.
Dr Clemens Kiecker
Which department and CYO modules do you teach?
I am one of the module leads of the Common Year One (CYO) module 4BBY1030 Cell Biology and Neuroscience, and I really look forward to having you on this module. I am also the Education Lead for the School of Neuroscience - one of the largest Schools at King's with an outstanding reputation for its research in all things nervous system-related.
What can students expect from the CYO and your module?
CYO is designed to provide you with a broad base on which to develop your individual skills in years 2 and 3 of your degree. On my module, you will learn not only basic cellular processes and functions, but also some of the theory behind neuroscience, and we offer specialist seminars on stem cells and on neuroimaging techniques (something that my colleagues at Denmark Hill are extremely good at). We will also take you into our teaching labs, get you to learn some often-used cell biological approaches and work with real dissected human brain and spinal cord tissue.
What can students expect from the CYO and your module?
My main goal is to fan your interest in cell biology and neuroscience - these are scientific disciplines that you constantly read about in the news (not just during the recent pandemic) and where exciting discoveries continue to be made. I want you to finish your first year at King's eager to take cell biology and/or neuroscience modules in years 2 and 3, with the aim of becoming part of the international research community that has, for example, given us vaccines against coronaviruses with unprecedented speed or that investigates potential differences between the brains of healthy individuals and those suffering from neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression or schizophrenia.
Any fun facts about yourself or KCL that you would like to share?
My research interests lie in the areas of neuroanatomy/neuroembryology, but one of the reasons why I enjoy teaching is that it keeps your horizon broad and allows you to dabble in many interesting areas.
Any advice for the CYO students?
Being a scientist does not mean that you always have to get it right. In fact, science moves forward because scientists get it wrong many times, before finally getting it right. I want you to become comfortable with getting it wrong. Making mistakes is central to the scientific endeavour.
Professor Ian McFadzean
Which department and CYO modules do you teach?
I am the lead for the CYO programme and organise the module called “Fundamentals of Pharmacology”. During this module I aim to introduce students to the discipline of pharmacology and how we develop drugs as effective medicines. For most students this is a completely new subject area, and for some, taking “Fundamentals of Pharmacology” exposes a whole new area of interest that they pursue further at university and beyond.
What can students expect from the CYO and your module?
This year my highlight will be welcoming students back on campus and meeting them face-to-face in the classroom or lab, rather than on Teams. There is much to be said for studying “at” university and the importance of that two-letter word has become apparent over the past 18 months.
Any fun facts about yourself or KCL that you would like to share?
When not teaching pharmacology, I spend a lot of time on two wheels, both cycling and riding motorcycles. When I’m cycling, I complain about inconsiderate motorcyclists and when I’m on my motorcycle I moan about cyclists. So basically, I’m always grumpy! But please don’t let that put you off saying hello when we meet on campus!