Supervisors
You will need to submit a research outline as part of the application process. At this stage we are looking for the potential of your project and your ability to successfully complete the degree, as well as our capacity to supervise your research. The guidance for writing your research outline is here. We recommend discussing your research outline with a potential supervisor before submitting a formal application.
Informal inquiries are welcomed by any of our supervisors or the course leader, Professor Lisa Jones. Our supervisors are listed below - please do click on the links to their webpages so that you can find out more about their specific research expertise. Please only contact one potential supervisor. If another supervisor is better suited to your project, we will redirect your query.
Professor Rachel Ashworth
Rachel has research expertise in medical education. She has experience of using qualitative and sociological research methods, including interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Rachel is interested in the effectiveness of integrative approaches to teaching biological science in the clinical context.
Dr Leo Donnelly
Leo is an anatomist with research interests in medical education, especially the optimisation of anatomical knowledge acquisition and the uses of computer-aided learning and haptic modelling, as well as the use of imaging modalities such as ultrasound.
Professor Lisa Jones
Lisa has research expertise in medical student wellbeing and achievement. She has expertise in quantitative research methods. Lisa is also interested in the effectiveness of learning and teaching behavioural science in the clinical context, and learning and teaching about mental health and mental illness.
Professor Kay Mohanna
Kay is an educationalist whose research has tended to be about aspects of teaching and learning. She has expertise in conversation analysis of video recorded data and also some qualitative methods that share a thematic analytical approach. Kay is interested in identity formation, diversity and inclusion, leadership and the use of humanities in teaching and learning.
Professor Sandra Nicholson
Sandra strongly believes in the value of medical educational research and scholarship that enhances the experience of both students and tutors, and ultimately seeks to improve the care and satisfaction of patients. She enjoys collaborating and taking an interdisciplinary approach to research and has frequently engaged with policy holders. She has expertise in both quantitative and qualitative educational methodologies with her main research interests highlighting the field of medical selection and widening participation.
Dr Russell Peek
Russell has experience in quantitative and qualitative research in medical education, working across traditional disciplinary and professional boundaries. He has research interests in complexity and uncertainty, and the psychophysiology of stress, performance and thriving in clinical learners.
Dr Richard Singleton
Richard has been involved in medical education for many years and has strong interests in the integration of technology into the learning experience. In particular he has been interested in the field of ‘gamification’ and how the inherent competitiveness of students can be harnessed in such a way as to make learning more enjoyable.
Professor Rebecca Stack
Rebecca conducts research into medical education, particularly approaches to reducing biases in assessment, increasing consistency between assessors, promoting equality and diversity in assessment, and reaching inclusive forms of assessment. She has expertise in a range of methods including qualitative research and analysis, meta synthesis, survey-based research and statistical analysis of quantitative data.
Rebecca would be particularly interested in supervising research into student perceptions of inclusive assessments and differential attainment on healthcare programmes.
Dr Erica Thomas
Erica has research interests in self-compassion, resilience, and wellbeing amongst students in the medical professions.
Dr Elizabeth Walden is a biochemist by training and has additional experience in education. She is interested in the role that teaching and understanding the basic cellular and genetic underpinnings of disease has in modern day medical education and the role of scientists in medical education.