Dr Alex Holmes

Profile

I have been a Lecturer in Pharmacology at the University of Leeds since October 2023, prior to which I was a Teaching Fellow in Physiology since December 2022, based in the School of Biomedical Sciences within the Faculty of Biological Sciences. I am responsible for delivering, planning and assessing educational activities for undergraduate students in the faculty.

Prior to this position, I completed a BBSRC White Rose DTP funded PhD studentship supervised by Dr Antreas Kalli, Dr Jian Shi and Prof David Beech, in which I worked towards determining the structure, function and dynamics of two membrane proteins: membrane-integral pyrophosphatases and PIEZO1. This project centred around the use of novel computational and laboratory-based techniques. 

Research interests

Public Engagement and Science Communication

Alongside my teaching, I am a keen practitioner and champion of Public Engagement and Science Communication. I am currently the Yorkshire Chapter manager for Pint of Science, an annual international science festival comprised of informal talks in pubs and similar venues. I have been working with Pint of Science since 2018 in various roles from volunteer, event manager and City Coordinator. Some of the 2020 Leeds shows I coordinated are available to view here:

Food for Thought

Mind Body and Tech

Hear Me Out

Science with a Capital “S”

I currently manage the Leeds, Hull, Bradford and York teams.
I have also worked with The Global Science Show as European Coordinator, and taken part in Letters to Prescientists, STEM@Leeds School Talks, Skype a Scientist, In2Science, Generating Genius, Be Curious and Discovery Zone. I have also developed and performed an original science show: Big and Small. 

Qualifications

• MBiol - Pharmacology
• PhD - Mechanistic Biology

Professional memberships

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Student education

My teaching and scholarship interests encompass inclusive, commuinity-inspired and experiential learning and assessment, in which students work on long term projects in teams to address challenges related to their discipline on both a “glocal” and global level. 

I am module manager for

• BMSC1216/BMSC1216T – Introduction to Pharmacology
• BMSC1302 – Team-based Solutions for Local Challenges in Human Sciences
• BMSC2315 – Team-based Solutions to Global Sustainability Challenges in Human Sciences

I’m keen to champion the role of Postgraduates in supporting teaching and their role as demonstrators.