Professor Charlotte Haigh

Profile

After completing my degree in Biochemistry and Physiology at the University of Sheffield, I studied a PhD in Molecular Endocrinology at the University of Birmingham. I then did several years Post Doc at the University of Sheffield in kidney physiology before becoming an academic at Leeds focussing on teaching and scholarship.

I have been appointed to the role of Dean od Student Educaiton for the University of Leeds from January 2024 where I hope I can work with many people across the University both staff and students to continue the excellent education we offer at Leeds. My current objectives in this role are to oversee school approach to the NSS action planning and strategic plans, engage and support directors of student education and programme leaders, work alongside others in developing student outcomes, support work on academic personal tutoring and provide academic leadership for professional development and educational enhancement.

I was the School Director of Student Education for UG programmes from September 2019-December 2023. During this time I navigated the school through several periods of change. It has led to many challenges but lots of opportunities. I have thoroughly enjoyed engaging with students and discussing what they have valued from the online learning environment and what aspects we may keep going forward. I have a keen interest in active learning approaches and feel that all students value interactive learning and will ultimately have a deeper understanding of a topic if they have engaged actievly rather than just listened passively . 

I have a major interest in public engagement: From September 2015, I was the academic lead on a project for the University funded by RCUK. The project is to embed public engagement with research and support academic staff in embracing public engagement throughout the research cycle. This involves dissemination to the public but also co-enquiry and co-creation of knowledge which can lead to research which has a greater impact on society. I was the academic lead on the public and patient involvement strand of the Wellcome ISSF funded project held by the University which supports activities aimed at a public audience including a research based open day at the University Be Curious (www.leeds.ac.uk/becurious). I finished in this role in August 2019 but still have a vested interst in this area and lead a module FOBS2240: Skills in communicationg research for level 2 students.

I am a member of the Physiological Society and was a trustee of the Society (2017-2021) and sat on the education policy and public engagement committee (2015-2021). I have also worked closely with the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement. I currently (2022-) a member for the Accord Academy Trust, which is a trust which consists of consortium of schools across the local area, where a members role is to oversee the governance by the trustees of the organisation. 

Responsibilities

• Dean of Student Education: Educational Enhancement and Student Experience

Research interests

Student education in the biomedical sciences and public engagement. My current interest is around preparing student with the appropriate skills to be prepared for graduate employment or future study. I am also broadly interested in inclusive authentic assessment, and curriculum design. I am part of a team working in the school on curriclum redefined. 

Current research topics:

University Student Education Fellowship 2015-18 (Full): I was awarded a full  fellowship for my work in the field of student education. As part of my project, I have created a discovery module for all students, irrespective of discipline that would focus on training in the field of public engagement skills and communicating research to the public. http://webprod3.leeds.ac.uk/catalogue/dynmodules.asp?Y=201718&M=FOBS-2240

Transition into Higher education: I have a University Student Education fellowship from the University of Leeds which came with £5000 project funding to run a cross faculty transition support programme in FBS. For more information see www.fbs.leeds.ac.uk/transitions

Wellcome Trust Peoples Award: Myself and Dr David Lewis currently hold a Wellcome Trust Peoples award for the value of £30,000 with the project entitled ' The physiology and pharmacology of performance enhancement in sport' which involved running a series of practicals and ethical debates for schools, events for sports coaches and an interactive exhibition. More details can be found here www.fbs.leeds.ac.uk/performance2012

Physiological Society Teaching project funding: I was successful in receiving funding for a module entitled Life at the Extremes to be taught at level 1. This will enhance the teaching of human physiology at level 1 at the University of Leeds. The funding will cover some excellent external speakers as well as recording these lectures and uploading them on an open access web resource for all schools/colleges and other HE establishments to utilise www.fbs.leeds.ac.uk/extremes

Qualifications

• BSc Sheffield (Biochemistry and Physiology), PhD Birmingham (Molecular Endocrinology)

Professional memberships

• The Physiological Society

Student education

Capstone project topics:

• Public engagement projects with schools and community partners
• Grand Challenges in partnership with a Nigerian University
• Fertilty
• Diabetes

Teaching: 

I mainly teach in the areas of physiology, in particular gastrointestinal physiology, endocrinology and reproductive physiology.

Academic roles:

• Dean of Student Education: Educational Enhancement and Student Experience

Committees:

• Member of Univeristy Senate