Dr Christine Edmead and Dr Momna Hejmadi, Senior Teaching Fellows from the Departments of Pharmacy & Pharmacology and Biology & Biochemistry respectively, have been awarded National Teaching Fellowships (NTFs) by the Higher Education Academy (HEA).

Dr Edmead’s career began as a research scientist in Pharmacology before she took up roles as both a Teaching Fellow and, until 2013, an Educational Projects Officer in Bath’s Learning and Teaching Enhancement Office.

Within these roles she has been the driving force behind innovations such as the ‘flipped classroom’ – which involves delivering the factual material (usually online through videos, recordings or readings) prior to the face-to-face lectures so that students can access and work through it at their own pace, enabling more interactive discussion in class time.

Dr Edmead is renowned at Bath for her enthusiastic and interactive approach to teaching such as using students as pieces of DNA!

Amongst her achievements is her work on internationalisation and using group work as a mechanism for student integration, which contributed to the HEA Teaching International Students project and resulted in the publication of a book chapter.

On receiving her NTF Dr Edmead said she felt ‘immensely honoured and proud’.

Dr Edmead said: “I gain great satisfaction in knowing my endeavours are both effective and appreciated by students and colleagues alike. I plan to utilise the funding in the development and dissemination of further innovative approaches in curriculum design and delivery to ensure future students benefit from the best experience we can offer at Bath.”

Like Dr Edmead, Dr Hejmadi has an impressive track record during her 10 years at Bath.

She has introduced peer assessments, built new approaches to undergraduate research projects, standardised enquiry-led introductory courses for laboratory practicals, enhanced large-group lecturing, and led the first MOOC from Bath.

She has also established international master’s level programmes, and using UK India Education and Research Initiative funding, she has launched an innovative new programme – part taught in India and Britain.

Her teaching style is based on encouraging academic confidence and enabling students to become independent learners by challenging their thinking. She is dedicated to outreach and uses a pragmatic approach to encourage pupils to take up science by showing them that it can be simple and fun.

Dr Hejmadi said: “I am delighted to receive this national recognition for something I really enjoy doing. I could not have done this without the support of my colleagues and particularly my students at Bath who inspire me to 'test-drive’ new ideas in learning and teaching.”

Now in its 15th year, the NTF is awarded on merit of “excellence”, rather than what stage a teacher has reached in their career.

This year, 55 higher education staff out of the 180 nominations have been awarded NTFs, which are part of a wider scheme supporting individuals’ professional development in learning and teaching.

They will be presented at a celebration event at Liverpool Cathedral in October.