Dr Gemma Lace
School of Science, Engineering & Environment
Current positions
Associate Dean Academic Student Exp.
Biography
I was appointed as the Associate Dean Academic Student Experience for the School Of Science, Engineering & Environment at the University of Salford in 2021. I am passionate about promoting student success and creating a supportive, collaborative and inclusive academic environment. My ethos is ‘we rise by lifting others’ and I have a track record of driving positive cultural change and strategic leadership within the HE sector.
I joined the University of Salford in 2011 as a Biomedicine Teaching Fellow and was promoted to Lecturer in 2013, then Senior Lecturer in 2018. I have been head of Biomedicine Outreach, Postgraduate Tutor and Lead of Knowledge Translation and Public Engagement at the Salford Institute for Dementia.
I completed a BSc (Hons) Neuroscience at the University of Leeds before obtaining a PhD in Genomic Medicine at the University of Sheffield where I investigated tau protein pathogenesis in ageing and dementia. I remained at the University of Sheffield and was awarded a Sir John Stokes Research Fellowship and continued my ageing and dementia research before moving on to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease.
I currently lead the molecular biology dementia research group in the Biomedical Research Centre.
Areas of Research
My research interests are generally focused on understanding the underlying mechanisms associated with abnormal protein accumulation and cell death in neurodegenerative disease. Current projects include investigating how brain waste disposal system deficits may contribute to diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia and exploring the role of extracellular vesicles in the 'spread' of toxicity in brain diseases. We also have a number of projects aiming to further understand the link between obesity and dementia risk. The work in my group uses cellular based disease models and human brain tissue to explore the mechanisms of neurodegenerative disease.
Additionally, I am a pedagogical researcher interested in kinaesthetic playful learning approaches, collaborative learning practice, inclusive co-created support strategies and technology enhanced learning. I have published work in this area and would be keen to set up cross institutional pedagogical research projects.
Areas of Supervision
Bubbles to bench side- Exploring the role of small extracellular vesicles as diagnostic tools in Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia
Enhancing public understanding of dementia through creative arts and media- providing inclusive spaces to play, learn and adapt behaviour
Stopping the spread-Exploring the role of small extracellular vesicles in the transmission of disease pathogenesis in Parkinson's disease
Understanding the contribution of obesity to dementia risk
Clearing the junk- understanding the role of autophagy in neurodegeneration
I have taught on a wide range of biological, biomedical and medical programmes, at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, in areas such as neurobiology, anatomy and physiology.
I have been nominated for and received teaching awards at both local and national level, including the Learning Science Teaching Innovation Award, the Society of Biology HE Bioscience Teacher of the Year and the University of Salford's Students' Union Awards.
I have led various local and Institutional projects associated with improving student experience and outcomes including projects associated with inclusive teaching, student support, EDI, student voice, wellbeing, employability, progression, engagement and attrition. I have also collaborated on projects to redevelop student facing policies and procedures and shape Institutional vision. I also contributed to the 2023 TEP submission (outcome- Silver).