Dr Emma Yhnell
B.Sc. PGCert FHEA PhD
Health and Care Research Wales Fellow
- yhnelle@cardiff.ac.uk
- +44 (0)29 2087 5135
- Room 12.13, Adeilad Syr Martin Evans, Rhodfa'r Amgueddfa, Caerdydd, CF10 3AX
- Sylwebydd y cyfryngau
- Ar gael fel goruchwyliwr ôl-raddedig
Trosolwg
Teaching overview
I lecture in a wide range of subjects within the School of Biosciences, covering neuroscience, biochemistry, molecular biology and disease mechanisms. I have an ongoing interest in pedagogic research which includes research into admissions practices, policies and procedures.
My internal roles include:
- Academic Lead for e-Learning and Assessment Facility (eLEAF).
- Admissions Tutor.
- Personal Tutor.
- Module Lead (CE5194 Diseases and Disorders of the Brain).
- Public Contributor Network Committee Member.
My external roles include:
- Science Communication and Public Engagement of Science.
- Public and Patient Involvement in Research.
- Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) Research Wales Committee (Early Career Representative).
- British Neuroscience Association (BNA) Committee (Equality and Diversity).
- Cardiff Science Festival Organising Committee.
- British Science Association Biological Science Section Convenor.
Research overview
Alongside my teaching activities I am interested in research regarding neurodegenerative diseases, with a particular focus on Huntington's disease. I completed my undergraduate degree in Biochemistry before a PhD in Behavioural Neuroscience and Huntington’s disease. It is really important to me that my research has a strong translational element and that it will impact real people and families. I am also interested in the implications that my work has for other diseases and disorders of the brain as well as the ethical, moral and societal questions that it raises.
Engagement, outreach and science communication
I am a keen public speaker and believe that public understanding and engagement in research is essential. I am a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) ambassador and can often be found at public engagement and outreach events getting the public involved in science and research. I am a keen science communicator and have published several communication pieces, in addition to my primary research.
For my further information on up and coming engagement events see the engagement tab, my Twitter feed and website (emmayhnell.com).
Bywgraffiad
Education and Qualifiations
2016 - 2018 Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Trials, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (via distance)
2017 - Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
2012 - 2015 PhD Behavioural Neurosciences, Cardiff University
2009 - 2012 BSc (Hons) Biochemistry, Cardiff University
Career Overview
2016 - 2019 Health and Care Research Wales Fellow, Cardiff University
2015 - 2016 Research Associate, Cardiff University
Anrhydeddau a Dyfarniadau
FameLab Science Communication Competition Winner for Wales 2019
British Neuroscience Association (BNA) Public Engagement Award 2018
British Science Association Charles Darwin Lecture 2018
Cardiff Institute for Tissue Engineering and Repair (CITER) Young Investigator Award, 2017
Womenspire Chwarea Teg Rising Star 2017, Finalist
Most Dedicated STEM Ambassador in Wales Finalist, April 2017
WeAreTheCity Rising Star Nomination, March 2017
SET for Britain Research Presentation at the Houses of Parliament, 2016.
The Biochemical Society Scientific Communication Writing Award Winner, 2015
Best PhD talk at Careers in Neuroscience Satellite Event for NECTAR, Galway, Ireland 2014.
Shortlisted Finalist for the Max Perutz Science Writing Award, MRC London, 2013.
Biology Researchers in Schools Certificate, Cardiff University, 2013.
Aelodaethau proffesiynol
Cardiff Institute for Tissue Engineering and Repair (CITER)
The Federation of Neuroscience Societies (FENS)
The British Neuroscience Association (BNA).
The Higher Education Academy (AFHEA).
The European Huntington’s Disease Network (EHDN).
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Ambassador.
The Biochemical Society.
Safleoedd academaidd blaenorol
Health and Care Research Wales Fellow, Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University (September 2016 - September 2019)
Lecturer at The Centre for Continuing Professional Education and Development (Jan. 2016 – Present)
Research Associate, The Brain Repair Group Cardiff University (Oct. 2015 – March 2016)
PhD Student, The Brain Repair Group, Cardiff University (Sept 2012 – Sept 2015)
Ymrwymiadau siarad cyhoeddus
I believe public engagement in science is essential and I am always happy to take up public engagement opportunities.
I am a STEM Ambassador and give talks to the general public, at schools and colleges as well as hosting visitors to the unverisity.
I am a keen Twitter user @EmmaYhnell.
For more information on my public engagement activities see the 'Engagement' tab or my website emmayhnell.com.
Pwyllgorau ac adolygu
British Neuroscience Association Committee - Equality and Diversity (2019 - Present).
Cyhoeddiadau
2020
- Morgan, S., Randle, A., Coombs, R. and Yhnell, E. 2020. Giant genes! The development of an interactive game to engage audiences in genetics. Journal of Stem Outreach 3(1) (10.15695/jstem/v3i1.14.)
- Yhnell, E. et al. 2020. A randomised feasibility study of computerised cognitive training as a therapeutic intervention for people with Huntington's disease (CogTrainHD). Pilot and Feasibility Studies 6, article number: 88. (10.1186/s40814-020-00623-z)
- Yhnell, E., Andrade-Sienz, A. and Knight, J. 2020. “Snap anatomy”: the development of a game to engage audiences in anatomy. Presented at: 19th Congress of The International Federation of Associations of Anatomists (IFAA 2019), London, England, 9-11 August 2019, Vol. 236. Vol. S1. Wiley pp. 223., (10.1111/joa.13163)
- Yhnell, E. 2020. How the brain works. How it works. DK.
2019
- Yhnell, E., Smith, H., Walker, K. and Whitehouse, C. 2019. WhyWeDoResearch: using social media effectively and positively as a tool to engage public, patients and healthcare staff in research. Research for All 3(1), pp. 7-17. (10.18546/RFA.03.1.02)
2018
- Furby, H., Yhnell, E., Mazzaschi, F., Mole, J., Busse, M., Rosser, A. E. and Metzler-Baddeley, C. 2018. Using 3T MRI to explore myelin break-down in pre-symptomatic huntington’s disease. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry 89(S1), pp. A37-A38., article number: E06. (10.1136/jnnp-2018-EHDN.100)
- Yhnell, E. and Heuer, A. 2018. Automated operant assessments of Huntington's Disease mouse models. In: Precious, S., Rosser, A. and Dunnett, S. eds. Huntington’s Disease., Vol. 1780. Methods in Molecular Biology Springer, pp. 143-162., (10.1007/978-1-4939-7825-0_8)
- Yhnell, E. et al. 2018. Exploring computerised cognitive training as a therapeutic intervention for people with Huntington's disease (CogTrainHD): protocol for a randomised feasibility study. Pilot and Feasibility Studies 4, article number: 45. (10.1186/s40814-018-0237-0)
- Yhnell, E. and Heuer, A. 2018. Automated operant assessments of Huntington's disease mouse model. In: Methods Molecular Biology. Springer Nature
2017
- Yhnell, E. 2017. Huntington's disease: of mice and men. Oncotarget 8(8), pp. 12552-12553. (10.18632/oncotarget.15129)
2016
- Yhnell, E., Dunnett, S. and Brooks, S. 2016. A longitudinal operant assessment of cognitive and behavioural changes in the HdhQ111 mouse model of Huntington's Disease. PLoS ONE 11(10), article number: e0164072. (10.1371/journal.pone.0164072)
- Yhnell, E., Lelos, M. J., Dunnett, S. B. and Brooks, S. P. 2016. L30 Cognitive training improves disease symptoms in a mouse model of huntington's disease. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry 87(Supp 1), pp. A100-A101. (10.1136/jnnp-2016-314597.285)
- Steventon, J. et al. 2016. Longitudinal in vivo MRI in a Huntington's disease mouse model: global atrophy in the absence of white matter microstructural damage. Scientific Reports 6, article number: 32423. (10.1038/srep32423)
- Yhnell, E., Dunnett, S. B. and Brooks, S. P. 2016. A longitudinal motor characterisation of the HdhQ111 mouse model of Huntington's Disease. Journal of Huntington's Disease 5(2), pp. 149-161. (10.3233/JHD-160191)
- Yhnell, E., Dunnett, S. B. and Brooks, S. P. 2016. The utilisation of operant delayed matching and non-matching to position for probing cognitive flexibility and working memory in mouse models of Huntington's disease. Journal of Neuroscience Methods 265, pp. 72-80. (10.1016/j.jneumeth.2015.08.022)
- Yhnell, E., Lelos, M. J., Dunnett, S. B. and Brooks, S. P. 2016. Cognitive training modifies disease symptoms in a mouse model of Huntington's disease. Experimental Neurology 282, pp. 19-26. (10.1016/j.expneurol.2016.05.008)
- Yhnell, E., Wood, H., Baker, M. D., Amici-Dargan, S., Taylor, C. M., Randerson, P. and Shore, A. 2016. The impact of attaining the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma on academic performance in bioscience higher education. International Journal of Science Education 38(1), pp. 156-169. (10.1080/09500693.2015.1135353)
- Smith, P., Yhnell, E., Rutherford, S. and Shore, A. 2016. The 'Sophomore Slump' - do learners recover and can year-on-year grade begin to provide answers to difficult questions?. Presented at: British Educational Research Association Annual Conference, Leeds, UK, 13-15 Sept 2016.
2015
- Yhnell, E. 2015. A phenotypic characterisation of the HdhQ111 mouse model of Huntington’s disease. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.
- Yhnell, E. 2015. James and the giant gene. The Biochemical Society.
2014
- Yhnell, E., Dunnett, S. B. and Brooks, S. P. 2014. C04 A longitudinal behavioural characterisation of the HDHQ111 mouse model of Huntington's Disease. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry 85(Supp 1), article number: A26. (10.1136/jnnp-2014-309032.77)
- Yhnell, E., Dunnett, S. B. and Brooks, S. P. 2014. The development of operant delayed matching to position for Huntington's disease mouse models. Presented at: 12th meeting of the International Society for Neural Transplantation and Restoration, Vol. 25. Vol. 3. Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins pp. 163., (10.1097/01.wnr.0000443076.61006.22)
Addysgu
Teaching Overview:
I enjoy teaching and am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). I am a module lead, lecturer and conduct pedagogic research.
I lecture at both the School of Biosciences and the Centre for Continuing and Professional Education and I am module lead for 'Diseases and Disorders of the Brain.' I am also involved in several educational research studies with colleagues in the School of Biosciences. These have included research into the Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification (WBQ) and further studies are ongoing.
Research Overview:
My research largely focuses on neurodegenerative diseases. My previous fellowship funded by Health and Care Research Wales focused on using computerised cognitive training for people with Huntington's disease. I am interested in disorders of the brain and what can be done to help people who are living with these disorders.
Alongside traditional research I have growing research interests in pedagogy and research regarding science communication and public engagement.
Research Funding:
- Science Stitches – communicating science through fashion. Wellcome Trust Institutional Strategic Support Fund 2019. A. de Almeida, M. et al.
- Resources to EngAge Children from socially-deprived areas in environmental Health (REACH) Wellcome Trust Institutional Strategic Support Fund 2019. S. Morgan, E. Yhnell & K Berube.
- The Society for Applied Microbiology 2019 ‘Microbiology Scrabble’ Z. Bayram-Weston, Y.Nigam & E. Yhnell.
- The Anatomical Society Public Engagement and Outreach Grant ‘Snap Anatomy’ awarded to Z. Bayram-Weston and E. Yhnell.
- Health and Care Research Wales Fellowship Award 1st October 2016 – 30th September 2019. Dr Emma Yhnell Principle Investigator.
- Jacques & Gloria Gossweiler Foundation 1st April 2016 – 30th September 2017. Dr Emma Yhnell - Lead Applicant, Prof Monica Busse, Dr Claudia Metzler-Baddeley and Prof Anne Rosser.
- Biochemical Society Scientific Outreach Grant September 2017 ‘Giant Genes’ awarded to Dr Emma Yhnell.
Supervision
Past projects
Ymgysyllty
I am passionate about telling the public about what I do to increase knowledge and understanding of biomedical research.
Engagament and Outreach Activities
I strongly believe that we have a moral responsibilty to engage the general public in science, specifically research. In addition to formal academic talks, I have given over 50 talks at public engagement events to local, national and international audiences. This includes; the general public, school children, patients and elderly people.
I am involved in several science communication groups, events and committees including:
- Cardiff Science Festival Organising Committee.
- FameLab 2019 Welsh Winner
- Huntington's Disease Association Northern Ireland, Keynote speaker 2019.
- #WhyWeDoResearch campaign Welsh National lead.
- Royal Society Pairing Scheme 2018 (Paired with Kevin Brennan MP).
- British Science Association Charles Darwin Lecture 2018.
- Hay Festival 2018.
- Soapbox Science Presenter 2018.
- Pint of Science Speaker 2018.
- Huntington's Disease Ireland - Keynote speaker 2017.
- STEM Ambassador.
- Wales Gene Park Speaker.
- British Science Association (Cardiff Branch) SciCafe Presenter.
- Cardiff University Brain Games volunteer and presenter (2013-present).
- Cardiff University Directory of Expertise for Media Engagement.
- Cardiff University Engagement Champion 2016 (https://youtu.be/9JGB-jK22G0).
