Dr Nigel Francis
Senior Lecturer
- francisn10@cardiff.ac.uk
- +44 (0)29 2251 2321
- Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Overview
Understanding how our body defends against disease has been a passion ever since I spent a year working in the Nephrology Department at Heath Hospital during my undergraduate degree. This inspired me to undertake a PhD in immunology at the University of Birmingham looking at rheumatoid arthritis, before returning to Cardiff University as a postdoctoral researcher in complement biology.
More recently my focus has shifted to enhancing immunology education and I was awarded the British Society for Immunology’s Teaching Excellence Award in 2020, the Royal Society of Biology’s Higher Education Bioscience Teacher of the Year Award in 2021 and a National Teaching Fellowship from Advance HE in 2022 for my work in this area. I am a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology (FRSB) and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA).
I founded the #DryLabsRealScience network, which provides guidance and resources for bioscience academics looking to enhance laboratory-based teaching. Although established in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, the innovative ideas shared will have a long-lasting impact on laboratory education.
To facilitate the teaching of immunology and make it more accessible to a wider audience I created Immunology Wars in collaboration with student partners, which explains immunology by aligning the components of the immune system to the characters of Star Wars.
I am currently guest-editing a special issue of Education Science around hybrid practical teaching: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/education/special_issues/hybrid_approaches for more details.
Biography
I graduated from the University of Bath in 2004 with a MPharmacol (Masters in Pharmacology) having spent an intercalated research year in the Nephrology Department at Heath Hospital under the supervision of Professor Nick Topley. In 2008 I completed a PhD in immunology from the University of Birmingham in the lab of Professor Janet Lord, investigating the role of the iron binding protein, lactoferrin, in neutrophil survival in rheumatic joints. I then returned to Heath Hospital working for Professor Claire Harris in the Complement Biology Group looking at the structure-function relationship of polymorphic variants of factor H.
In 2011 I moved to Swansea University Medical School where I helped establish immunology teaching across all years of their undergraduate programmes. During my time at Swansea I completed a PGCert in Teaching in Higher Education and acted in a wide range of administrative roles including Deputy Programme Director for Biochemistry.
I re-joined Cardiff University in August 2021, where my teaching focuses on immunology and supporting the provision of physiology.
I am an award-winning lecturer having received Swansea University’s Excellence in Learning and Teaching Award and the British Society for Immunology’s Teaching Excellence Award in 2020. In 2021 I was honoured by the Royal Society of Biology for my work creating the #DryLabsRealScience network winning their Higher Education Bioscience Teacher of the Year Award. In 2022 I was awarded my National Teaching Fellowship by Advance HE.
Honours and awards
- 2022 - National Teaching Fellowship
- 2022 - Nominated for Biochemical Society Teaching Excellence Award
- 2021 - Royal Society of Biology Higher Education Bioscience Teacher of the Year
- 2020 - British Society for Immunology Teaching Excellence Award
- 2020 - Swansea University Excellence in Learning and Teaching Award
Professional memberships
- Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology (FRSB)
- Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)
- Chartered Science Teacher (CSciTeach)
- Member of the British Educational Research Association (BERA)
- Member of the British Society for Immunology (BSI)
- Member of the Biochemical Society
Academic positions
- 2021 - present: Senior Lecturer, Cardiff University
- 2011-2021: Lecturer/Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor, Swansea University
- 2008-2011: Research Associate, Cardiff University
Committees and reviewing
- 2021 - present: British Society for Immunology Teaching Affinity Group - Co-Chair
Publications
2022
- Francis, N., Ruckley, D. and Wilkinson, T. 2022. The virtual flow cytometer: A new learning experience and environment for undergraduate teaching. Frontiers of Education 7, article number: 903732. (10.3389/feduc.2022.903732)
- Francis, N. J., Smith, D. P. and Turner, I. J. 2022. Practical approaches to delivering pandemic impacted laboratory teaching. Presented at: 8th International Conference on Higher Education Advances HEAd'22, Valencia, Spain, 14-17 June 2022 Presented at Domenech, J. ed.8th International Conference on Higher Education Advances (HEAd'22). Editorial Universitat Politécnica de Valéncia pp. 521-529., (10.4995/head22.2022.15652)
- Smith, D. and Francis, N. 2022. Engagement with video content in the blended classroom. Essays in Biochemistry 66(1), pp. 5-10. (10.1042/EBC20210055)
2021
- Wilkinson, T. S., Nibbs, R. and Francis, N. J. 2021. Reimagining laboratory-based immunology education in the time of COVID-19. Immunology 163(4), pp. 431-435. (10.1111/imm.13369)
- Francis, N. et al. 2021. COVID as a catalyst: uncovering misaligned power dynamics and the importance of new professional learning networks for higher education science laboratory teaching. EdArXiv
2020
- Francis, N., Stafford, P., Henri, D., Turner, I. and Smith, D. 2020. Reshaping education. Part I: Practical thinking in a pandemic. Biologist 67(5), pp. 24-27.
- Francis, N., Morgan, A., Holm, S., Davey, R., Bodger, O. and Dudley, E. 2020. Adopting a flipped classroom approach for teaching molar calculations to biochemistry and genetics students. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education 48(3), pp. 220-226. (10.1002/bmb.21328)
2019
- Jones, N. et al. 2019. Akt and STAT5 mediate naïve human CD4+ T-cell early metabolic response to TCR stimulation. Nature Communications 10(1), article number: 2042. (10.1038/s41467-019-10023-4)
2017
- Jones, N. et al. 2017. Metabolic adaptation of human CD4+ and CD8+ T-Cells to T-Cell receptor-mediated stimulation. Frontiers in Immunology 8, article number: 1516. (10.3389/fimmu.2017.01516)
2015
- Jones, N., Piasecka, J., Bryant, A. H., Jones, R. H., Skibinski, D. O. F., Francis, N. J. and Thornton, C. A. 2015. Bioenergetic analysis of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Clinical and Experimental Immunology 182(1), pp. 69-80. (10.1111/cei.12662)
2012
- Francis, N. et al. 2012. A novel hybrid CFH/CFHR3 gene generated by a microhomology-mediated deletion in familial atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome. Blood 119(2), pp. 591-601. (10.1182/blood-2011-03-339903)
2011
- Francis, N. et al. 2011. Lactoferrin inhibits neutrophil apoptosis via blockade of proximal apoptotic signaling events. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Cell Research 1813(10), pp. 1822-1826. (10.1016/j.bbamcr.2011.07.004)
- Heurich, M., Martinez-Barricarte, R., Francis, N., Roberts, D. L., Rodriguez de Cordoba, S., Morgan, B. P. and Harris, C. L. 2011. Common polymorphisms in C3, factor B, and factor H collaborate to determine systemic complement activity and disease risk. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 108(21), pp. 8761-8766. (10.1073/pnas.1019338108)
2008
- Wong, S. H., Francis, N., Chahal, H., Raza, K., Salmon, M., Scheel-Toellner, D. and Lord, J. M. 2008. Lactoferrin is a survival factor for neutrophils in rheumatoid synovial fluid. Rheumatology 48(1), pp. 39-44. (10.1093/rheumatology/ken412)
Teaching
Primary teaching focus
- Immunology
Administrative Roles
- Degree scheme lead for Biomedical Sciences
- Deputy Lead for Assessment and Feedback
- Lead for Digital Education
- Week-long research experience coordinator
Pedagogical Publications
- Francis N.J., Ruckley D. and Wilkinson T.S. (2022). The virtual flow cytometer: A new learning experience and environment for undergraduate teaching. Front. Educ. 7:903732. https://www.doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2022.903732
- Francis N.J., Smith D.P. and Turner I.J. (2022). Practical approaches to delivering pandemic impacted laboratory teaching. In: Domenech, J, (ed.) 8th International Conference on Higher Education Advances (HEAd’22) Universitat Politecnica de Valencia, Valencia, 2022.Valencia, Spain, Editorial Universitat Politécnica de Valéncia, 521-529. https://doi.org/10.4995/head22.2022.15652
- Smith D.P. & Francis N.J. (2022). Engagement with video content in the blended classroom. Essays Biochem. EBC20210055. https://doi.org/10.1042/EBC20210055
- Turner I.J., Bolton-King R.S., Francis N.J., Nichols-Drew L.J. & Smith D.P. (2022). How do you offer students a laboratory learning experience when Covid-19 has closed the labs? Available at: https://digitalculture.jiscinvolve.org/wp/2022/03/09/collaborative-online-communities-of-practice/ – published 17th March 2022
- Francis N.J., Allen M. & Thomas J. (2022). Using group work for assessment – an academic’s perspective. Open Educational Resource, Advance HE. Available at: https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2022-03/Using group work for assessment - an academic's perspective.pdf
- Francis N.J. (2022). 'I love group work'...said no student ever! Advance HE. Available at: https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/news-and-views/i-love-group-worksaid-no-student-ever – published 4th March 2022
- Cramman H., Burnham J. A. J., Campbell C. D., Francis N. J., Smith D. P., Spagnoli D., Stewart M.I and Turner I. J. (2021). COVID as a catalyst: Uncovering misaligned power dynamics and the importance of new Professional Learning Networks for Higher Education science laboratory teaching. https://doi.org/10.35542/osf.io/tjphr
- McClure L., Wilmott C.J. & Francis N.J. (2021). Supporting the Transition. What challenges will students entering Higher Education face? The Biologist. 68(3): 8-9. Available at: https://thebiologist.rsb.org.uk/biologist-opinion/preparing-for-the-covid-cohort
- Wilkinson T.S., Nibbs R. and Francis N.J. (2021). Reimagining laboratory‐based immunology education in the time of COVID‐19. Immunology. 163(4): 431-435. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/imm.13369
- Stafford P., Herni D., Turner I., Smith D.P. and Francis N.J. (2020). Practical thinking in a pandemic. The Biologist. 65(5):24-27. Available at: https://thebiologist.rsb.org.uk/biologist/158-biologist/features/2434-reshaping-education-practical-thinking-in-a-pandemic
- Francis N.J., Smith D.P. and Turner I. (2020). It’s a brave new (educational) world. Advance HE. Available at: https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/news-and-views/its-brave-new-educational-world – published 8th September 2020
- Francis N.J., Smith D.P. and Turner I. (2020). #DryLabsRealScience – together stronger. Advance HE. Available at: https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/news-and-views/drylabsrealscience-together-stronger - published 18th May 2020
- Francis N.J., Morgan A.H., Holm S., Davey R., Bodger O. and Dudley E. (2020). Using a flipped classroom approach to teach calculations. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education. 48(3):220-226. https://www.doi.org/10.1002/bmb.21328
- Francis N.J. (2019). The Flipped Classroom – Becoming a Better Teacher. Advance HE. Available at: https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/news-and-views/flipping-the-classroom - published 20th March 2019
My main research is focused on enhancing immunology education through digital co-creation of learning and teaching resources. I firmly believe that students should be involved in the creation of resources to enhance their learning experience. I am particularly interested in the use of digital eLearning tools, including videos and simulations.
These resources can be used for active learning in a flipped classroom, where content is provided before face-to-face teaching occurs. My research in this area looks at how students engage with the flipped learning approach and how to enhance the use of digital material.
I maintain an interest in immunology research, focusing on the areas of rheumatology and immunometabolism, which looks at the role that different fuel sources play on immune cell function.
Supervision
I am available for supervision of self-funded students postgraduate interested in exploring:
- Digital resources in Immunology/Biosciences
- Use of videos and/or simulations in teaching
Past projects
Engagement
British Society for Immunology Vaccine Ambassador
