Dr Gillian Hunter
Senior Lecturer
Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Gillian joined Glasgow Caledonian University as a Lecturer in Cell and Molecular Biology in 2015, was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2022 and is involved in teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students. She is Module Leader for two UG modules (Practical Skills in Biomolecular Sciences and Molecular Diagnostics) and one PG module (Biomolecular Studies). She is Deputy Programme Lead for the MRes in Biological Sciences.
Gillian received an MSci in Genetics from the University of Glasgow, which incorporated an industrial work placement year at Astrazeneca, Cheshire. Her doctoral studies focused on identification of novel genetic risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease (2005; Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London). She was then awarded a fellowship from the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, moving to the University of Oxford (2006) to develop a new molecular method using infectious bacterial artificial chromosomes (iBACs) that allowed functional analyses of disease-associated genetic variation. With the award of a fellowship from the Alzheimer’s Society she moved to the University of Edinburgh (2008) to continue her research using the iBAC technology. Her current research programme, focussed on spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), began in 2011 and she is interested in identifying novel molecular and genetic mechanisms suitable for the development of therapeutic intervention and expanding the evidence for a multi-system involvement in SMA pathogenesis.
Gillian has a keen interest in pedagogy and was awarded her PgC LTHE (GCU, 2018), leading to recognition as FHEA. Following a further period of study, she was awarded SFHEA (2022). She is an active STEM Ambassador, regularly taking part in events at schools and other venues.
Gillian has a number of key departmental roles including Health and Safety Co-Ordinator and joint Champion for Sustainability.
Gillian’s X (Twitter) handle is @HunterSciLab