Dr Gillian Knight has been teaching in STEM Higher Education since 2010, joining Keele University as a part-time Teaching Fellow in Biochemistry and Biomedical Science. In 2012, she joined the University of Derby as a Lecturer in Molecular Genetics. In 2015, Gillian was promoted to Head of Department for Biosciences and Deputy Head for the School of Natural Sciences, University of Derby. Gillian joined Aston University as the Associate Dean in Education within the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences in 2018. In August 2020, she also was promoted to Associate Professor in Education.
Gillian works closely with the Senior Educational Leadership team at Aston University, contributing to the development and operational delivery of Aston University’s educational strategy. Throughout her teaching career, Gillian has looked to place the student at the heart of her educational design, working on student focused initiatives at module, programme, departmental and institutional level, with the sole aim to enhance student experience and provide a transformational student outcome. She continues to be a dedicated teacher, always striving to improve her innovate practice to ensure a supportive and enjoyable learning experience.
She has designed and implemented numerous initiatives, such as new personal tutor programmes, employability portfolios, introducing multi-disciplinary project weeks and pioneered a novel student partnership, as part of her commitment to develop and deliver a transformational and inclusive STEM education. In her drive to deliver an excellent student experience, she also collaborates with professional services staff to design new, innovative educational projects, thereby ensuring all university staff contribute to providing excellent student outcomes. Gillian also works with external organisations, such as the Royal Society of Biology, to further extend the reach of her student-focused, inclusive curricular educational practice.