BSc(Hons) Biochemistry (2002), PhD Molecular Biology (2005), PGCert in Higher Education (2011), Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2015)
Dean for Employability and Entrepreneurship, Personal Chair
- About
-
- Email Address
- j.barrow@abdn.ac.uk
- Telephone Number
- +44 (0)1224 437493
- Office Address
- School/Department
- Senior Vice Principals
- School/Department
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition
Biography
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
- 2021-Present: Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
- 2020-Present: Dean for Employability & Entrepreneurship
- 2015-2021: Senior Lecturer (Scholarship) University of Aberdeen
- 2013-2015: Senior Teaching Fellow University of Aberdeen
- 2009-2013: Teaching Fellow University of Aberdeen
- 2005-2009: Postdoctoral research scientist University of Aberdeen
Qualifications
- PgCert Higher Education2011 - University of Aberdeen
- PhD Molecular Biology2005 - University of Aberdeen
- BSc (Hons) Biochemistry2002 - University of Aberdeen
External Memberships
Reviewer for:
- Oxford University Press
- W.H. Freeman textbooks
- Wiley-Blackwell textbooks
- Journal of Molecular Endocrinology
PhD External Examiner for:
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Medical College, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
- National University of Sciences & Technology, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
- Research
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Research Overview
I still maintain an interest in my research background of gene regulation, particularly linked to the pancreas and development of the islets of Langerhans, but most of my research is now centered on developing innovative ways of delivering biochemistry and molecular biology teaching to students.
My focus and interests now reside in teaching biochemistry and molecular biology, with specific interests in:
- gamification
- molecular visualisation
- augmented and virtual reality
- digital technology in education
- laboratory class teaching
Research Areas
Accepting PhDs
I am currently accepting PhDs in Education, Biomedical Sciences, Nutrition and Health.
Please get in touch if you would like to discuss your research ideas further.
Education
Accepting PhDsBiomedical Sciences
Accepting PhDsNutrition and Health
Accepting PhDsResearch Specialisms
- Higher Education Teaching
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Biomolecular Science
- Visual Communication
Our research specialisms are based on the Higher Education Classification of Subjects (HECoS) which is HESA open data, published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
Current Research
Currently, I am involved in collaborative projects to deliver augmented and virtual reality visualisation of molecular processes, and science communication activities through Minecraft and gamification.
Click on this link for a news story highlighting some of my educational research using augmented reality and this link for a news story on the use of Minecraft.
There are also YouTube videos here showing how we have used Minecraft to teach students about diabetes.
Collaborations
Dr Will Hurst (Wageningen University & Research, Netherlands)
Prof March Lorch (University of Hull, UK)
Dr Laura Hobbs (University of the West of England Bristol, UK)
Funding and Grants
Current grants:
MINE-ABDN: A PROJECT TO CREATE A VIRTUAL UNIVERSITY CAMPUS
Barrow, J.
£4,980, University of Aberdeen Development TrustEXPLORING THE MOLECULAR BASIS OF DIABETES WITH MINECRAFT
Hobbs, L., Stevens, C., Hartley, J., Bentley, S., Barrow, J., Lorch, M.
£1,776, Royal Society of Chemistry’s Outreach FundAUGMENTED CELL BIOLOGY
Barrow, J.
£9,900, The Physiological Society David Jordan Teacing AwardSTUDENT TRANSITIONS: THE ROLE OF STUDENT SUPPORT STRUCTURES
Poobalan, A. S., Cleland, J., Foster, K. & Barrow, J.
£1,200, University of Aberdeen Learning and Teaching FundTHE ROLE OF STUDENT SUPPORT STRUCTURES IN STUDENT TRANSITIONS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
Poobalan, A. S., Barrow, J., Foster, K. & Cleland, J.
£1,500, University of Aberdeen Medical Education FundingPrevious grants:
CELLSPLORERS - AN OUTREACH GRANT FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL ENGAGEMENT
Barrow, J.
£1,000, Biochemical SocietyKOSTERLITZ FUND – DEVELOPING ILPR-BINDING LIGANDS
Barrow, J.
£15,000, University of Aberdeen Development TrustDEVELOPING AND SUPPORTING THE CURRICULUM: SUPPORTING STUDENT RETENTION AND PROGRESSION
Barrow, J., Tucker, S. J., Rizea, M., McEwan, G. T. A., Jenkinson, A. M. & Shewan, D.
£1,200, University of Aberdeen Learning and Teaching FundKOSTERLITZ FUND – IN SILICO ANALYSIS OF ILPR LIGANDS
Barrow, J.
£10,000, University of Aberdeen Development TrustGUILDFORD BENCH METHODOLOGY FUND: DEVELOPING A DECELLULARISED PROTEIN MATRIX SCAFFOLD FOR PANCREATIC BETA-CELL DEVELOPMENT.
Barrow, J.
£1,200, Biochemical Society - Teaching
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Programmes
- Undergraduate, 5 year, September start
- Undergraduate, 4 year, September start
- Undergraduate, 4 year, September start
Courses
- SM1001 - Introduction to Medical Sciences
Teaching Responsibilities
I teach on the courses listed above and I am the Course coordinator for:
- SM1001 (Introduction to Medical Science)
- SM1501 (The Cell)
- ME2017 (Science for Medicine - 1st Year MBChB degree)
- BI25M7 (Energy for Life)
I am a tutor for MSci students when they are on their placement year (BT5007 course)
Non-course Teaching Responsibilities
- Undergraduate Medical Sciences Examinations Officer
- Assessment Lead for the School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition
Chair of the following committees:
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition Feedback and Assessment Committee
- Molecular Medical Sciences Undergraduate Examination Boards (Internal and External Boards)
Member of the following committees and groups:
- Biomedical Sciences Undergraduate Examination Boards (Internal and External Boards)
- Institute of Medical Sciences Athena SWAN Equality and Diversity Committee
- Institute for Education in Medical and Dental Sciences Steering Committee
- Institute for Education in Medical and Dental Sciences Student Support Group
- Undergraduate Medical Sciences Teaching Executive
- Intercalating Medical Degrees Executive
- Science Teaching Hub Teaching and Learning Group
- Open Day/Applicant Day Committee
- Publications
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Page 1 of 1 Results 1 to 50 of 50
Measurement of double-differential cross sections for mesonless charged-current muon neutrino interactions on argon with final-state protons using the MicroBooNE detector
Working Papers: Preprint PapersVirtual reality for biochemistry education: the cellular factory
Education and Information Technologies, vol. 29, no. 2, pp. 1647–1672Contributions to Journals: ArticlesTransforming and embedding graduate attributes and skills at the University of Aberdeen
QAA - FOSTERING ENTERPRISE AND INNOVATION. The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA). 7 pages.Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Other ContributionsResults of a student survey of additional teaching for self-study
14th University of Aberdeen Annual Academic Development Symposium 2023Contributions to Conferences: PostersTowards Computational Modeling of Ligand Binding to the ILPR G-Quadruplex
Molecules, vol. 28, no. 8, 3447Contributions to Journals: ArticlesVirtual reality for biochemistry education
Contributions to Conferences: Oral Presentations- [ONLINE] Link to the conference website
ABDN Grad Challenge: an enterprise and entrepreneurship opportunity for students at the University of Aberdeen
Embedding enterprise and entrepreneurship in higher education: An Advance HE case study collection. Norton, S., Sear, L. (eds.). Advance HE pp. 4-17, 14 pages.Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Other ContributionsM3 Receptor Pathway Stimulates Rapid Transcription of the CB1 Receptor Activation through Calcium Signalling and the CNR1 Gene Promoter
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, vol. 24, no. 2, 1308Contributions to Journals: ArticlesThe Future with Extended Reality, Three-Dimensional, and Advanced Imaging for Molecules, Microscopy, and Anatomy
Technologies in Biomedical and Life Sciences Education: Approaches and Evidence of Efficacy for Learning. Witchel, H. J., Lee, M. W. (eds.). 1 edition. Springer International Publishing, pp. 519-557, 39 pagesChapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-95633-2_17
An evaluation of Medical Sciences skills to inform Co-curricular Enhancement
13th University of Aberdeen Annual Academic Development Symposium 2022Contributions to Conferences: PostersHack 2040: An ideathon event to engage students in university strategy whilst developing their enterprise skills
Teaching and Learning Conference 2021Contributions to Conferences: Posters- [ONLINE] https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets.creode.advancehe-document-manager/documents/advance-he/P3.7%20-%20John%20Barrow_1625843267.pdf
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/16794/1/Hack_2040_Advance_HE_Conference_Poster_FINAL.pdf
- [ONLINE] https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/knowledge-hub/teaching-and-learning-conference-2021-day-3
Employability Boost Award: Engaging students with employability and career development skills in uncertain times
Teaching and Learning Conference 2021Contributions to Conferences: Posters- [ONLINE] https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets.creode.advancehe-document-manager/documents/advance-he/P2.6%20-%20John%20Barrow_1625842711.pdf
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/16795/1/Boost_Award_Advance_HE_Conference_Poster_FINAL.pdf
- [ONLINE] https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/knowledge-hub/teaching-and-learning-conference-2021-day-2
"I had no idea the university offered"…: The support needs of postgraduate taught students
MedEdPublish, vol. 10, no. 1, 121Contributions to Journals: ArticlesEmployability Boost Award: Engaging students with employability and career development skills in an online world
University of Aberdeen Annual Academic Development Symposium 2021Contributions to Conferences: PostersHack 2040: An ideathon event for engaging students in university policy while enhancing their enterprise skills
Hack 2040Contributions to Conferences: PostersThe Future Ready Ideas Lab: Future Proofing Bioscience Students Enterprise Skills
Compass: Journal of Learning and Teaching, vol. 13, no. 2Contributions to Journals: ArticlesThe Gamification of Business Productivity and Scientific Education
Contributions to Specialist Publications: Featured Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.33548/SCIENTIA494
Visualising the Invisible
Pharmacology MattersContributions to Specialist Publications: ArticlesCulturing Enterprise Skills in Bioscience Students
Physiology 2019Contributions to Conferences: PostersEmerging Ideas for Paperless Laboratory Classes
Physiology 2019Contributions to Conferences: PostersImpact of a Final Year Skills Workshop Series for Undergraduate Medical Science Students
Physiology 2019Contributions to Conferences: PostersBringing Science to Life – Teaching Metabolism through Augmented Reality
Human Anatomy & Physiology Annual ConferenceContributions to Conferences: PostersEffectiveness of a Final Year Honours Project Skills Workshop
11th Annual Academic Development SymposiumContributions to Conferences: PostersExploring the “Paperless” Lab – New Ideas and Novel Pedagogy
11th Annual Academic Development SymposiumContributions to Conferences: PostersSupporting the 1st Year Undergraduate Experience with Mentoring
11th Annual Academic Development SymposiumContributions to Conferences: PostersAugmented Reality for Enhancing Life Science Education
Contributions to Conferences: PapersAugmenting Reality in Bioscience Education
Physiology 2019Contributions to Conferences: PostersVisualising cell biology: We’ve an app for that!: How I am incorporating molecular visualisation into my teaching
Contributions to Specialist Publications: Featured ArticlesImpact of a final year project skills workshop series
Europhysiology 2018Contributions to Conferences: PostersImpact of a final year project skills workshop series
Contributions to Conferences: PapersImpact of a final year project skills workshop series
Annual Academic Development Symposium 2018Contributions to Conferences: PostersStudents 4 Students - Enhancing the 1st Year Undergraduate Experience
Annual Academic Development Symposium 2018Contributions to Conferences: PostersTransitioning to Postgraduate Education – Do they really need support?
Annual Academic Development Symposium 2018Contributions to Conferences: PostersDeveloping a University-Wide Transitional Peer Mentoring Scheme for First Year Undergraduates: Students 4 Students
12th Enhancement Themes ConferenceContributions to Conferences: PostersInception of an online skills resource for medical science undergraduates: The School of Medical Science Skills Support Centre
Contributions to Conferences: PostersAn Evolving Journey – transitions of the teaching fellow
Annual Academic Development Symposium 2015Contributions to Conferences: AbstractsFresh approaches to persistent problems: Innovative case studies in transition management
Annual Academic Development Symposium 2015Contributions to Conferences: AbstractsStudents 4 Students: Transitional Mentoring for New Undergraduates
Contributions to Conferences: PostersCulturing Enterprise Skills in Life Science Students
Enhancing employability through enterprise education: good practice guide. Owens, J., Tibby, M. (eds.). The Higher Education Academy pp. 7, 1 page.Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Other ContributionsStudents 4 Students: Transitional Mentoring for New Undergraduates
Annual Learning and Teaching Symposium 2014Contributions to Conferences: PostersBringing the Graduate Attributes to Life (BGATL)
Non-textual Forms: Digital or Visual Products- [ONLINE] https://www.abdn.ac.uk/bgatl/
Peer mentoring
Contributions to Conferences: Other ContributionsA highly conserved Wnt-dependent TCF4 binding site within the proximal enhancer of the anti-myogenic Msx1 gene supports expression within Pax3-expressing limb bud muscle precursor cells
Developmental Biology, vol. 311, no. 2, pp. 665-678Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ydbio.2007.07.022
Evidence for Glucocorticoid Mediated Regulation of Substance P Expression in the Amygdala: A Possible Mechanistic Link Between Chronic Stress and Anxiety
Contributions to Conferences: PapersClosing the systems biology validation gap – comparative genomics and depressive disease
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory/Wellcome Trust Conference on Functional Genomics and Systems BiologyContributions to Conferences: PostersPresence of endocrine and exocrine markers in EGFP-positive cells from the developing pancreas of a nestin/EGFP mouse
Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, vol. 253, no. 1-2, pp. 14-21Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mce.2006.03.003
Transcription Factor-DNA Interactions at the Substance P Enhancer, ECR1
Mechanisms Underlying Emerging Themes in NeurobiologyContributions to Conferences: AbstractsTranscription factor cycling on the insulin promoter
FEBS Letters, vol. 580, no. 2, pp. 711-715Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.febslet.2005.12.061
Relative contribution of PDX-1, MafA and E47/b2 to the regulation of the human insulin promoter.
Biochemical Journal, vol. 389, no. 3, pp. 813-820Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1042/BJ20041891
Purification and Characterisation of a Population of EGFP-Expressing Cells from the Developing Pancreas of a Neurogenin3/EGFP Transgenic Mouse
Contributions to Conferences: Posters
