Biological Sciences

I'm Volker and I am the programme convenor for the Biological Science and Zoology programmes. I am a microbiologist with a strong interest in both infection biology and metabolism. My main interest is the bugs you could pick up in a hospital setting, finding out how they exploit and manipulate their host and how we can treat these infection using novel approaches. I have been at the university since 2014 and I am involved in most of the microbiology teaching across the School of Life and Health Sciences, for example in the 3rd year module Medical Microbiology. I really like how Roehampton's Life Sciences programmes combine different perspectives. Depending on module choice, students can look at how mammals (humans included) perceive their environment and react to it at a neurological, behavioural or ecological level. 

I am Andrea. I am a Senior Lecturer in Biology and Zoology. I have a keen interest in subjects at the interface between biology and other disciplines: before joining Roehampton I worked in a mathematics department (at the University of Uppsala, in Sweden), in a computer sciences department (at the University of Nantes, in France), and even in a research institute for Future Energy (in Paris). I am very happy that at Roehampton I get an opportunity to teach precisely these subjects that I like: I convene the third year module on biological data analysis and I teach sessions in ecology and biometrics. In the picture you see me studying a termite nest; understanding how tiny insects coordinate together to build such large structures is one of my research passions. 

I am Dr Maria Teresa Esposito. I'm a cancer biologist and my research focuses on mechanisms of chemotherapy resistance of leukemic cells. I joined Roehampton in 2017. I love working in a multidisciplinary small department surrounded by green! I also enjoy working with students and helping them to realise their potential. My favourite module to teach is Cell Biology. I love to teach this module because I love cells and I love to show students how microscopic phenomena happening in our cells affect our daily life, how we fight a bug or cancer or how we feel hungry. 

Hello, I am Robert. As a senior lecturer, I teach all years of the Biomedical Science programme. As the smallest independently-living units in our body, the vital processes that sustain cells and their mutual cooperation are fundamental to how we survive, adapt, and suffer illnesses, so this subjects is a great introduction to living systems. My research is about key mechanisms by which immune cells communicate about infectious agents to mount immune defences, and about how the same mechanisms go haywire in immune-related illnesses. I have worked in the United States and Germany and started at Roehampton in 2013. I love Roehampton's human scale, its commitment to research excellence and inclusive teaching, and its friendly staff. The sunsets over Richmond Park, seen from the rear windows of Parkstead House at Whitelands, are a lovely bonus!