Dr Susanne Voelkel

After completing her PhD in 1992 Dr Susanne Voelkel spent eight years doing research in the area of animal physiology in Dusseldorf and Berlin, Germany. In 2001 she joined the University of Liverpool to teach zoology and biochemistry in the School of Life Sciences. In 2011 Susanne successfully completed a Postgraduate Masters in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education and became interested in technology enhanced learning, developing a number of teaching innovations which were implemented in the School. Based on her teaching innovations, she was awarded the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Learning and Teaching Award in 2013 as well as the University's Sir Alastair Pilkington Award for Teaching Excellence. Also in 2013 she achieved Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy. Now a senior lecturer (Teaching and Scholarship) her roles include director of studies for zoology and chairing the Schools Quality Enhancement Group. She is also convener of the Life Science Educational Research Group. Impact of work Susanne has developed and pioneered a number of teaching innovations that have now been adopted by various departments within the University of Liverpool and other UK HE institutions. These innovations include a formative-summative online test design and an audience response system based on mobile phone polling. Both had a significant effect on student engagement and learning. Her work has also led to a transformation of the assessment culture in the School of Life Sciences, affecting 1200 students per year. Plans for the future Receiving the recently awarded Learning and Teaching Fellowship has enabled her to embark on a project aiming to improve feedback in the School of Life Sciences by developing resources for staff in collaboration with students. In the future she is hoping to expand on collaboration with students to work on a number of issues, including transition from secondary into higher education.