Rebecca Barnes
University Teacher - Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
Profile
Dr Rebecca Barnes has always had an enormous love of science and imparting knowledge to others. She applied for a variety of PhDs before ending up in Glasgow to study the molecular biology of parasites, where she realised a passion for the academic environment. She was invited to help set up a lab as a postdoc by a young academic from the USA and so moved to the States, but the expectation and pressure made it a very stressful time.
She transitioned to a project in a different lab and got some good data but the failures of lab work and lack of publications began to get to her. Following suggestions from her PI, she began to teach and demonstrate at a nearby community college, which cemented a desire to find a teaching-focused university role going forward. She applied for a number of jobs in the USA and the UK, ending up at Sheffield.
Here, she relishes spending time with the students, supporting other academic colleagues and moving things forward in the department, having the time to direct her creative energies into more innovative teaching methods.
“Even if you're having a tough time, there is bound to be something you can learn from that and bring it forward to a place where you’re really doing your best work and enjoying it.”
Career timeline
2002
BSc(Hons) in Biochemistry and Genetics, University of Nottingham, UK.
2006
PhD in Molecular Parastiology, University of Glasgow, UK.
Laboratory mentor - Yale University, USA.
2006-2007
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale University, USA.
2007
First author paper
Barnes, R.L. and McCulloch, R. (2007) Trypanosoma brucei homologous recombination is dependent on substrate length and homology, though displays a differential dependence on mismatch repair as substrate length decreases. Nucleic Acids Research, 35(10), 3478-3493.Chapter
Barnes, R., Klingbeil, M.M. and McCulloch, R. (2007) The Three R’s of the Trypanosomatid Genomes: Replication, Recombination and Repair In Barry, D., Mottram, J., McCulloch, R. and Acosta-Serrano, A. (Ed.), Trypanosomes - After the Genome.
2007-2012
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Infectious Diseases, Yale University, USA.
2009
Speaker at Kinetoplastid Molecular Cell Biology Meeting, April 2009, Woods Hole, MA, USA.
2011
Other author paper
Campos, P.C., Silva, V.G., Furtado, C., Machado-Silva, A., DaRocha, W.D., Peloso, E.F., Gadelha, F.R., Medeiros, M.H.G., Lana, G.D.C., Chen, Y., Barnes, R.L., Passos-Silva, D.G., McCulloch, R., Machado, C.R. and Teixeira, S.M.R. (2011) Trypanosoma cruzi MSH2: Functional analyses on different parasite strains provide evidences for a role on the oxidative stress response. Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology, 176(1), 8-16.Speaker at Molecular Parasitology Meeting, September 2011, Woods Hole, MA, USA.
2011-2013
New Haven City Science Fair volunteer, New Haven, CT, USA.
2012
First author paper
Barnes, R.L., Shi, H., Kolev, N.G., Tschudi, C. and Ullu, E. (2012) Comparative Genomics Reveals Two Novel RNAi Factors in Trypanosoma brucei and Provides Insight into the Core Machinery. PLoS Pathogens, 8(5), e1002678-e1002678.Chapter
Barnes, R., Ullu, E., Kolev, N. and Tschudi, C. (2012) RNA Metabolism in Trypanosomes In Bindereif, A. (Ed.), RNA Metabolism in Trypanosomes (pp. 167-185). Berlin/Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.
2012-2013
Associate Research Scientist and Postdoctoral Teaching Scholar, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University, USA.
Teaching affiliate, Gateway Community College, New Haven, CT, USA.
Family Science Night volunteer, New Haven, CT, USA.
2013
Speaker at Kinetoplastid Molecular Cell Biology Meeting, April 2013, Woods Hole, MA, USA.
University Teacher, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, the University of Sheffield.
2013 to present
Module coordinator for Practical Molecular Bioscience 1 and Maths for Molecular Bioscience.
Lecturer for modules Molecular Biology, Genetics 2 and Molecular Bioscience 2B.
Level 1 year tutor - administrative and pastoral commitments.
Mentor for third year students.
2014
Member of the Society of Biology.
Designed new module, Maths for Molecular Bioscience.
Public lecture at Science Discovery Night, the University of Sheffield.
Member of Equality and Diversity Committee.
Second author paper
Shi, H., Barnes, R.L., Carriero, N., Atayde, V.D., Tschudi, C. and Ullu, E. (2014) Role of the Trypanosoma brucei HEN1 Family Methyltransferase in Small Interfering RNA Modification. Eukaryotic Cell, 13(1), 77-86.Member of ScienceGrrl.
2015
Other author paper
Rodenko, B., Wanner, M.J., Alkhaldi, A.A.M., Ebiloma, G.U., Barnes, R.L., Kaiser, M., Brun, R., McCulloch, R., Koomen, G-J. and de Koning, H.P. (2015) Targeting the Parasite’s DNA with Methyltriazenyl Purine Analogs Is a Safe, Selective, and Efficacious Antitrypanosomal Strategy. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 59(11), 6708-6716.
2015 to present
MBB Teaching Executive Group.
2016
Senior Fellow of the HEA.
2016-2019
MEd Learning and Teaching in Higher Education.
2017
Royal Society of Biology funding to organise a workshop on games for teaching.
Poster at HEA STEM conference.
2017-2018
Science rep for University Task and Finish Group on the Virtual Learning Environment.
2018
University of Sheffield Senate Award for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, Early Career category.
Poster at Biochemical Society Education conference.
2019
Talk at HEA STEM Conference 2019.