51cg

People

Professor John Barrow

Professor John Barrow
Professor John Barrow
Professor John Barrow

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

Accepting PhDs

51cg
Email Address
j.barrow@abdn.ac.uk
Telephone Number
+44 (0)1224 437493
Office Address
Institute of Medical Sciences
Foresterhill Campus
Ashgrove Road West
AB25 2ZD

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School/Department
Provost
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) 51cg
  • 2013-2015: Senior Teaching Fellow 51cg
  • 2009-2013: Teaching Fellow 51cg
  • 2005-2009: Postdoctoral research scientist 51cg

Qualifications

  • PgCert Higher Education 
    2011 - 51cg 
  • PhD Molecular Biology 
    2005 - 51cg 
  • BSc (Hons) Biochemistry 
    2002 - 51cg 

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

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 PhDs
View Research Area

Biomedical Sciences

  • Accepting PhDs
View Research Area

Nutrition and Health

  • Accepting PhDs
View Research Area

Research 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 , published under the 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 showing how we have used Minecraft to teach students about diabetes.

Collaborations

(Wageningen University & Research, Netherlands)

(University of Hull, UK)

(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, 51cg Development Trust

EXPLORING 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 Fund

AUGMENTED CELL BIOLOGY
Barrow, J.
£9,900, The Physiological Society David Jordan Teacing Award

STUDENT TRANSITIONS: THE ROLE OF STUDENT SUPPORT STRUCTURES
Poobalan, A. S., Cleland, J., Foster, K. & Barrow, J.
£1,200, 51cg Learning and Teaching Fund

THE ROLE OF STUDENT SUPPORT STRUCTURES IN STUDENT TRANSITIONS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
Poobalan, A. S., Barrow, J., Foster, K. & Cleland, J.
£1,500, 51cg Medical Education Funding

 

Previous grants:

CELLSPLORERS - AN OUTREACH GRANT FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL ENGAGEMENT
Barrow, J.
£1,000, Biochemical Society

KOSTERLITZ FUND – DEVELOPING ILPR-BINDING LIGANDS
Barrow, J.
£15,000, 51cg Development Trust

DEVELOPING 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, 51cg Learning and Teaching Fund

KOSTERLITZ FUND – IN SILICO ANALYSIS OF ILPR LIGANDS
Barrow, J.
£10,000, 51cg Development Trust

GUILDFORD BENCH METHODOLOGY FUND: DEVELOPING A DECELLULARISED PROTEIN MATRIX SCAFFOLD FOR PANCREATIC BETA-CELL DEVELOPMENT.
Barrow, J.
£1,200, Biochemical Society

Teaching

Programmes

Courses

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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  • Efficacy and Engagement With an Immersive Virtual Learning Experience of the Citric Acid Cycle

    Braga, B. C., Hurst, W., Barrow, J., Long, J., Shearer, G., Hodges, J., Lawler, O., Patel, R., Schiavone, T., Masterson, T.
    Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education , vol. 53, no. 5, pp. 500-508
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]

  • Virtual reality for biochemistry education: the cellular factory

    Barrow, J., Hurst, W., Edman, J., Ariesen, N., Krampe, C.
    Education and Information Technologies, vol. 29, no. 2, pp. 1647–1672
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]

  • Transforming and embedding graduate attributes and skills at the 51cg

    Barrow, J., Innes, T., Robertson, K.
    QAA - FOSTERING ENTERPRISE AND INNOVATION. The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA). 7 pages.
    Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Other Contributions
    • [ONLINE]
    • [ONLINE]

  • Results of a student survey of additional teaching for self-study

    Gregory, J., Brack, C., Lee, S., Barrow, J., Cunningham, C.
    14th 51cg Annual Academic Development Symposium 2023
    Contributions to Conferences: Posters

  • Towards Computational Modeling of Ligand Binding to the ILPR G-Quadruplex

    Zhang, X., Barrow, J., van Mourik, T., Bühl, M.
    Molecules, vol. 28, no. 8, 3447
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]
    • [ONLINE]

  • Virtual reality for biochemistry education

    Barrow, J., Edman, J., Hurst, W.
    Contributions to Conferences: Oral Presentations
    • [ONLINE]

  • ABDN Grad Challenge: an enterprise and entrepreneurship opportunity for students at the 51cg

    Barrow, J., Rettie, J.
    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 Contributions
    • [ONLINE]

  • M3 Receptor Pathway Stimulates Rapid Transcription of the CB1 Receptor Activation through Calcium Signalling and the CNR1 Gene Promoter

    Marini, P., Cowie, P., Ayar, A., Bewick, G. S., Barrow, J., Pertwee, R. G., MacKenzie, A., Tucci, P.
    International Journal of Molecular Sciences, vol. 24, no. 2, 1308
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]
    • [ONLINE]

  • The Future with Extended Reality, Three-Dimensional, and Advanced Imaging for Molecules, Microscopy, and Anatomy

    Barrow, J.
    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 pages
    Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters
    • [ONLINE] DOI:

  • An evaluation of Medical Sciences skills to inform Co-curricular Enhancement

    Barrow, J., Shewan, D., Marini, P., Tucker, S., Scott, D. A., McEwan, G., Cafiso, M.
    13th 51cg Annual Academic Development Symposium 2022
    Contributions to Conferences: Posters

  • Hack 2040: An ideathon event to engage students in university strategy whilst developing their enterprise skills

    Barrow, J.
    Teaching and Learning Conference 2021
    Contributions to Conferences: Posters
    • [ONLINE]
    • [OPEN ACCESS]
    • [ONLINE]

  • Employability Boost Award: Engaging students with employability and career development skills in uncertain times

    Barrow, J., Innes, T.
    Teaching and Learning Conference 2021
    Contributions to Conferences: Posters
    • [ONLINE]
    • [OPEN ACCESS]
    • [ONLINE]

  • "I had no idea the university offered"…: The support needs of postgraduate taught students

    Poobalan, A., Barrow, J., Cleland, J.
    MedEdPublish, vol. 10, no. 1, 121
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]

  • Employability Boost Award: Engaging students with employability and career development skills in an online world

    Barrow, J., Innes, T.
    51cg Annual Academic Development Symposium 2021
    Contributions to Conferences: Posters

  • Hack 2040: An ideathon event for engaging students in university policy while enhancing their enterprise skills

    Barrow, J.
    Hack 2040
    Contributions to Conferences: Posters
    • [OPEN ACCESS]

  • The Future Ready Ideas Lab: Future Proofing Bioscience Students Enterprise Skills

    Barrow, J., Perkins, J., Marini, P., Davidson, A.
    Compass: Journal of Learning and Teaching, vol. 13, no. 2
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]

  • The Gamification of Business Productivity and Scientific Education

    Barrow, J., Hurst, W.
    Contributions to Specialist Publications: Featured Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:

  • Visualising the Invisible

    Barrow, J.
    Pharmacology Matters
    Contributions to Specialist Publications: Articles
    • [ONLINE]

  • Augmenting Reality in Bioscience Education

    O'Hare, D., Hurst, W., Sands, A., Forker, C., Barrow, J.
    Physiology 2019, pp. 328P-329P
    Contributions to Conferences: Posters
    • [ONLINE]

  • Culturing Enterprise Skills in Bioscience Students

    Davidson, A., Gardiner, M., Perkins, J., Marini, P., Barrow, J.
    Physiology 2019, pp. 329P-330P
    Contributions to Conferences: Posters
    • [ONLINE]
    • [ONLINE]

  • Emerging Ideas for Paperless Laboratory Classes

    Barrow, J., Scott, D. A.
    Physiology 2019, pp. 331P-332P
    Contributions to Conferences: Posters
    • [ONLINE]
    • [ONLINE]

  • Impact of a Final Year Skills Workshop Series for Undergraduate Medical Science Students

    Barrow, J., Scott, D. A.
    Physiology 2019, pp. 330P-331P
    Contributions to Conferences: Posters
    • [ONLINE]

  • Bringing Science to Life – Teaching Metabolism through Augmented Reality

    O'Hare, D., Sands, A., Hurst, W., Scott, D. A., Barrow, J.
    Human Anatomy & Physiology Annual Conference
    Contributions to Conferences: Posters

  • Effectiveness of a Final Year Honours Project Skills Workshop

    Barrow, J., Scott, D. A.
    11th Annual Academic Development Symposium
    Contributions to Conferences: Posters

  • Exploring the “Paperless” Lab – New Ideas and Novel Pedagogy

    Barrow, J., Scott, D. A.
    11th Annual Academic Development Symposium
    Contributions to Conferences: Posters

  • Supporting the 1st Year Undergraduate Experience with Mentoring

    Barrow, J.
    11th Annual Academic Development Symposium
    Contributions to Conferences: Posters

  • Augmented Reality for Enhancing Life Science Education

    Barrow, J., Forker, C., Sands, A., O'Hare, D., Hurst, W.
    Contributions to Conferences: Papers
    • [OPEN ACCESS]

  • Visualising cell biology: We’ve an app for that!: How I am incorporating molecular visualisation into my teaching

    Barrow, J.
    Contributions to Specialist Publications: Featured Articles
    • [ONLINE]
    • [ONLINE] DOI:

  • Impact of a final year project skills workshop series

    Barrow, J., Scott, D. A.
    Europhysiology 2018
    Contributions to Conferences: Posters
    • [OPEN ACCESS]

  • Impact of a final year project skills workshop series

    Barrow, J., Scott, D. A.
    Contributions to Conferences: Papers
    • [OPEN ACCESS]

  • Impact of a final year project skills workshop series

    Barrow, J., Scott, D. A.
    Annual Academic Development Symposium 2018
    Contributions to Conferences: Posters
    • [OPEN ACCESS]

  • Students 4 Students - Enhancing the 1st Year Undergraduate Experience

    Barrow, J.
    Annual Academic Development Symposium 2018
    Contributions to Conferences: Posters
    • [OPEN ACCESS]

  • Transitioning to Postgraduate Education – Do they really need support?

    Poobalan, A. S., Barrow, J., Foster, K. N., Cleland, J. A.
    Annual Academic Development Symposium 2018
    Contributions to Conferences: Posters
    • [OPEN ACCESS]

  • Developing a University-Wide Transitional Peer Mentoring Scheme for First Year Undergraduates: Students 4 Students

    Barrow, J.
    12th Enhancement Themes Conference
    Contributions to Conferences: Posters

  • Inception of an online skills resource for medical science undergraduates: The School of Medical Science Skills Support Centre

    Rizea, M., McEwan, G. T. A., Tucker, S. J., Jenkinson, A. M., Shewan, D., Barrow, J.
    Contributions to Conferences: Posters

  • An Evolving Journey – transitions of the teaching fellow

    Barrow, J., Tucker, S. J.
    Annual Academic Development Symposium 2015
    Contributions to Conferences: Abstracts

  • Fresh approaches to persistent problems: Innovative case studies in transition management

    Barrow, J., Tucker, S. J.
    Annual Academic Development Symposium 2015
    Contributions to Conferences: Abstracts

  • Students 4 Students: Transitional Mentoring for New Undergraduates

    Barrow, J.
    Contributions to Conferences: Posters

  • Culturing Enterprise Skills in Life Science Students

    Perkins, J., Barrow, J., Carrington, A. C., Davidson, A.
    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 Contributions

  • Students 4 Students: Transitional Mentoring for New Undergraduates

    Barrow, J.
    Annual Learning and Teaching Symposium 2014
    Contributions to Conferences: Posters

  • Bringing the Graduate Attributes to Life (BGATL)

    Barrow, J.
    Non-textual Forms: Digital or Visual Products

  • Peer mentoring

    Barrow, J.
    Contributions to Conferences: Other Contributions

  • A 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

    Miller, K. A., Barrow, J., Collinson, J. M., Davidson, S., Lear, M., Hill, R. E., MacKenzie, A.
    Developmental Biology, vol. 311, no. 2, pp. 665-678
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:

  • Evidence for Glucocorticoid Mediated Regulation of Substance P Expression in the Amygdala: A Possible Mechanistic Link Between Chronic Stress and Anxiety

    Barrow, J., MacKenzie, A.
    Contributions to Conferences: Papers

  • Closing the systems biology validation gap – comparative genomics and depressive disease

    Barrow, J., Davidson, S., Lear, M., MacKenzie, A.
    Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory/Wellcome Trust Conference on Functional Genomics and Systems Biology
    Contributions to Conferences: Posters

  • Presence of endocrine and exocrine markers in EGFP-positive cells from the developing pancreas of a nestin/EGFP mouse

    Bernardo, A. S., Barrow, J., Hay, C. W., McCreath, K., Kind, A. J., Schnieke, A. E., Colman, A., Hart, A. W., Docherty, K.
    Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, vol. 253, no. 1-2, pp. 14-21
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:

  • Transcription Factor-DNA Interactions at the Substance P Enhancer, ECR1

    Barrow, J., MacKenzie, A.
    Mechanisms Underlying Emerging Themes in Neurobiology
    Contributions to Conferences: Abstracts

  • Transcription factor cycling on the insulin promoter

    Barrow, J., Hay, C., Ferguson, L. A., Docherty, H., Docherty, K.
    FEBS Letters, vol. 580, no. 2, pp. 711-715
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:

  • Relative contribution of PDX-1, MafA and E47/b2 to the regulation of the human insulin promoter.

    Docherty, H., Hay, C., Ferguson, A. L., Barrow, J., Durward, E., Docherty, K.
    Biochemical Journal, vol. 389, no. 3, pp. 813-820
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:

  • Purification and Characterisation of a Population of EGFP-Expressing Cells from the Developing Pancreas of a Neurogenin3/EGFP Transgenic Mouse

    Barrow, J., Bernardo, A. S., Blaylock, M. G., Duncan, L., MacKenzie, A., McCreath, K., Kind, A. J., Schnieke, A. E., Colman, A., Hart, A. W., Docherty, K.
    Contributions to Conferences: Posters

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