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Dr Claire Harper

Lecturer in Biomedical Science

Biology

Profile

Biography

Claire joined Edge Hill University in December 2019 to research vasculogenesis in human placental development under the supervision of Jayne Charnock and gained a Biomedical Science lectureship in Autumn 2021.

Claire obtained her PhD at the University of Birmingham where she used fluorescence microscopy to quantify intracellular calcium dynamics and flagella movement in single living human sperm in response to factors secreted by the egg. It is from this work that she became fascinated by the heterogeneity seen in cell populations.

Following her PhD Claire moved to the University of Liverpool as a postdoctoral scientist in Professor Mike White’s group to research the transcriptional regulation of reproductive hormones which involved developing advanced microscopy to image transcription in single cells within living transgenic pituitary tissue as well as in dispersed cells. During this period Claire was awarded a departmental fellowship to gain some scientific independence. Following this Claire transferred to a senior postdoctoral position at the University of Manchester, working on the dynamics of NF-kB signalling pathway and the control of inflammation.

Alongside research, Claire has been actively involved in Public Engagement of Science. During her postdoctoral positions, Claire jointly led an exhibit at the Royal Academy Summer Science Exhibition entitled ‘The Language of Cells’. The exhibit was further selected to be presented at Science Day in Buckingham Palace where she was fortunate enough to present the research to The Duke of Edinburgh as well as meet The Queen. Claire also attends local schools to encourage children to be interested in STEM subjects.