Catz scientists celebrate new University positions

St Catharine’s is delighted that the University of Cambridge has announced new appointments for six Fellows, all of whom are contributing to world-class teaching and research in the sciences. The appointments include five professorships effective from 1 October 2023.  

Professor Sir Mark Welland (2016), Master of St Catharine’s, commented:

“I am thrilled that my colleagues have been recognised by the University of Cambridge and I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all six Fellows on behalf of the St Catharine’s community. Our Fellowship is blessed with excellent researchers and educators across a wide range of subjects, and we are fortunate to have been able to invest in advancing teaching and research during my time as Master, thanks to the support of our alumni and donors.”

Professor David Bainbridge (2003) is Director of Studies in Veterinary Medicine at St Catharine’s, as well as serving as Admissions Tutor (Sciences), Postgraduate Admissions Tutor (Sciences), Postgraduate Tutor (Welfare), Disabilities Tutor, Childcare Tutor and one of our undergraduate tutors. He was appointed Professor of Veterinary Anatomy, a grade 11 position in the University, last year. He has now been appointed to the most senior grade of professorship (grade 12) in the University’s Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience.

He said,“I am delighted to receive this promotion and am hugely grateful to the College and my department (Physiology, Development and Neuroscience) for their invaluable support. It is great that Cambridge has now established effective routes by which staff primarily involved in teaching can further their careers, and it is testament to St Catharine’s commitment to supporting our students that so many of our fellows have received university promotions this year.”

Dr Jessica Gwynne (2015) is the Harold Ridgeon Fellow and Director of Studies in Materials Science at St Catharine’s. She has been appointed to a teaching professorship in the University’s Department of Materials Science, where she has been responsible for working with the Department’s Teaching Committee to coordinate, develop and run undergraduate teaching, and delivers lectures on a range of topics, including Non-Metallic Materials, Electronic Properties of Materials, and Biomaterials.

She said, “It's great that the University has introduced the new Teaching and Scholarship career pathway, to recognise the contributions and achievements of teaching-focused academics. I'm very proud to have been one of the first people to be promoted under this scheme, and to be the first Teaching Professor at the Materials Department – and now have to get used to my children’s new nickname for me: ‘Professor Mummy’."

Dr Peter Wothers MBE (1988, Natural Sciences; Fellow 1997) is the Rushton Fellow and Director of Studies in Chemistry at St Catharine’s, as well as serving as the Senior Treasurer of the Amalgamated Clubs, Custodian of College Silver and Postgraduate Tutor (Financial). He has been appointed to a teaching professorship in the University’s Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry. He was awarded an MBE for Services to Chemistry in 2014 and he is currently an Associate Teaching Professor, lecturing on Chemistry to first-, second- and third-year undergraduates.

He commented,“It is wonderful that the University now fully recognises Teaching and Scholarship as an academic pathway, as evidenced by the first ever batch of promotions for a number of us that focus on teaching.  Given the immense pressure on many researchers now, who are sometimes even expected to negotiate themselves out of their teaching commitments, it is more important than ever to have a core of specialists dedicated to educating our students.”

Dr Rahul Roychoudhuri (2020) is Director of Studies in Pathology at St Catharine’s. Since 2020, he has been a University Associate Professor in the Division of Immunology at the Department of Pathology, where his research has focussed on understanding how the immune system responds to cancer, and how such responses may be improved to benefit patients. His research is supported by the Medical Research Council, the European Research Council, F-Star Biotechnology and AstraZeneca. He will now be appointed a new professorship in the Department of Pathology.

He said, "I am honoured and humbled to hear this news. Appointment to a Professorship is a reflection of the brilliant efforts and contribution of the scientists and trainees within my laboratory, and of our collaborators and colleagues within the University and broader academic community. It is also a reflection of the kindness, help and support my colleagues within the Department and at St Catharine's have given me over the years, for which I am blessed. I hope that I can justify the faith placed in me over the coming years by delivering new insights into how the immune system responds to cancer and how this can be therapeutically manipulated to improve patient outcomes."

Dr Chiara Ciccarelli (2018) is Director of Studies in Physics and Astrophysics at St Catharine’s. She is currently a University Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics, where she was previously the Winton Advanced Research Fellow (2016–21) and the Royal Society University Research Fellow (2017–22). Her research group focuses on the study of quantum spin-effects in magnetically ordered materials. She has now been appointed to a new professorship in the same Department.

She commented, "I am honoured to receive this promotion, an important recognition of our research work. I am extremely grateful to all members in my group and all the collaborators that make this research possible and exciting, and to the Department and College for their constant support."

Dr Andrzej Harris (2020) is Director of Studies for Biochemistry, Postgraduate Tutor (Welfare) and one of our undergraduate tutors at St Catharine’s. Since 2018, he has been a Research Associate in the University's Department of Biochemistry. He supervises St Catharine’s first-year students on a course called MIMS (Molecules in Medical Science), which is an introduction to biochemistry and genetics. From 1 July 2023, he will be a University Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology, which will involve delivering lectures on three courses: Mechanisms of Drug Action, Part II Pharmacology and Part III Pharmacology.

He said, “I am delighted to be joining the Department of Pharmacology, a small but outstanding research and education community. I look forward to helping foster an inclusive and nurturing intellectual environment for students and colleagues alike.”