Meet Dr Inês Cebola

What course do you teach on and what is your role?

Inês CebolaI am one of the module leads in the MSc Applied Genomics. My role is to coordinate and manage the content of the first module of the course, which aims to give a broad overview of the application of multi-omics research to the biomedical field. I also teach in this course, delivering lectures and workshops around my own research topic – the integration of genetics and gene regulation processes to understand human disease. In addition to my roles in the MSc Applied Genomics, I am an invited lecturer in a number of other courses in the College (BSc Medical Biosciences, MSc Human Molecular Genetics, MSc Genomic Medicine), in which I use my research findings to exemplify the latest advances in human disease genomics.

How has your career led you to teaching?

I have always enjoyed teaching in informal settings, such as demonstrating techniques to students in the lab. After I joined Imperial as a senior research associate in 2013, my postdoctoral mentor invited me to give a short talk about a study I had recently published to a small cohort of MSc students. This experience led me to a great personal discovery: I seriously enjoy teaching and being in direct contact with students. Gradually, after that first lecture, I was invited to participate in additional postgraduate courses in the College and in 2018 I became a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a MSc module lead.

What aspect of the course do you enjoy teaching the most?

It is a real pleasure to have the opportunity to show students the science of today and tomorrow. This is achieved by constantly updating the content of the course to the latest scientific advances of the field I teach. Another aspect that makes me especially enjoy teaching in the MSc Applied Genomics is the fact that I have the opportunity to apply modern teaching techniques, especially team-based learning. I find it extremely gratifying to have a front-row seat to observe how students mature into highly inquisitive and critical minds using this teaching format.

What do you hope your students will go on to achieve on completion of this course?

In addition to acquiring a solid theoretical foundation of the field of biomedical genomics, the course is designed to allow students to develop their critical thinking along with practical skills, all of which are essential to be successful in the workforce.

What is your favorite part about teaching at Imperial College London?

Teaching and research at Imperial are really two sides of a coin. Teaching at Imperial has given me the chance to host brilliant students in my own lab to carry out research projects, which is an immense privilege.