Kelly Edmunds

I am Course Director for the Biological Sciences with a Foundation Year degree programme and in addition, I teach on and organise two biology modules taught across the Science Foundation year degree courses; BIO-3002A Introductory Biology and BIO-3001B Further Biology. I am module organiser for BIO-6023Y Research Skills and also teach on BIO-4008Y Skills for Biologists, BIO-5012Y Biology in Society as well as on the third-year module, BIO-6018Y Science Communication and supervise Science Communication project students.

I am an interdisciplinary biologist with a research background that originally started in the field of endangered species ecology which then progressed on to disease ecology and the impacts of disease on different communities. My career to date has taken me to a range of countries where I have conducted research, run research projects and conservation programmes and have also been involved in local capacity building and the training of early-career scientists. On completing my PhD research in 2011 I then took up a teaching post at the University of East Anglia where in addition to teaching across a range of undergraduate modules, I also have roles as the Director of Admissions for the School of Biological Sciences (BIO), as Programme Director for the Science Foundation Year courses and am a member of the Equality & Diversity committee within BIO. 

• Course Director for Biological Sciences with a Foundation Year, University of East Anglia,  2013-
• Lecturer, University of East Anglia, 2012 -
• Module Organiser, INTO-UEA, 2009 -
• Associate Tutor, University of East Anglia, 2008 - 2012
• PhD student, University of East Anglia, 2008-2011

ResearchGate ID https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Kelly_Edmunds

I am an ecologist by training but my research interests are of an interdisciplinary nature. After being involved with multiple conservation and ecology research programmes undertaking research primarily into avian ecology and disease, I then moved to looking at epidemiology of emerging infectious pathogens, primarily with respect to the human-animal interface. I am particularly interested in how human behaviours and cultural practices link with the transmission of zoonoses, with how the exploitation of wildlife links in to disease transmission and the potential for novel approaches into responding to emerging infectious disease outbreaks.

I have also worked with other researchers within the university to explore the influence of the media on female aspirations within the sciences and how the media can influence how students relate to role models within science.

Current research projects that I am involved in include the role of cultural practices within SE Asia in zoonotic disease transmission; the scale of SE Asia's ornamental bird trade and the use of risk and hazard frameworks in responding to emerging heatlh threats for example, HPAI H5N1, MERS coronavirus, Ebola Viral Disease and the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. 

I am always happy to discuss my research interests, findings and to discuss potential collaborations.

Programme Director for the SCI Foundation Year courses

Member of the Biological Sciences Teaching Committee

Course Director for Biological Sciences with a Foundation Year and Biochemistry with a Foundation Year courses

Module organiser for BIO-3002A, BIO-4001A and BIO-6023Y

Member of the UEA Foundation Year Working Group

Member of the UEA Widening Participation Research Group

Member of the School of Biological Sciences Exam Board

Member of the Medicine Gateway Exam Board

Member of the BIO Equality & Diversity Committee

Academic Adviser to UG students

Director of Admissions, School of Biological Sciences (2017-2019)

Jan 2015 - facilitator of the meeting of an International Working Group exploring the potential application of HACCP assessments for use in Ebola-affected communities, Nairobi, Kenya.

Sept 2015 - Invited Workshop Contributor to the 18th International Symposium on Health-Related Water Microbiology, Lisbon, Portugal.

Reviewer for FEMS Microbiology Letters, Biological Conservation, Ecology and Society and Zoonoses and Public Health.