Dr Nigel Francis is a Lecturer in the School of BioSciences. He is a multi-award-winning educator and an internationally recognised leader in higher education pedagogy. Holding a PhD in Immunology from the University of Birmingham, Dr Francis transitioned into teaching-focused leadership, previously serving as an Associate Professor at Swansea University and a Senior Lecturer at Cardiff University. In 2023, he became a Principal Fellow of Advance HE (PFHEA) and is a 2022 National Teaching Fellow (NTF) recipient.

Dr Francis’s pedagogical research and strategic leadership focus heavily on digital innovation, student-centred assessment, and the integration of Generative AI in Higher Education. He has been at the forefront of establishing ethical, transparent, and pedagogically sound policies for the use of AI in academia. His highly impactful educational resources on GenAI have garnered thousands of views globally, earning him the 2024 National Teaching Repository Award for Global Reach and Impact.

A pioneer in laboratory-based pedagogy, Dr Francis founded and chaired the #DryLabsRealScience international community of practice during the COVID-19 pandemic. This sector-leading network supported over 300 bioscience educators across six continents in delivering virtual laboratory experiences, profoundly shaping post-pandemic STEM education.

His commitment to advancing science education extends well beyond his institution. Internationally, he co-led the European Universities Association (EUA) Learning and Teaching Thematic Peer Group and serves as an Educational Consultant for the University of Namibia. Nationally, he was the inaugural Chair of the British Society for Immunology (BSI) Teaching Affinity Group, and formerly a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology (FRSB).

Dr Francis possesses a robust publication record in high-impact pedagogical journals, covering critical topics such as GenAI's capabilities in assessment, feedback, programme-level assessment, and collaborative learning. He is also the co-creator of the innovative platform, Immunology Wars, a student-co-created project that decontextualises complex immunological concepts and engages global audiences.

His sustained excellence in teaching has been recognised with some of the most prestigious awards in the UK, including the Royal Society of Biology’s Higher Education Bioscience Teacher of the Year (2021) and the British Society for Immunology Teaching Excellence Award (2020). Bolstered by a strong record of securing external funding for educational innovation, Dr Francis continues to empower students, safeguard scientific critical thinking, and redefine teaching excellence for the modern, digital educational landscape.

Dr

Nigel Francis

Lecturer in Biology

School of BioSciences

Dr

Nigel Francis

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Faculty of Science

Primary Interest

GenAI in Learning and Teaching

Dr

Nigel Francis

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