DrAnita Hall

My brief education and research story so far:

North Somerset comprehensive school, Science and English Literature A Levels, first generation in my family to go to post-16 school and university

First degree in Zoology at Oxford, UK.

PhD in Neurobiology, UCL, UK.

Two post-docs in cellular neuroscience and stem cell biology, KCL, UK and Karolinska Institute, Sweden.

Appointed as a Neuroscience Lecturer at Imperial College London, UK.

Voluntary community work since age 11, paid work since 13.

I am now a senior teaching fellow, deputy senior tutor and College mental health first aider and instructor with a particular interest in welcoming all into the scientific community, sustainability, and normalising awareness and discussions about mental health and neurodivergence

To sum up my teaching experience and philosophy, I'll use a comment from a student that made me happy, 'she teaches us how to think like a cell biologist'.


Current contributions within the Department of Life Sciences

Course leader:

Cell biology, First year Biochemistry (core course)

Communication skills for life scientists, focused on academic writing, First year Biochemistry and Biological sciences (core course)

Integrative cell biology, Second year Biochemistry (core course)

Stem cells, regeneration and ageing, Final year Biochemistry and Biology (elective course, at times convenor or co-convenor)

Ad hoc sessions e.g., for Final year undergraduate science communication course


Pastoral support roles in the Department:

Deputy senior tutor for Biochemistry

Mental Health First Aider (MHFA) and MHFA instructor. I regularly chat with students as well as some staff to discuss their mental health concerns and questions and I signpost the support that is available and emphasise hope and the likelihood of recovery from mental ill health. I deliver bespoke sessions on mental health awareness and support across College and I am trained to deliver 4 hour, 1 day and 2 day MHFA England courses.

Personal tutor

Trained in sexual violence support and domestic violence awareness including 'expect respect' workshopping

Continually learning about and trying to be a better ally to minoritized groups of people.


Other Departmental contributions:

Second Year Biochemistry year convenor

Member of the Department's teaching committee and a range of ad hoc working groups e.g., on AI

Trainer and administrator/mentor for DoLS graduate teaching assistants (GTAs)



Current and previous contributions within the Faculty of Natural Sciences (FoNS) and across Imperial

Member of College's Education for sustainability task and finish working group

Member of the panel supporting and assessing Student Awards for Outstanding (non-academic extracurricular) Achievement

A founder, co-organiser, co-supervisor and mentor for the Faculty student team innovation competition,‘FoNS Make a Difference’

Schools science competition first stage judge and host

Designed and ran the Life Sciences and Medicine Global summer school for one hundred 16-17 year old international students, contributed to Life Sciences' summer schools, Sutton Trust workshops and Imperial's Outreach labs

Contributed some of my work on peer review of academic writing to a FoNS educational technology day

Undergraduate research opportunity (UROP) reviewer

Served as invited Member of a FoNS Education Futures Curriculum group

When Faculty Senior Tutor invited onto the following committees: Faculty's Education, Undergraduate Student Staff and Masters Student Staff committees and College's Quality Assurance and Enhancement and student support and wellbeing.
Previous and ongoing contributions beyond Faculty within Imperial College

Invited member of College's Teaching staff career paths and Teaching reward, retention and recognition frameworks working groups

Member of the 'Practioner route' Teaching promotions panel

Invited member of the College Sexual Harassment working group as part of the new College strategy on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

Served on Imperial's Transitions Working Groups. These have created online study support resources for undergraduate and Masters students.

Served on the 'task and finish' working group on Doctoral student wellbeing e.g. by helping to develop an online course for supervisors

Contributed to discussions about mental health first aid with personal tutors (e.g. in the Faculty of Medicine)

Contributed to Imperial's internships strategy group

Served as an invited member of the Schools working group as part of College’s Societal Engagement strategy

Took part in a panel discussion and ran a workshop as part of Imperial's Education days

Launched and run a collaborative network of Imperial's Teaching Fellows. This network aims to support the sharing of teaching innovation and best practice as well as career development, scholarship and publication. I Chaired the Board of Teaching Fellows and lead discussions about teaching-focused careers in universities for post-docs.

Invited member of College's Learning and Teaching strategy 'steering group'

Panel member, Making Mental Health Work@Work discussion and Q&A in conjunction with Time to Change

Invited member of the ‘Action Inquiry’ groups which examined and suggested ways to evolve Imperial’s institutional culture

Attended Harassment: Confronting Inappropriate Behaviours and Active Bystander training to signal my willingness to help improve Imperial's working culture

Contributed to joint College Trade Union, HR and Senior Management committees and undertook some UCU casework support.

Trained in Hay Group job evaluations and gradings

Volunteered for English conversation sessions with overseas students and researchers as part of Imperial College's Conversation Project (helps alleviate culture shock and offers informal English language support)

Taught neuroscience to medical students e.g. as part of the intercalated BSc in Neuroscience and mental health


Professional contributions beyond College

Completed CPCAB Levels 2 and 3 counsellor training (integrative, humanistic and psychodynamic focused) and recruited as a member of the Samaritans network for local campaigners

Previously, a school link Governor with a focus on advocating for pupils with special educational needs and families facing a range of challenges and disadvantages who are in receipt of pupil premium funding. Recruited to be the Chair of a school's local advisory board (similar to a board of governors) with strategic overview of its school improvement plan.

Working with Public Health Lambeth to help train mental health first aiders and wellbeing 'champions' in the community

Supporting urban biodiversity alongside Lambeth council and community organisations. Becoming trained in social and therapeutic horticulture.


Invited speaker on HE teaching:

'Career paths in academia' at the PhD and Post-docs's careers day, King's College London, September 2016

‘Peer review with first year students (and transition support)’ at the Heads of University Biosciences sponsored workshop on, 'Assessments that reward learning and feedback that builds resilient students'. January 2016

Career paths in academia: what are my options? Naturejobs Career Expo, September 2014 (followed up on Twitter)

My reflections on widening participation from within a highly selective University, Brilliant Club conference, July 2014, University Perspectives Panel

Career paths in academia: Teaching-focused choices Society for Experimental Biology, June 2014

Guardian Higher Education Network Live chat, 'rethinking the teaching and research balance', November 2011
STEM Outreach, widening access and participation, public engagement and STEM careers support

Most in own time, many as STEMNET London Ambassador, others as an invited volunteer e.g. with Inspiring the future, City Islington College, the Big Bang Festival, Rathbone youth club. These events include: University STEM career networking events, after school science clubs, science fairs, xmas lectures I'm a scientist online, summer school events, University interview practice, developing STEM educational resources, community festivals and FunPalaces.
Previous and ongoing professional activities beyond College:

External examiner, Queen Mary University of London

Invited reviewer and Associate editor for Bioscience Horizons (Journal of international undergraduate bioscience research), invited reviewer for Japan Society for the promotion of science and textbook reviewer for Garland Science

Worked with one of the 'big four' audit firms to better support transition, mental health and resilience. This may lead to further work based around a discussion of modern working practices

Served as Director of the Parent Promoters Foundation (Elmgreen's Foundation body) at The Elmgreen School (a community comprehensive school), London, SE27 9BZ November. Aim: To work in partnership with the school, parents and the wider community to improve outcomes for all Elmgreen's children

Director of We Rise at its launch, We Rise is a social enterprise based in South London that aims to empower young people to create their own futures through authentic project-based work experiences.


I have been trained in Gender equality Outreach by the Fawcett Society to educate the next generation of gender equality champions.


Professional prizes

Departmental Award, 2024

Student Academic Choice Award nominations: Best Innovation, Best Tutoring and Best student support, March 2017 (1/6 Shortlistees for Best Innovation), Imperial student-led awards

President's Award for Excellence in Teaching

May 2015 staff student awards

''Consistent evidence of sustained good practice, very student-centred and a well-informed teacher who is appreciated by both staff and students. Very strong, supportive references also doing good work with the Teaching Fellow network to promote learning & teaching good practice'' (President's Award Reviewers' panel). ''Has inspired 100s of students to try research'', President's Award ceremony.

Faculty of Natural Sciences Prize for Excellence in Teaching

May 2015 'Anita is an effective, hard-working teacher who is much appreciated by the students on the UG and Masters programmes. Her approach to teaching is reflective and innovative. Her deep thinking about student learning shows throughout her approach to teaching, whether it is in the lecture theatre, the practical lab or small group tutorials. An excellent departmental citizen, Anita has always been willing to share her good teaching practices with other staff through our termly workshops. Anita also serves as the departmental careers adviser, and has worked to support the school-to-university transition for our first year students. She has also introduced elements of mental health support in a sensitive and caring way as part of her teaching.' FoNS Teaching Committee, 2015

Student Academic Choice Award nominations: Best Undergraduate teaching and Best student support, January 2015, Imperial student-led awards

Faculty of Natural Sciences Award for Excellence in Teaching

Imperial College London, June 2013

Students' nomination for Rector's Excellence in Pastoral Care Award, April 2013
HFSP Long-term Fellowship

Human Frontier Science Program, December 2001

Karolinska Institute Fellowship , Karolinska Institutet, December 2000

Continuing professional development

I have completed a Postgraduate Diploma in University Learning and Teaching run by Imperial’s Educational Development Unit and I regularly attend their workshops and seminars. My research topics included intellectual risk aversion and unhealthy perfectionism. I attend teaching conferences and use online courses, books and online education networks to learn more and try to improve my practice in aspects of teaching and learning such as assessment, problem-based learning, inclusivity, advocacy, gamification, reflective learning, course design, public engagement, transition support, informal learning and bioethics