Dr Emma Yhnell

(she/her)

BSc (Hons), PhD, PGCert, FLSW, FRSB, NTF, PFHEA

Publication

• Date
• Type

Research

My research spans bioscience education, science communication and the scholarship of learning and teaching (SoLT), with a particular focus on inclusive educational practice, student partnership and the conditions that shape learning and academic careers. My work is interdisciplinary and applied, combining empirical research, evaluative scholarship and sector-facing outputs to inform policy, practice and professional standards in higher education.

A significant strand of my research examines how science is communicated, taught and experienced across diverse contexts, from undergraduate curricula to public engagement and cultural institutions. I am particularly interested in how educational design, assessment and co-creation can enhance belonging, participation and equity in science education, and how evidence-informed approaches can drive meaningful change at institutional and sector levels. My work has been disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, invited keynotes, policy-facing outputs and collaborative projects with national and international partners.

Earlier in my career, my research focused on translational neuroscience, particularly Huntington’s disease. As holder of an independent clinical research fellowship funded by the Welsh Government through Health and Care Research Wales, I led research exploring the feasibility of computerised cognitive training within the Huntington’s disease clinic. This work provided a strong foundation in clinical research, interdisciplinary collaboration and research leadership, and continues to inform my approach to applied, impact-focused scholarship and science communication

Teaching

I am a multi award winning educator having won the Society for Experimental Biology's Outreach, Education and Diversity Medal in 2025, the Society for Neuroscience Educator Award 2024 and the Biochemical Society Teaching Excellence. I am Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a National Teaching Fellow. I am passionate about making teaching and learining inclusive, accessible and inspiring for learners.

Teaching overview:

I lecture in a wide range of subjects within the School of Biosciences.

My internal roles include(d):

• Assessment Lead for BI2431 Brain and Behaviour (2025-present)
• Deputy Module Lead BI2431 Brain and Behaviour (2020-Present).
• Module Lead BIT056 Science Communication (2021-2025).
• Academic Lead for Public Engagement (2021 - 2023).
• Academic Lead for e-Learning and Assessment Facility (eLEAF) (2020-2021).
• Admissions Tutor (Neuroscience 2019-2024).
• Personal Tutor (2019-present)
• Module Lead CE5194 Diseases and Disorders of the Brain (2016-2021).

Biography

Education and qualifiations

2016 - 2018 Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Trials, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (via distance)

2012 - 2015 PhD Behavioural Neurosciences, Cardiff University

2009 - 2012 BSc (Hons) Biochemistry, Cardiff University

Honours and awards

Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology, 2025.

Society for Experimental Biology, Outreach, Education and Diversity Presidents Medal Award 2025.

Society for Neuroscience - Neuroscience Education Award 2024.

Biochemical Society Teaching Excellence Award 2024.

National Teaching Fellowship 2023

Cardiff University Personal Tutor of the Year 2023 - Enriching Student Life Awards (ESLAs).

Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy 2022.

Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales 2022.

Cardiff University Celebrating Excellence Awards - Rising Star (Academic) - 2021

Finalist - Royal Society of Biology (RSB) Biosciences Higher Education Teacher of the Year 2021.

I’m a Scientist Get Me Out of Here National Science Communication Competition for School children Winner May 2021.

Cardiff University Enriching Student Life Awards 2021 – Nominated by students as most uplifting staff member of the year.

Cardiff University Celebrating Excellence Awards – Rising Star Early Career Academic 2021. Shortlisted

FameLab Science Communication Competition Winner for Wales 2019

British Neuroscience Association (BNA) Public Engagement Award 2018

British Science Association Charles Darwin Lecture 2018

Cardiff Institute for Tissue Engineering and Repair (CITER)  Young Investigator Award, 2017

Womenspire Chwarea Teg Rising Star 2017, Finalist

Most Dedicated STEM Ambassador in Wales Finalist, April 2017

WeAreTheCity Rising Star Nomination, March 2017

SET for Britain Research Presentation at the Houses of Parliament, 2016.

The Biochemical Society Scientific Communication Writing Award Winner, 2015

Best PhD talk at Careers in Neuroscience Satellite Event for NECTAR, Galway, Ireland 2014.

Shortlisted Finalist for the Max Perutz Science Writing Award, MRC London, 2013.

Biology Researchers in Schools Certificate, Cardiff University, 2013.

Professional memberships

Bioscience Educators Network 

Member of Royal Society of Biology 

Fellow of The British American Project November 2021

Cardiff Institute for Tissue Engineering and Repair (CITER)

The Federation of Neuroscience Societies (FENS)

The British Neuroscience Association (BNA).

The Higher Education Academy (AFHEA, FHEA, SFHEA).

The European Huntington’s Disease Network (EHDN).

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Ambassador.

The Biochemical Society.

Academic positions

Reader, Teaching and Scholarship, School of Biosciences (August 2024  - Present)

Senior Lecturer, Teaching and Scholarship, School of Biosciences (August 2021 - July 2024).

Lecturer, Teaching and Scholarship, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University (September 2019 - July 2021).

Health and Care Research Wales Fellow, Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University (September 2016 - September 2019)

Lecturer at The Centre for Continuing Professional Education and Development (Jan. 2016 – May 2021)

Research Associate, The Brain Repair Group Cardiff University (Oct. 2015 – March 2016)

PhD Student, The Brain Repair Group, Cardiff University (Sept 2012 – Sept 2015)

Speaking engagements

Selected examples of speaking engagement are given below. 

Invited talks

• “Innovate to Educate: Finding Your Purpose in Higher Education” — The Society of Experimental Biology, Antwerp, Belgium, July 2025

• “Influence, authenticity, and doing things differently” — Learned Society of Wales, Early Career Researchers Colloquium, Cardiff Metropolitan University, July 2025

• “Breaking out of the tower, bring your work to new audiences” — Nottingham BBSRC DTP Conference, April 2025

• “Why I treat every lecture like a performance” — Biochemical Society Award Lecture, Online, September 2024

• “The Importance of Science Communication” — Federation of European Neuroscience, Vienna, June 2024

• “Communicating to public audiences: be brave, bold and yourself” — National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research, Sheffield, June 2024

• Aspen Institute UK Breakfast Briefing: “The tip of the iceberg – health and wellbeing” — March 2024

• “Towards Greater Gender Equality in Higher Education Leadership and Governance” — Collaboration with Global Wales, Cardiff University, and Vietnamese Universities, March 2024

• “Dementia: Hope for the Future?” — Royal Society Lates: What’s on your mind, London, February 2024

• The experience of learners from ethnic minorities – their story — Association for Science Education (ASE) Annual Conference, Nottingham, 2024

• How are you today? Using wellbeing polls to dismantle power dynamics… — ESLTIS24, St Andrews, Scotland, July 2024

• Discos, well‑being polls and “draw‑a‑longs” — Bioscience Education Summit, Cardiff, 2022

• Women in Neuroscience Panel — British Neuroscience Association Members Meeting (online).

Invited panel contributions

• N8 Research Partnership, Sustainable Scholarly Publishing Panel — Lancaster University, June 2025

• Wales Women in STEM Conference, Role Modelling in STEM (Panel Chair) — University of South Wales, March 2025

• “Stopping Short of the Goal: Is Open Access Really Fulfilling Its Promise to the Public?” — UK Scholarship Group 48th Annual Conference and Exhibition, Brighton, April 2025

• Research and Innovation Culture Conference – Equity, Diversity and Inclusion — Celtic Academies Alliance, Royal Irish Academy, Dublin, November 2024

• Emerging Leaders UK Young Academy, “Getting Started in Your Leadership Journey” — Cardiff, November 2024

• The International Brain Bee World Championship Career Panel — Online, October 2024

Invited blog posts

• Supervisor Case Study: Emma Yhnell — Cardiff Learning and Teaching Academy, August 2025

• Yhnell, E & Milton, E “Do all of our learners get an equitable learner experience?” — The Blog of the Association of National Teaching Fellows, November 2024

• Yhnell, E. “Innovative teaching in the molecular life sciences – you can do it too!” — Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS) Network Blog, February 2024

• Yhnell, E & Milton, E “Learning and teaching: it’s not about you…it’s all about your students” — Staff and Educational Development Association (SEDA) Blog, February 2024

Invited podcasts

• Science Go – 🧬 Genetic Spoilers & AI Professors — October 2025

• Cardiff University Public Engagement Podcast, Ethics within Engagement — June 2025

• The Dementia Researcher Podcast: Make Your Mark – Elevating Your Academic Visibility — Recorded live at BNA Festival of Neuroscience, May 2025

• DigEd Discuss – Cardiff University, Episode Three: Gamification in Education — June 2024

• Federation of European Neuroscience Societies Forum Daily Highlights Podcast — June 2024

Science communication & media expertise

• BBC Radio Series “Dementia: Hope for the Future” — Created and hosted a two-part series in collaboration with Bengo Media for BBC Radio Wales, December 2023 (rerun May 2024). 

• BBC Radio Wales, “Sunday Supplement” Paper Reviewer, Politics Programme — Regularly reviewing Sunday papers and science news

• Health and Care Research Wales Podcast, Where Would We Be Without Research? — Hosted a six-part series highlighting Welsh research to local, national, and international audiences, 2022.

• Jo Durrant’s Beautiful Universe Podcast — Resident neuroscientist, 2019–present.

• Invited contributions to DK popular science books:

  • Simply The Brain (2022, ISBN: 9780744060119)

  • How The Brain Works: The Facts Visually Explained (How it Works) (2020, ISBN: 978-0241403372)

Committees and reviewing

ALBA Board Member (Global Diversity in Neuroscience network)

Welsh Government Equity in STEM Board

Senedd Cross Party Group on STEM

Biochemical Society Policy Advisory Panel

Federation of European Neuroscience Societies Communications Committee

Grant reviewer Health and Care Research Wales 

British Neuroscience Association Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Lead

Engagement

My engagement work is grounded in a long-standing commitment to science communication, public dialogue and civic responsibility. I work extensively beyond the University to translate scientific and educational scholarship into public, cultural and policy contexts, and to shape engagement practice at institutional, national and international levels.

I hold senior external leadership and governance roles that reflect international recognition of my expertise in education, science communication and equity. These include serving as a Welsh Government–appointed Trustee of Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales, contributing to the governance and strategic direction of Wales’ largest cultural institution, and as an elected member of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics, where I support public dialogue and policy development on complex ethical issues in science and medicine. I also hold senior roles within international neuroscience and academic organisations, including the International Brain Research Organisation and the European Federation of Academies of Sciences and Humanities, contributing to strategy, ethics and research culture at a global level.

Alongside these governance roles, I maintain an extensive, invitation-led programme of public engagement and media activity. I have created and presented broadcast and digital content for national and international audiences, including a two-part BBC Radio Wales series on dementia, and I am a regular invited contributor to radio, podcast and public discussion programmes. Through these platforms, I translate complex scientific ideas into accessible, engaging narratives that support public understanding, dialogue and informed decision-making.

A significant strand of my engagement focuses on widening participation and equity in science. A committed STEM Ambassador, I have design and deliver schoos and community engagement activities. Much of this work centres on supporting young people from underrepresented backgrounds to see themselves as future scientists, and on embedding inclusive, evidence-informed practice within engagement activity.

My engagement work also informs policy and practice. I contribute to parliamentary and policy discussions through advisory roles and evidence submissions, and I work closely with learned societies, professional bodies and higher education institutions to support sector-wide change in education, communication and inclusion.