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Professor Derek Scott

Professor Derek Scott
Professor Derek Scott
Professor Derek Scott

BSc (Hons) BioMedSci, PG Cert, PhD, FRSB, Education Lead for Institute of Education for Healthcare & Medical Science

Chair in Physiology & Pharmacology Education

About
Email Address
d.scott@abdn.ac.uk
Telephone Number
+44 (0)1224 437566
Office Address
6.37 Institute of Medical Sciences
Foresterhill Campus
Ashgrove Road West
AB25 2ZD

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School/Department
School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition
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Biography

Professor Derek Scott completed secondary education at Millburn Academy, Inverness (1988-1994) before coming to the University to read for his undergraduate degree.

He is Lead for Physiology and Education Lead for the Institute of Education for Healthcare & Medical Sciences

Derek was the first person on the teaching/scholarship career track ever appointed to a professorship at the University of Aberdeen in 2019. He holds the Chair of Physiology & Pharmacology Education.

He has been announced as the winner of the Physiological Society's Otto Hutter Teaching Prize & Lecture for 2026, as part of the Society's 150th anniversary celebrations.

Professor Scott co-chaired policy reports covering the Contribution of Physiology Education to the UK Economy (launched at UK Parliament, Westminster) and Physiology in Scotland: Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (launched at the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh).

He also contributed to the Scottish Government's recent Healthcare Science Review, Education Sub-Group.

Derek was the international member of the panel who developed the Physiology Learning Outcomes for the Human Anatomy & Physiology Society and was an expert reviewer for The Physiological Society's Physiological Objectives for Medical Students.

Qualifications

  • BSc (Hons) Biomedical Sciences (Physiology) 
    1999 - University of Aberdeen 

    Prize for top student in Biomedical Sciences, First class Honours.

    Thesis title: The influence of intracellular cAMP and calcium on mucosal surface pH or rat small intestine in vitro.

  • PhD Physiological Sciences (Medicine) 
    2004 - University of Aberdeen 

    Jointly supervised by Professor Gordon McEwan (UoA) and Professor Harry McArdle (Rowett Institute of Nutrition & Health).

    BBSRC-funded PhD focused on characterization of divalent metal ion transport in the human small intestine using electrophysiology and molecular biology. Physiological Society Pfizer prize for oral communication.

    Thesis title: Characterisation and regulation of iron- and zinc-evoked electrogenic transport in human intestinal epithelial cells.

  • PGCert Therapeutics 
    2008 - The Robert Gordon University 
    Awarded with distinction

Memberships and Affiliations

Internal Memberships
  • Education Lead, Institute of Healthcare & Medical Sciences (IEHMS)
  • Member, IEHMS Executive
  • Lead for Medical Sciences, Science Teaching Hub Project Management Group
  • Chair, Life Sciences & Medicine Library Committee
  • Member, Medical Sciences Teaching Executive
  • Member, School Education Steering Group
  • Member, Physician Associate Steering Group
  • Member, Medical Sciences Marketing Group
  • Chair of School Library Committee

Derek was previously Deputy Director of Medical Sciences Teaching.

External Memberships
  • Education Theme Lead - Physiological Society of Great Britain (2016-2020)
  • Member of Physiological Society Education, Public Engagement & Policy Committee.
  • Member of Physiological Society EDI Committee
  • External Examiner in Phase I Medicine for the University of Newcastle (2008-12); MPharm for Robert Gordon University (2020-2025); BSc & MSc Personalised Medicine, University of Ulster (2021-2026); BSc/MSci Biomedical Sciences, University of Birmingham (Birmingham and Dubai campuses 2024-2028); Medicine, University of St Andrews (2025-2029).
  • Reviewer for British Journal of Nutrition & British Journal of Anaesthesia; European Journal of Nutrition; Social Science & Medicine; MRC Fellowships; HAPS Educator; Advances in Physiology Education.
  • External Member of Internal Teaching Review panel for Sports-related degrees at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh (2012); School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds (2019), Deanery of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh (2023).
  • Reviewer for various textbook publishing companies.
  • Local co-organizer of Physiology 2019.
  • Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology

Latest Publications

View My Publications

Prizes and Awards

Winner of The Physiological Society's Otto Hutter Teaching Prize & Lecture for 2026

College of Life Sciences & Medicine Excellence in Teaching Award (2010).

Inaugural Winner, Principal's Teaching Excellence Award (2018/19).

Inaugural Winner, Principal's Teaching Excellence Award (2021/22). Only person to win it more than once - also winning in 2022 and 2024.

Nominee for:  Best Postgraduate Taught Lecturer, Best Undergraduate Teacher, Most Inspiring, Excellence in Digital Education, Mental Health Champion, Outstanding Contribution to Accessibility and Inclusivity in Blended Learning. Shortlisted for Outstanding Contribution to Accessibility and Inclusivity in Blended Learning.

Research

Research Overview

Objective structured practical examinations for science students.

The physiology of death and how we teach this.

Physiology learning outcomes

Accessing healthcare science/clinical physiology careers

Infographics, practical skills testing and high-fidelity human simulation to improve the teaching and learning experiences of students and staff in biomedical sciences.

Quality improvement

 

Research Areas

Biomedical Sciences

View Research Area

Research Specialisms

  • Pharmacology
  • Pharmacy
  • Healthcare Science
  • Physiology
  • Pre-Clinical Medicine

Our research specialisms are based on the Higher Education Classification of Subjects (HECoS) which is HESA open data, published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.

Collaborations

Dr Laura Ginesi, University of East Anglia - Physiology of death and dying

 

Supervision

Supervisees

  • MISS TINA BOWERS
Teaching

Programmes

Courses

Teaching Responsibilities

Course coordinator:

  • BM4301 The Science of Ageing: From Cradle to Grave
  • PY3002 Integrative Physiology
  • AN4003 Brain Function & Malfunction (with Anatomy)
  • BM3502 Neuroscience & Neuropharmacology
  • SM4902 Medical Sciences General Paper
  • SM3901 STEM Summer Research Programme
  • BM4009 Staying Alive: Adaptation in Physiological Systems

I previously coordinated BM3501 Cardiovascular Physiology & Pharmacology.

 

Non-course Teaching Responsibilities

Personal Tutor

Industrial Placement Tutor

I have also contributed to Medical Research Scotland's Academy for STEM school students in 2025 and 2023

Publications

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Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings

Contributions to Conferences

Contributions to Journals

Contributions to Specialist Publications

Non-textual Forms

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