Natalie Cope

Biography

I read Biology and Biochemistry at Keele University, earning a BSc (Dual Hons) degree. My PhD research was on detecting genes for Developmental Dyslexia (DD) at Cardiff University and led to publications identifying genes for DD. During my postdoctoral work, I continued my work on the genetic basis of reading, working in the Department of Pediatrics at Yale University. Here, my research focused on the relationships between genetic polymorphisms, behavioural and cognitive phenotype data and neuroimaging data, including fMRI.

After gaining qualified teacher status, I was Deputy Head of the Science Faculty in a high school and worked for AQA as an associate examiner for A level Biology.

I now work in the School of Medicine as a senior lecturer in Clinical Education and am academic lead for year 4 of the MBChB degree. I am involved with the psychometric analysis of assessment and admissions data, along with conducting research. My research interests lie in the areas of values-based recruitment of medical students, standard setting for examinations, examiner calibration and adjustment and numeracy skill in applicants to, and students of, medicine.

I was part of a large team researching the feasibility of correcting OSCE examiner judgements for hawk/dove differences (VESCA) and a team researching standard setting approaches in written knowledge exams.

I teach on the Master's in Medical Education programme, leading modules on the theoretical aspects of assessment, designing and delivering assessment in healthcare settings and research methods in clinical education. I have supervised and mentored students completing their dissertations in clinical education research.

I have Senior Fellowship of Advance HE (SFHEA).

Research and scholarship

• Values based recruitment of medical students
• Standard setting for examinations
• Examiner calibration and adjustment
• Numeracy skill in applicants to, and students of, medicine
• Evaluating online learning and preparation for clinical practice