Dr Frances Mansfield

Frances graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Applied Biology from Chelsea College, University of London. She then did her PhD, entitled ‘Factors Affecting Photosynthesis and Research into Possible Functions for Photorespiration’. This was in the area of Plant Biochemistry and Physiology and was carried out at Rothamsted Experimental Station (PhD registered at the University of London) and supervised by Dr Alfred J.Keys. 

 She then took on the role of post doc Research Fellow at the Research School of Biological Sciences, at the Australian National University, Canberra, Australia; was there for a year and carried out research studies on the regulation of the uptake and export of metabolites by spinach chloroplasts, working in Professor Barry Osmond’s photosynthesis group. 

Returning to the UK, Frances then ventured into things clinical and worked as a clinical research associate at the MRC Clinical Research Centre, Middlesex in the Division of Clinical Cell Biology with Professor TJ Peters. The first project here was in collaboration with Amersham International Radiochemicals and looked at the purification and characterisation of cancer-specific isoforms of galactosyltransferase from human samples. Frances then worked on a short-term project supported by the Cancer Research Campaign looking at the characterisation of gamma-glutamytransferase in normal and malignant hepatic cells. 

Following a career break of one year to take care of her first child, Frances then returned to ‘things green’ and was an associate research assistant in the Department of Biology, University College London working on an OECD-supported project carrying out metabolic studies of Striga hermonthica, a parasitic plant of C4 crops. 

Following an extended career break to raise a family. Frances was then awarded a Daphne Jackson Fellowship supported by Pfizer Research and Development where she worked in Discovery Biology in the Department of Allergy and Respiratory at Pfizer, Sandwich, UK looking at potential inhibitors of phosphodiesterase 4 activity associated with development of treatment for inflammatory lung disease.

Frances joined the School of Biosciences at the University of Kent in 2004 as a teaching-focused lecturer in Biosciences. She completed a PGCHE and became a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Previous administrative roles have included Liaison Tutor for the Academic Peer Scheme, and School Plagiarism Officer. Currently, Frances is the Chairperson for the undergraduate and postgraduate Staff-Student Liaison Committee (since 2017) for the School.

Stage 1 

• BI323 Diversity of Living Organisms (Module convenor) 
• BI302 Molecular and Cellular Biology 
  

Stage 2 

• BI521 Metabolism and its Regulation
• BI546 Animal Form and Function (Module Convenor) 
• BI547 Plant Physiology and Adaptation 

Stage 3 

• BI600 Final Year Project
• BI602 Cell Signalling

Publications of Dr Frances Mansfield (nee Boyle)