Getting the right trainer
When you hire a trainer, how do you know their content will be relevant to your staff or students?
I have over 20 years experience working in a research environment,
at research institutes at hom,e in France and in UK universities.
I know the system. I've managed teams of postdoc researchers, I've trained PhD students.
That's not to say "I know it all" but you know I've been there, lived through it and know what has worked.
When it comes to training, you will share that level of experience.
You know yourself how important relevance and credibility is - get it wrong and the word of mouth effect spreads the bad news like wildfire. Get it right and you have a waiting list for the next course.
Which outcome would you prefer?
I have the experience, I make sure my trainers have the experience. You can trust me to do the job.
Below I'll share two key types of information : testimonials from students on past courses and my curriculum vitae. I hope they help your decision-making.
Please do contact me to discuss any questions. I look forward to hearing from you soon!
email Margaret Collins
Telephone 0208 123 0099
write to PO Box 5157, Cardiff, CF5 9BB.
Testimonials
Presentation
skills *Thank you once again for the fantastic presentation session, it was very very helpful.
* I just wanted to say thank you so much for the presentations workshop yesterday, it was a really useful day.
* I came to the workshop with a deep fear of public speaking but left wanting to conquer that fear and perhaps even enjoy the experience in the future!
Research Project Management * The best session so far!
* The small group size meant there was a real interactive exchange between tutor and colleagues.
* Great group participation. The Post-It notes exercise was lots of fun and very useful!
* I can really take control of my project and it's management. I have a better idea of what is involved and am inspired to think harder about the risks, tasks etc.
Time management * A
useful and enjoyable morning, which offered a range of
approaches to thinking about one’s management of tasks and
some practical strategies for improving one’s effectiveness
(and efficiency!). * Some really interesting concepts about
positive mental attitude.
* I really enjoyed the
delivery and enthusiasm of the presenter.
* Interaction with others was
good - we have the same challenges but respond very
differently.
* Lots of different time
management tools.
Effective PhD
planning *
I liked the way Margaret presented her topic. It was very
impressive and interesting. Thank you for such valuable
time and content.
* Impressive, interesting,
incredibly valuable!
* Lecturing style of the
tutor is very attractive. Fantastic two way communication
and active learning.
* It's important - don't miss
it!
* Very well presented and
thought provoking. A must for all new PhD
students!!
Introduction to molecular
biology *
Excellent lecture and a very useful tutorial.
* Very good lecture, not the
easiest stuff to teach but still kept us all
interested.
* I wish all lecturers were
as patient and good as her.
Personal development
courses *
Interesting, thought provoking, life-changing!
* I think the best feedback I
could give you is the fact I recommended friends to come to
your course. The course itself was value for money and a
valuable experience. In a short time I was able to reuse
what I gained from the exercises in my personal and working
life.
* Margaret creates an
atmosphere so relaxed and friendly that it is very easy to
become involved and really achieve better understanding of
yourself and how to improve your life. Many thanks for your
advice and support.
* Margaret has an innate
knack of creating a confidential, and yet relaxed,
atmosphere, thus enabling invaluable group
discussions.
Curriculum
vitae 1995-2008 : The
Royal Veterinary College - Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in
Molecular Biology. 1991-95 : BBSRC Inst. for Animal Health -
Senior Scientific Officer.
1987-91 : Protein Engineering Dept., BBSRC Inst. of Food
Research - Section Head, Molecular Biology.
1986-87 : Department of Microbiology, University of Surrey -
Postdoctoral Research Fellow.
1985 : Centre de Génétique Moléculaire, C.N.R.S., France -
European Fellow of the Royal Society.
1981-84 : University College of Wales, Aberystwyth - PhD in
Microbial Genetics.
1978-81 : University College of Wales, Aberystwyth - First
Class Honours Degree in Cell and Immuno Biology.
In addition I am a professionally trained Coach (CoachU
graduate), a Professional Behavioural Styles and Values
Analyst, and a full member of the Higher Education
Academy.
Recent
publications:
Young NJ, Thomas CJ, COLLINS ME, Brownlie J. Real-time
RT-PCR detection of Bovine Viral Diarrhoea virus in whole blood
using an external RNA reference. J Virol Methods. (2006)
138:218-22.
Young NJ, Thomas CJ, Thompson I, COLLINSME, Brownlie J.
Immune responses to non-structural protein 3 (NS3) of bovine
viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) in NS3 DNA vaccinated and
naturally infected cattle. Prev Vet Med. (2005)
15;72:115-20.
Kempster S, COLLINS ME, Aronow BJ, Simmons M, Green RB,
Edington N. Clusterin shortens the incubation and alters the
histopathology of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in mice.
Neuroreport. (2004) 15:1735-8.
Stokstad M, COLLINS M, Sørby R, Barboni P, Meyers G, Løken
T, Brownlie J. The role of the defective interfering particle
DI9c in mucosal disease in cattle. Arch Virol. (2004)
149:571-82
Stokstad M, Brownlie J, COLLINSME. Analysis of variation of
bovine viral diarrhoea virus E2 sequence following
transplacental infection of cattle. Vet Microbiol. (2004)
102:141-145
Kempster S, COLLINSME, Deacon R, Edington N. Impaired motor
coordination on static rods in BSE-infected mice. Behav Brain
Res. (2004) 154(1):291-5.
Kempster S, Collins ME, Edington N. Time of transforming
growth factor beta 1 inoculation alters the incubation of BSE
in mice. Neuroreport (2004) 15:2233-6.
Stokstad, M., COLLINS M. E., Knobloch P., Soerby R., Løken
T. and Brownlie, J. (2004) The role of a defective interfering
particle, DI9, in mucosal disease in cattle. Arch Virol 149:
571-582.
Nobiron, I, Thompson, I, Brownlie, J and COLLINS, ME. (2003)
DNA vaccination against bovine viral diarrhoea virus induces
humoral and cellular responses in cattle with evidence for
protection against viral challenge. Vaccine 21: 2091-2101
Becher, P., Thiel, H.J., COLLINS, M., Brownlie, J. and
Orlich, M. (2002) Cellular sequences in pestivirus genomes
encoding gamma-aminobutyric acid (A) receptor-associated
protein and Golgi-associated ATPase enhancer of 16 kilodaltons.
J Virol 76:13069-13076.
Garside, L.H., COLLINS, M., Langford, P.R. and Rycroft, A.N.
(2002) Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 1 carrying the
defined aroA mutation is fully avirulent in the pig. Res Vet
Sci. 72:163-167.
Kempster, S., COLLINS, M.E. and Brownlie J. (2002) Tat
protein expression in MDBK cells does not confer susceptibility
to Bovine Immunodeficiency Virus. Arch Virol 147: 643 649.
Benarafa, C., COLLINS, M.E., Hamblin, A.S. and Cunningham,
F.M. (2002) Role of the chemokine eotaxin in the pathogenesis
of equine sweet itch. Vet Rec. 151: 691-693.
Benarafa, C., COLLINS, M.E., Hamblin, A.S., Sabroe, I. and
Cunningham, F,M. (2002) Characterisation of the biological
activity of recombinant equine eotaxin in vitro. Cytokine 19:
27-30.
English, K., et al., (2001) DNA analysis of Pneumocystis
infecting a Cavalier King Charles spaniel. J Eukaryot
Microbiol, 2001.
Nobiron, I., Thompson, I., Brownlie, J. and COLLINS, M.E..
(2001) Cytokine adjuvancy of BVDV DNA vaccine enhances both
humoral and cellular immune responses in mice. Vaccine
19:4226-4235.
Barboni, P., Thompson, I., Brownlie, J., Hartaningsih, N.
and COLLINS, M.E.. (2001) Evidence for the presence of two
bovine lentiviruses in the cattle population of Bali. Vet
Microbiol. 80:313-327.
Benarafa, C., Cunningham, F.M., Hamblin, A.S., Horohov, D.W.
and COLLINS, M E. (2000) Cloning of equine chemokines eotaxin,
monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, MCP-2 and MCP-4, mRNA
expression in tissues and induction by IL-4 in dermal
fibroblasts. Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 76:283-298.
Nobiron, I., Thompson, I., Brownlie, J. and COLLINS, M.E.
(2000) Co-administration of IL 2 enhances antigen-specific
immune responses following vaccination with DNA encoding the
glycoprotein E2 of bovine viral diarrhoea virus. Vet Microbiol.
76:129-142.
COLLINS, M.E., Desport, M. and Brownlie, J. (1999) Bovine
viral diarrhea virus quasispecies during persistent infection.
Virology 259:85-98.
Booth, P. J., COLLINS, M. E., Jenner, L., Prentice, H.,
Ross, J., Badsberg, J. H. and Brownlie, J. (1999) Association
of non-cytopathogenic BVDV with bovine blastocysts: effects of
washing, duration of viral exposure and degree of blastocyst
expansion. Veterinary Record 144:150-152.
Booth, P.J., COLLINS, M.E., Jenner, L., Prentice, H., Ross,
J., Badsberg, J.H. and Brownlie, J. (1998) Noncytopathogenic
bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) reduces cleavage but
increases blastocyst yield of in vitro produced embryos.
Theriogenology 50:769-777.
Hsu, S-C., Obeid, O. E., COLLINS, M., Iqbal, M., Chargelegue
D. and Steward, M. W. (1998) Protective cytotoxic T lymphocyte
responses against paramyxoviruses induced by epitope-based DNA
vaccines: involvement of IFN [ggr]. International Immunology
10:1441-1447.
Brownlie, J., Hooper, L.B., Thompson, I., and COLLINS, M.E.
(1998) Maternal recognition of foetal infection with bovine
virus diarrhoea virus (BVDV) - the bovine pestivirus. Clinical
and Diagnostic Virology 10:141-150.
Desport, M., COLLINS M.E. and Brownlie J. (1998) Genome
instability in BVDV: an examination of the sequence and
structural influences on RNA recombination. Virology
246:352-361.
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