Dr Irene Pinzuti

Profile

I completed a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences and a Master’s degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Siena in Italy. Following nearly two years in the Biochemistry Unit at GlaxoSmithKline Vaccines, I moved to the United Kingdom to pursue doctoral studies. I obtained my PhD from Queen Mary University of London in the Stieglitz Lab, where I investigated the interactions between human and bacterial E3 ubiquitin ligases from Shigella flexneri using diverse biophysical and biochemical approaches. In 2021, I joined the Nanchang Joint Programme and I am currently a Senior Lecturer and module lead for the Academic Skills modules for first- and second-year undergraduates. My aim as an educator is to support students to aspire towards academic excellence and to prepare them for their future professional lives beyond university.

Teaching

Undergraduate teaching for the Nanchang Joint Programme.

Module organiser for:

• Academic and Clinical Skills (SNU105)
• Academic and Clinical Skills 2 (SNU211)

Contributing lecturer for:

• Investigative skills for Biomedical Sciences (SNU309)

Research

Research Interests:

Pedagogical research and Scholarship projects:

Queen Mary English Learning Test (QMELT)
I am committed to addressing language challenges in transnational education by strengthening students’ academic English proficiency. Since commonly used English tests in China often reward memorisation rather than deeper understanding, they provide a limited measure of students’ readiness for UK HE standards. To ensure quality and to meet regulatory expectations, I designed the Queen Mary English Learning Test (QMELT), an innovative and inclusive programme-specific assessment framework. Over the years QMELT proved successful in fostering genuine written and spoken proficiency, offering a more accurate evaluation of students’ abilities, and producing reliable grade distributions. 
 
TNE-specific Peer-Assisted Learning (PAL) 
I pioneered a Peer-Assisted Learning (PAL) framework for TNE students of the Nanchang Joint Programme, approach underrepresented in transnational education literature. Since 2022, this initiative has delivered interactive peer-led sessions that support community building in the post-pandemic context. The integration of PAL with technical modules engages students at programme level, deepening understanding and stimulating critical thinking while strengthening problem-solving and teamwork skills. Evaluation demonstrated high levels of student satisfaction, with notable gains in confidence, collaboration, and English-language communication. As the first project of its kind within QMUL-TNE, it has established a new model for collaborative learning in transnational education.

Publications

Browse a list of publications.