Dr Alun Hughes

Dr Alun Hughes

Associate Dean Curriculum (Science)

Senior Lecturer

Phone
+44 (0)1334 46 3533
Email
ah200@st-andrews.ac.uk

 

Biography

Alun is a Senior Lecturer in School of Medicine in ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø where he delivers teaching on physiology and pharmacology and is also a member of the School's dedicated Medical Support Team. He is also currently the Associate Dean (Curriculum) for the Faculties of Science and Medicine. Alun is a also is a member of the Board of Trustees for Medical Research Scotland.

Alun joined the University of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø in 2011, and since then has held a variety of teaching management roles within the School: Prior to being Head of the Education Division, he held the role of Director of Teaching and worked extensively with colleagues as the University of Dundee on the curricular and regulatory development of Scotland's first Graduate Entry Medical programe (ScotGEM). He also led on the School's teaching response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He has also been the first-year, first-semester Module Controller for the BSc (Hons) Medicine programme, through which he supported over a decade's worth of students transition to University and welcomed them to medicine.

At his previous institute in Aberdeen, Alun was a researcher in pharmacology and predominately worked on "new tricks for old drugs", such as the chempreventative effects of aspirin or the anabolic effects of statins on bone. He was extensively involved in public engagement, including supporting the local Young Person's Group for the Medicine for Childrens Research Network by delivering interactive workshops on the development and testing of medicines in children.

Teaching

Teaching in physiology and pharmacology

Synchronous and asynchronous lecture delivery

Small group teaching / workshops / practical teaching

Dissertation supervision (critical reviews)

Personal tutor

Portfolio reviewer

Pastoral support / academic and regulatory guidance

Curriculum management / development

Recognition of Trainers (GMC)

Research areas

Since joining the School of Medicine, Alun has transitioned his research interests from benchside to education. His reasearch interests are around the use of technology to adapt teaching both reactively (e.g. in response to the COVID pandemic) and pro-actively (e.g. the use of technology-enhanced learning to augment student learning). He has also interested in the management of risk in educational environments associated with technology use (e.g. incidental findings during practical sessions using ultrasound).

Alun is one of the principal investigators on the Community Orientated Simulation (ComSIM) research programme, which focusses on the enhancement of community based education via the use of extended reality (XR) and artificial intelligence (AI).

As Head of the Education Division, Alun leads on the School's education-related research strategy and priorities.


Selected publications

  • O'Malley, A., Duggal, S., Murad, S., Wang, X. & Hughes, A., Aug 2026.

    Research output: Contribution to conference › Abstract › peer-review

  • Wang, X., O'Carroll, V., Walmsley, R., Gordon, I., Barclay, G. & Hughes, A., Jan 2026, (Unpublished).

    Research output: Contribution to conference › Abstract › peer-review

  • Duggal, S., Hughes, A., O'Malley, A. S., Wang, X., Murad , S., Zachariou, M. & Gordon, I., 14 Apr 2025, UK Council of Clinical Communications conference (UKCCC 2025).

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

  • Open access
    O'Malley, A., Duggal, S., Gordon, I., Hughes, A., Murad , S. & Wang, X., 12 Oct 2025, p. 1-11. 11 p.

    Research output: Contribution to conference › Abstract

  • Duggal, S., O'Malley, A., Wang, X., Zachariou, M. & Hughes, A., 15 Dec 2025.

    Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster

  • Murad , S., Wang, X., Duggal, S., Gordon, I., Hughes, A. & O'Malley, A., 23 Oct 2025, p. 1-1. 1 p.

    Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster

  • Wang, X., O'Carroll, V., Walmsley, R., Gordon, I., Barclay, G. & Hughes, A., 23 Oct 2025, (Unpublished).

    Research output: Contribution to conference › Abstract

  • O'Carroll, V., Walmsley, R., Wang, X., Barclay, G., Gordon, I., Strachan, S. J. A., Dhasmana, D. J., Nisbet, E., Illes, J., Duggal, S., Cezayirli, I. S., Hornal, J. & Hughes, A., 5 Mar 2025, (Unpublished).

    Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster › peer-review

  • Walmsley, R., Watson, E., Laidlaw, A. & Hughes, A., 17 Dec 2022, Biomedical visualisation: Volume 14 ‒ COVID-19 technology and visualisation adaptations for biomedical teaching. Varsou, O., Rea, P. M. & Welsh, M. (eds.). Cham: Springer, Cham, p. 199-213 15 p. (Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology; vol. 1397).

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

  • Open access
    Varsou, O., Hughes, A., Humphreys, R. A. & Laidlaw, A. H., Apr 2021, In: Medical Science Educator. 31, 2, p. 893 - 895

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review