Qualifications
- BSc (Rhodes University)
- MRes (Rhodes University)
- PhD / DPhil (Rhodes University)
- FHEA (University of Hull)
- PGCert (Higher Education Academy)
Summary
Cheryl completed her PhD in Microbiology from Rhodes University, South Africa in 2008 involving Tetraviruses. Post completing her PhD, Cheryl has a sustained academic career spanning 16 years that has involved both research into emerging viral pathogens and science communication and outreach. Cheryl is a passionate Microbiology educator, teaching on a range of undergraduate and postgraduate modules, including laboratory projects. Cheryl is interested in the molecular virology of RNA viruses, in particular, the mechanisms of virion assembly and egress and the host pathways that are sequestered for virion formation, and drug repurposing for novel antiviral compounds. Cheryl is an external examiner for both PGR and PGT degrees.
Cheryl is a committed advocate of STEM subjects to children and underrepresented groups and contributes regularly to outreach and communication activities at a local and national level. Cheryl is a member of the Microbiology Society’s Education and Outreach Network (EON) and is also an elected member of the Microbiology Society’s Building Communities committee.
Cheryl has provided expert comment for national and internal media outlets including: BBC News (TV and radio), The Economist, LadBible, NBC News and Australia’s ABC. She has written articles for The Conversation on Mpox, Lassa Fever and viral hepatitis, acting as an advisor on emerging viral threats to human health
Cheryl holds a senior fellowship with Advance HE and enjoys developing educational resources and contributing to curriculum development and the scholarship of teaching and learning. Cheryl is also a member of the HYMS Health Professions Education unit Cheryl contributes on a range of modules and across FHEQ levels. Cheryl teaches on the following programmes:
BSc. (Hons.) Biomedical Science
•Clinical Microbiology and Immunology (Module lead)
•Advanced Microbiology (Module lead)
•Skills for Biomedical and Forensic Science students
•Professional Skills for Biomedical and Forensic Science students
•Independent Research Projects [40 credits]
BSc. (Hons.) Biochemistry
•Concepts in Pharmacology
MSc. Biomedical Sciences
•Infection and Immunity
•Current topics in Biomedical Science
MSc. Pharmacology and Drug Development
•Foundations of Pharmacology
MB BS programme (HYMS)
•Scholarship and Special Interest Programme Phase I
Journal Article
Disposable and sensitive electrochemical magneto-immunosensor for point-of-care HCV diagnostics: Targeting HCVcAg, the active viremia biomarker, in patient samples
Abo-Zeid, M. N., Walter, C., Kitchman, K., Eastick, K., Corless, L., & Greenman, J. (2025). Disposable and sensitive electrochemical magneto-immunosensor for point-of-care HCV diagnostics: Targeting HCVcAg, the active viremia biomarker, in patient samples. Biosensors & bioelectronics, 272, Article 117104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bios.2024.117104
A sample-to-answer COVID-19 diagnostic device based on immiscible filtration and CRISPR-Cas12a-assisted detection
Ngamsom, B., Iles, A., Kamita, M., Kimani, R., Wakaba, P., Rodriguez-Mateos, P., Mungai, M., Dyer, C. E., Walter, C., Gitaka, J., & Pamme, N. (2022). A sample-to-answer COVID-19 diagnostic device based on immiscible filtration and CRISPR-Cas12a-assisted detection. Talanta Open, 6, Article 100166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talo.2022.100166
A lab-on-a-chip platform for integrated extraction and detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in resource-limited settings
Rodriguez-Mateos, P., Ngamsom, B., Walter, C., Dyer, C. E., Gitaka, J., Iles, A., & Pamme, N. (2021). A lab-on-a-chip platform for integrated extraction and detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in resource-limited settings. Analytica Chimica Acta, 1177, Article 338758. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2021.338758
Release of infectious hepatitis C virus from huh7 cells occurs via a trans-golgi network-to-endosome pathway independent of very-low-density lipoprotein secretion
Mankouri, J., Walter, C., Stewart, H., Bentham, M., Park, W. S., Heo, W. D., Fukuda, M., Griffin, S., & Harris, M. (2016). Release of infectious hepatitis C virus from huh7 cells occurs via a trans-golgi network-to-endosome pathway independent of very-low-density lipoprotein secretion. Journal of virology, 90(16), 7159-7170. https://doi.org/10.1128/jvi.00826-16