Jennifer Z Paxton, BSc(Hons), MSc, PhD Principal Investigator

Jennifer is the Principal Investigator of the Paxton Lab

Background: Jennifer began her studies at the University of Glasgow with a BSc (Hons) in Anatomy, graduating in 2004. Following this, she undertook a MSc in Bioengineering at the University of Strathclyde where she combined her anatomical knowledge with engineering principles to understand the ways in which engineering science can be applied to advances in healthcare. Here, Jennifer was introduced to the field of Tissue Engineering and so on completion of her MSc, she moved to the University of Dundee where she completed her PhD in Tissue Engineering in 2009. Jennifer then undertook a period of postdoctoral research in the School of Chemical Engineering at the University of Birmingham from 2009-2013. Jennifer joined the University of Edinburgh in early 2014 as a Lecturer in Anatomy. She was promoted to Senior Lecturer in August 2020. 

Research Interests: Jennifer is Principal Investigator of the Paxton Lab, where she leads a group that focusses on anatomically relevant Tissue Engineering. We are interested in the enthesis, or bone-tendon interface, and are investigating ways to grow this in the laboratory. See Our Research page for more details.

Academic responsibilities: Jennifer has published more than 20 papers in a range of leading Tissue Engineering and Biomaterials journals. She is also regularly asked to act as a reviewer for numerous journals in this field and as a reviewer for several funding bodies. She is also Associate Editor for the BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders journal. Jennifer is also an active member of several societies such as the Tissue and Cell Engineering Society (TCES), The Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland, Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) and UK Society of Biomaterials (UKSB), where also served as the regional officer for Scotland as part of the UKSB Young Scientists Forum (YSF).

Jennifer is a keen science communicator and as a STEM ambassador, regularly engages with school children about following a career in science. She has taken part in several science communication projects including ‘I’m a scientist…get me out of here!’ where she was voted the winner of the Health Zone in 2013, and the Enquiry Zone in 2018. See the Outreach page for more details.

Jennifer has recently published a popular science book called 'Anatomicum'.

Other info: Outside of work, Jennifer is a mum and loves baking and spending time with her family. 

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