
Dr Rebecca Pike
BSc (Hons), PGCE, PhD, BSc(Bristol), PGCE(Lond.)
Expertise
Current positions
Senior Lecturer
School of Biological Sciences
Contact
Press and media
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Research interests
MAIN TEACHING RESPONSIBILITIES
· Lecturer (since 2017) and Unit Director (since 2020) across 16 units spanning all levels of the BSc and MSci undergraduate curriculum for Biology, Zoology and Plant Sciences.
· Extensive experience of HE teaching methods within the subjects: Animal Behaviour, Behavioural Ecology, Statistics and Coding using R, Conservation Biology, Professional Development, Sustainability and Enterprise.
· Supervisor for PhD and MRes students, and for BSc and MSci research projects, field courses, and literature reviews.
· Personal academic tutor to multiple groups in each year group and fully supported them throughout their degree programme and in some cases beyond (~80 tutees since 2018).
SELECTED ACHIEVEMENTS
· Introduced the novel innovations The Feedback Café (Pike et al. 2025) and The Assessment and Feedback Portfolio (Murray et al. 2025, Pike and Murray 2024, Murray and Pike 2023).
· Developed School tutorial programme and introduced postgraduates as tutors (Pike & Bell 2025).
· Introduced authentic UG BSc final year projects with UG students teaching in local secondary schools (Pike and Murray 2025).
· Utilising Technology Enhanced Learning, used a flipped classroom and introduced novel assessments such as podcasts (Wakefield et al. 2022) and reflective essays.
· Embedded sustainability, enterprise and reflection within the curriculum by introducing two new practicals and a related assessment in year 1 for students to develop entrepreneurial and team working skills.
ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP ROLES
· Programme Director for Year 1 Undergraduate Programmes in Biology, Zoology and Plant Sciences (since 2021).
· Assessment and Feedback Lead in the School of Biological Sciences (since 2020).
· Lead Exam Officer in the School of Biological Sciences (since 2020).
· External Examiner for BA Animal Welfare and Society, BSc Animal Science and Conservation, MSc Animal Welfare, Behaviour, Ethics and Law, for University of Winchester (2024 – 2028).
· Chair Assessment & Feedback Special Interest Group, within the Faculty Health and Life Sciences Education Network, UoB (since 2025).
· Academic Integrity Officer for School of Biological Sciences (2021-2023
· Faculty of Health & Life Sciences Conference Committee member (since 2026).
· School of Biological Sciences Teaching Committee member (since 2019).
LEADERSHIP IN THE DISCIPLINE
· Member of the Royal Society of Biology (since 2026)
· Bristol Institute of Teaching and Learning (BILT) Assessment & Feedback Associate (2021), sharing best practice with colleagues across the University and beyond.
· Contribution to the pedagogical ERASMUS+ project Enhancing Equity, Agency and Transparency in Assessment Practices in Higher Education which involves interdisciplinary and international collaboration.
· Co-organised Health and Life Sciences Education Network Assessment & Feedback Special Interest Group Workshop: What does good feedback look like? (2026)
· Co-organised the ASAB virtual Easter conference (2021) and virtual workshop (2022) on the Ethics of Animal Behaviour and Welfare Research.
· Cultivation Research-rich Education and Teaching Excellence (CREATE) Scheme mentor and Assessor (2021 – present), supporting colleagues across the University with their applications for fellowship of the HEA.
· Co-organised the ASAB virtual Easter conference (2021) and virtual workshop (2022) on the Ethics of Animal Behaviour and Welfare Research.
AWARDS, HONOURS AND DISCTINCTIONS
Awarded:
· 2026 Best Talk at Horizons in STEM Higher Education Conference.
· 2025 Health and Life Science Education Network for contribution to Assessment & Feedback, UoB.
· 2025 Best Talk at Horizons in STEM Higher Education Conference.
· 2024 Life Science Staff Award: Innovative Leader, UoB.
· 2017 Life Sciences Awards: Team of the Year, UoB.
Nominated:
· Bristol Teaching Awards: Inspiring and Innovative Teaching Award, Individual (2021,2022, 2025), PW3 Team Leaders (2022), Teaching Committee (2020, 2022), Outstanding Personal Tutoring Award, Individual (2021, 2022, 2023, 2025), Outstanding Dissertation Award, Individual (2025), Outstanding Support Award, Individual (2019).
· Young Scientists Summer Programme Peccei and Mikhalevich award, IIASA, (2016).
Projects and supervisions
Research projects
Improving assessment literacy - introducing an online interactive Assessment & Feedback Portfolio to the School of Biological Sciences
Role
Co-Principal Investigator
Description
We evaluated the impact of the AFP through a series of voluntary online surveys and focus groups.
The use of the tools within the AFP was mixed with some…Managing organisational unit
School of Biological SciencesDates
01/08/2021
The Feedback Cafe - creating opportunities for dialogue between staff and students regarding assessment and feedback
Principal Investigator
Description
Higher education institutions face significant challenges in providing effective assessment and feedback practices that foster student learning and engagement. Feedback practices can be unproductive when high staff workload meets low…Managing organisational unit
School of Biological SciencesDates
01/08/2021
Staff and student perspectives on contract cheating
Principal Investigator
Description
Since Covid-19, a wider range of assessment formats have been employed across Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), including open-book examinations. Whilst there is opportunity for increased authenticity with open-book assessments and…Managing organisational unit
School of Biological SciencesDates
01/09/2020
The value of integrating postgraduate tutors into an undergraduate tutorial programme.
Principal Investigator
Description
Integrating postgraduate students as tutors within a first-year undergraduate tutorial programme benefits students as well as staff. In response to increased student numbers and staff workload, postgraduate students were recruited…Managing organisational unit
School of Biological SciencesDates
01/09/2020
Thesis supervisions
Publications
Recent publications
25/06/2026Collaboration or cheating? Student and staff perspectives on the grey areas of academic outsourcing and how to retain integrity in an AI era
Designing Coherent Assessment Landscapes
From feedback fatigue to feedback fluency
Insights into Developing a Feedback Culture
The value of integrating postgraduate tutors into an undergraduate programme
Creative approaches to personal tutoring and academic advising
Thesis
A theoretical investigation of parental decisions
Supervisors
Award date
26/09/2017




