Professor Matt Mason studied Veterinary Medicine as an undergraduate before completing a PhD in Zoology. He subsequently conducted postdoctoral research in the Department of Physiological Science at UCLA, working under the renowned brain researcher Professor Peter Narins. Professor Mason currently serves as Director of the Medical Physiology Teaching Programme at St Catharine’s College, University of Cambridge, where he primarily teaches comparative physiology. He is also a University Physiologist at the University of Cambridge, responsible for planning and coordinating the teaching, examinations, and laboratory courses within the University’s medical physiology curriculum.

Within the Cambridge supervision system, Professor Mason engages in in-depth discussions with groups of students almost every week, continually refining his approaches to teaching complex physiological concepts. Drawing on his extensive teaching experience, he has developed innovative and effective teaching methods. For example, together with students, he developed the Hippomedics YouTube channel (www.hippomedics.com), which focuses on physiological concepts that students often find challenging. Using animation to illustrate key physiological principles, the platform makes complex concepts more intuitive and accessible and has become popular among students studying physiology. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to higher and medical education, Professor Mason has been awarded the titles of Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), Fellow of the Academy of Medical Educators (FAcadMEd), and Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology (FRSB) by leading professional organizations in the UK.

Professor Jeff Dalley completed the early stages of his academic career in New Zealand and the UK before joining St Catharine’s College, University of Cambridge in 2007, where he has long been involved in teaching undergraduate Neurobiology.His research focuses on the neural mechanisms underlying individual differences in behavioural regulation and their role in psychiatric disorders. His research team combines behavioural experiments, brain imaging, and neuropsychopharmacology to investigate the neural circuits and neurochemical mechanisms underlying impulsivity, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder, and addictive behaviours. His work aims to advance the translation of basic neuroscience into clinical psychiatry, with research spanning a range of neuropsychiatric conditions, including schizophrenia, Parkinson’s disease, and drug addiction.

Professor David Aldridge has long been engaged in research into fundamental questions in theoretical biology and ecology, while placing strong emphasis on the practical applications of scientific research. His work focuses primarily on applied freshwater ecology, including the conservation of rare and threatened freshwater species and ecosystems, the ecological mechanisms and risk assessment of invasive species, and the development of sustainable waterbody restoration and long-term monitoring strategies based on ecological processes. His research aims to address the increasingly serious global challenges of freshwater degradation and biodiversity loss. Professor Aldridge has achieved significant international recognition for his research in freshwater mollusc ecology, invasive species dynamics, and ecosystem service assessment. His work has provided important scientific evidence for aquatic ecosystem management policies in Europe and other regions around the world. His research not only advances fundamental understanding of ecosystem structure and function, but also promotes the practical application of ecological knowledge to environmental management. He is also a co-founder of BioBullets Ltd., an environmental technology company dedicated to developing efficient, targeted, and environmentally friendly biological control technologies for managing invasive aquatic pests. Its technologies have been applied in water management projects across multiple countries. Professor Aldridge consistently emphasizes that applied innovation stems from sustained exploration and in-depth understanding of fundamental biological and ecological principles, demonstrating the close connection between basic science and real-world challenges.