Dr
Laura
Corns
School of Biosciences
University Teacher
Full contact details
School of Biosciences
C107
Addison Building
- Profile
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I am a University Teacher in Physiology and Neuroscience. I absolutely love teaching and focus on making learning engaging and accessible for all of our students. As a teaching focussed academic I use all of my previous research experience in sensory neuroscience to inform my teaching whilst also developing new interests in embedding skills, and an understanding of ethical and sustainable research, within the undergraduate curriculum.
Career history:
I completed a BSc (Hons) in Human Physiology from the University of Leeds. I was so engaged by my final year project where I was investigating an unusual spinal cord cell type known as the cerebrospinal fluid contacting neurons, that I remained within the lab of Sue Deuchars to further this work. My PhD within Sue’s lab focussed on using electrophysiology to understand how these cells were influenced by local neurotransmitters, particularly acetylcholine, and whether they may be a key part of the neurogenic niche which resides within the spinal cord.Next I moved to Walter Marcotti’s lab at the University of Sheffield where amongst other things he was also studying the influence of acetylcholine on auditory hair cells. Here I developed an interest in the mechanoelectrical transducer channels that are so critical for hearing, and investigated how these channels affect the development and innervation of hair cells. I followed this work with a fellowship to understand the reorganisation of innervation within the aging cochlea before moving to focus on teaching within higher education.
2022-present: University Teacher, University of Sheffield
2017-2021: Associate University Teacher, University of Sheffield
2017-2018: Action on Hearing Loss Pauline Ashley Fellow.
2012-2017: Post-doctoral Research Associate, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield. Hearing research group.
2009-2012: PhD, School of Biomedical Science, University of Leeds.
2005-2009: BSc (Hons) Human Physiology with a Year in Industry, University of Leeds.
- Research interests
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From my previous roles I still have an interest in how the innervation of auditory hair cells is affected during development and aging, however, my active research is now more pedagogical.
I am interested in how skills are taught across the curriculum, including the changing needs of practical skills education, from exploring student perceptions of ethical and sustainable practicals, to whether cloud based platforms are effective to deliver practical teaching materials, and whether hypothesis-driven practicals offer a more useful learning experience. I collaborate nationally with colleagues to understand the changing role of animals within practical teaching. Providing examples of using lower vertebrates and invertebrates within practical teaching but also engaging in the discussion about how to apply the 3Rs (replacement, reduction and refinement) to teaching.
- Publications
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Show: Featured publications All publications
Featured publications
Journal articles
- Large-scale practical cardiovascular classes with Danio rerio: overcoming ethical, financial, and logistical challenges associated with mammalian models. Advances in Physiology Education, 50(1), 1-9. View this article in WRRO
- Mechanotransduction is required for establishing and maintaining mature inner hair cells and regulating efferent innervation. Nature Communications, 9(1). View this article in WRRO
- TMC2 Modifies Permeation Properties of the Mechanoelectrical Transducer Channel in Early Postnatal Mouse Cochlear Outer Hair Cells. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience , 10. View this article in WRRO
- Tmc1 Point Mutation Affects Ca2+ Sensitivity and Block by Dihydrostreptomycin of the Mechanoelectrical Transducer Current of Mouse Outer Hair Cells. Journal of Neuroscience, 36(2), 336-349. View this article in WRRO
- Calcium entry into stereocilia drives adaptation of the mechanoelectrical transducer current of mammalian cochlear hair cells. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 111(41), 14918-14923.
- Transduction without Tip Links in Cochlear Hair Cells Is Mediated by Ion Channels with Permeation Properties Distinct from Those of the Mechano-Electrical Transducer Channel. The Journal of Neuroscience, 34(16), 5505-5514. View this article in WRRO
Book chapters
- Functional Development of Hair Cells in the Mammalian Inner Ear, Development of Auditory and Vestibular Systems (pp. 155-188). Elsevier
All publications
Books
- Cat burglars, yeast races, and other hypothesis-driven bioscience practicals. Sheffield: University of Sheffield Pressbooks.
Journal articles
- Large-scale practical cardiovascular classes with Danio rerio: overcoming ethical, financial, and logistical challenges associated with mammalian models. Advances in Physiology Education, 50(1), 1-9. View this article in WRRO
- Drosophila melanogaster as a physiologically relevant invertebrate teaching model system of complex neurological disease.. Adv Physiol Educ.
- How to obtain physiologically relevant cardiovascular data with students using chick embryo ventricular cardiomyocytes. Advances in Physiology Education, 49(4), 1026-1033.
- How to get physiologically relevant data with students using Lumbriculus variegatus. Advances in Physiology Education. View this article in WRRO
- Pleiotropic brain function of whirlin identified by a novel mutation. iScience, 27(7), 110170-110170.
- MET currents and otoacoustic emissions from mice with a detached tectorial membrane indicate the extracellular matrix regulates Ca2+ near stereocilia. The Journal of Physiology, 599(7), 2015-2036. View this article in WRRO
- Generation of otic lineages from integration-free human-induced pluripotent stem cells reprogrammed by mRNAs. Stem Cells International, 2020. View this article in WRRO
- Clarin‐2 is essential for hearing by maintaining stereocilia integrity and function. EMBO Molecular Medicine, 11(9).
- Mechanotransduction is required for establishing and maintaining mature inner hair cells and regulating efferent innervation. Nature Communications, 9(1). View this article in WRRO
- TMC2 Modifies Permeation Properties of the Mechanoelectrical Transducer Channel in Early Postnatal Mouse Cochlear Outer Hair Cells. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience , 10. View this article in WRRO
- The acquisition of mechano-electrical transducer current adaptation in auditory hair cells requires myosin VI. Journal of Physiology, 594(13), 3667-3681. View this article in WRRO
- Piezo1 haploinsufficiency does not alter mechanotransduction in mouse cochlear outer hair cells. Physiological Reports, 4(3), e12701-e12701. View this article in WRRO
- Tmc1 Point Mutation Affects Ca2+ Sensitivity and Block by Dihydrostreptomycin of the Mechanoelectrical Transducer Current of Mouse Outer Hair Cells. Journal of Neuroscience, 36(2), 336-349. View this article in WRRO
- Cholinergic Enhancement of Cell Proliferation in the Postnatal Neurogenic Niche of the Mammalian Spinal Cord.. Stem Cells, 33(9), 2864-2876. View this article in WRRO
- Calcium entry into stereocilia drives adaptation of the mechanoelectrical transducer current of mammalian cochlear hair cells. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 111(41), 14918-14923.
- Transduction without Tip Links in Cochlear Hair Cells Is Mediated by Ion Channels with Permeation Properties Distinct from Those of the Mechano-Electrical Transducer Channel. The Journal of Neuroscience, 34(16), 5505-5514. View this article in WRRO
- GABAergic responses of mammalian ependymal cells in the central canal neurogenic niche of the postnatal spinal cord. Neuroscience Letters, 553, 57-62.
- Kv3.3 immunoreactivity in the vestibular nuclear complex of the rat with focus on the medial vestibular nucleus: Targeting of Kv3.3 neurones by terminals positive for vesicular glutamate transporter 1. Brain Research, 1345, 45-58.
Book chapters
- Functional Development of Hair Cells in the Mammalian Inner Ear, Development of Auditory and Vestibular Systems Fourth Edition (pp. 155-188).
- Contributors, Development of Auditory and Vestibular Systems (pp. xi-xiii). Elsevier
- Functional Development of Hair Cells in the Mammalian Inner Ear, Development of Auditory and Vestibular Systems (pp. 155-188). Elsevier
- Large-scale practical cardiovascular classes with Danio rerio: overcoming ethical, financial, and logistical challenges associated with mammalian models. Advances in Physiology Education, 50(1), 1-9. View this article in WRRO
- Teaching activities
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I teach across a wide range of modules across all undergraduate levels, focussing primarily on teaching physiology and neuroscience, and helping students to develop their scientific and professional skills.
Teaching Leadership
As the Head of Skills for the School of Biosciences (from 2024 to present), I oversee the development and delivery of skills across all of our undergraduate programmes from the moment students arrive to their time of graduation. I enjoy creating a curriculum and an environment that allows students to progressively build a whole range of skills, from specific scientific research skills to more general professional skills that are essential for our students’ employability. Within this space, I have been keen to embed awareness of key issues such as how to be a sustainable and ethical scientist, and have overseen the expansion of projects allowing students to engage with global challenges.Modules:
- Experimental Skills for Bioscientists (BIS113)
- Professional Skills for Bioscientists (BIS124)
- Fundamentals of Physiology and Neuroscience (BIS128 ; module lead)
- Introduction to Physiology (BIS132)
- Introduction to Neurosciences (BIS133; module lead)
- Physiology of Cell and Systems (BIS217)
- Experimental Skills in Cell Biology and Pharmacology (BIS241)
- Advanced Professional Skills for Bioscientists (BIS242)
- Capstone Project (BIS312)
- Sensory Neuroscience (BIS329 / BIS460)
- Professional activities and memberships
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- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
- Member of the Physiological Society and previous Physiological Society Representative for the University of Sheffield (2017-2025)
- Active in various types of outreach work