Skip to main content Skip to navigation

Erin Dilger

Erin Dilger

What is your current role and what does a typical week look like?
I'm a Teaching Fellow within SLS, as such, I teach on a range of subjects from molecular cell biology to climate change!

I love the varied nature of this broad subject base, but my heart still beats for teaching my first academic love, ecology and epidemiology of vector borne disease. As well as teaching I am also the Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies in SLS, which means I'm involved in day-to-day running of our degrees. So, a typical week will involve lectures, tutorials and practical classes, but also lots of planning behind the scenes, such as developing the tutorial programme which supports student skill development throughout their studies.

Which part of your role do you enjoy the most, and what are the biggest challenges?
All aspects of biology remain fascinating to me, and one of the joys of teaching is that I get to keep researching and learning too! However, easily the best part of my role is getting to engage with students and share this enthusiasm. Seeing when you have been able to capture another person’s interest and attention is incredibly rewarding, better still when you are able to help someone understand something they found challenging, and see students’ developing their own skills, interests, and ideas in biology. The biggest challenge for me? All the marking.

Who would you say is your role model in your personal and/or professional life?
A tough question. I feel incredibly fortunate to work and have worked with many people who have been important and inspiring to me in my career. Notably, Orin Courtenay has been both my PhD supervisor, PI and friend over the past decade, showing what it is to blend intellectual curiosity with a deep humanity, to produce exciting research that really matters.

How has your education or roles previous to joining Life Sciences, informed your interests, and why did you choose this career direction?
The spark for my interest in parasitology and vector borne disease came during my undergraduate studies, where I had the fortune to be taught by the charismatic public health entomologist, Steve Lindsay, in Durham. I later worked with Steve’s group in the Gambia trialling interventions against malaria, which served to secure my passion for research with a real-world impact on human health as well a fuel my fascination in interactions between people and the environment, parasites and their vectors.

What is your favourite place on campus and why?
The Copper Rooms, during Warwick’s Real Ale Festival. My friends and I have been coming to this event for years – wouldn’t miss the sticky floor, beer, and nostalgia for the world.

What are your main interests or passions, outside of work?
Outside of work I love to hike, swim, climb, and generally enjoy the outdoors, often with my dog, Florence, leading the way. If I’m not outside, then you’ll probably find me listening to an epic saga on audiobook whilst baking, brewing or sketching.

Interview date March 2022