Matthew Gemmell

Training Club Coordinator
Hi, I’m Matthew Gemmell, a bioinformatics educator and researcher. I am part of the Centre for Genomic (CGR) Research at the University of Liverpool and a trainer for NEOF (NERC Environmental Omics Facility). My main field of interest is microbial community comparisons via metagenomics (16S & shotgun). I have collaborated with many groups including COG-UK (COVID-19 Genomics UK Consortium), ENIGMA (European Network for the Investigation of Gastrointestinal Mucosal Alterations), and Unilever.
I am an enthusiastic educator. I produce and run various bioinformatics workshops for CGR and NEOF, amounting to 10-15 a year. I gained my Fellowship of the Advance HE through a PGCAP (Postgraduate Certificate of Academic Practice).
I use what I call a “smart casual” approach for teaching. I aim to be approachable, engaging, and informative. Two of my teaching catchphrases are:
  • There’s no such thing as a silly question. Just silly answers by me.
  • I can’t make a difficult topic easy. But I can make learning easier.
  • ClubELIXIR-UK
    UK Training Club
  • Selected
    NERC Environmental Omics Facility

  • 27 April 2026
    | Community Call

    Textured classroom: Introducing friction to promote learning

    Exploring friction in learning – when obstacles promote deeper understanding – through presentation and discussion with Matthew Gemmell.
  • 26 January 2026
    | Community Call

    Orwellian writing: Training and the English language

    A practical session on writing clear, effective training materials, inspired by George Orwell’s Politics and the English Language. Through examples and activities, we explore clarity, metaphor, and simplicity in educational writing.
  • 27 October 2025
    | Community Call

    Dr Strangelove or: How I learned to stop worrying and love the Learning Outcome

    Explore how SOLO and Bloom’s taxonomies can make learning outcomes meaningful in higher education. Join Matthew Gemmell for our next Training Club session.
  • 29 September 2025
    | Community Call

    Formative assessment with MCQs and community updates

    This ELIXIR-UK Training Club call will focus on formative assessment and the use of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) in digital training materials. We’ll also cover community updates, including All Hands meeting preparation, onboarding new trainers and future training events.