Dr James LaCourse

Position

Meetings Secretary (2020 – present)

Reader in Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM)

James’ research interests encompass both field and laboratory approaches to the study of several parasites. Focusing upon helminths mainly, James undertakes field work in sub-Saharan Africa and the UK, to study helminth epidemiology, as well as employing molecular, biochemical and proteomic technologies at LSTM to investigate helminth epidemiology, detoxification, drug resistance, and establishment and maintenance of parasitic infection.

At LSTM, James’ serves as Director of Studies for Masters programmes in the area of tropical disease biology, supervises PhD students, and provides academic leadership, facilitation and delivery of parasitology teaching at postgraduate and undergraduate levels, as well as within a range of professional courses.  As a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, member of the Learning & Teaching, and Quality Management Committees, James’ core focus is explicitly linked to the strategic development of research-informed Learning and Teaching at LSTM.

Externally from LSTM, James is an elected Council Member of the British Society for Parasitology (BSP), in the role of Honorary Meeting Secretary, supporting the organisation and delivery of the Societies annual conferences and meetings.  James also serves as an equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) contact and representative for the BSP, as a member organisation of the Royal Society of Biology.  In addition, James is an Online Tutor for training of the diagnosis of parasitological diseases at eMEDICINimage education program, funded by the EU and aimed at continuing professional development for scientists working in clinical laboratories.  James is also a member of the Editorial Board for ‘Parasitology’ Journal, and reviews scientific papers and grant funding applications for a range of journals and funding bodies.