Dr Pettigrew completed a degree in Biomedical Sciences at Ulster University (2003) where she received first class honours and the Institute of Biomedical Sciences President’s Prize. Kerry’s PhD was in Genetic Epidemiology from Queens University Belfast (2007), conducting candidate gene association studies to identify genetic variants conferring susceptibility to diabetic nephropathy in type 1 diabetes. Kerry then pursued a postdoctoral research career in several UK medical schools (Birmingham, Queens University Belfast, Glasgow, St Andrews), publishing on genetic variation primarily in haematological malignancies, neurodevelopmental disorders, and healthcare-associated infection.

She also has experience in the management of genomics facilities and population cohorts, at Cancer Research UK's Genome Variation Laboratory Service and the University of Bristol's Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC).

Kerry has research and teaching experience in both wet-lab and dry-lab methods, in both human and microbial genetics. Most recently, Kerry spent two years in the Netherlands, at Erasmus University, performing systematic reviews and principal components analysis, using open-access data to examine national performance on climate and social indicators.

Arriving at Teesside University in January 2023 as Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences, Kerry supervises MSc Advanced Biomedical Science and MSc Bioinformatics students and contributes to Life Sciences Research Project (SCI4013-N) seminars. Kerry is module leader for Genomics and Bioinformatics (SCI4007-N) and Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics (SCI2008-N) modules, and has previously contributed to Chemical and Biological Reactivity (SCI1019-N).

Kerry has ongoing research collaborations with University of St Andrews, Newcastle University and Erasmus University Rotterdam. Research interests include:

• DNA sequencing (microbial)
• Genetic epidemiology
• Health inequalities and just transition
• Analysis of open-access and population cohort data