Mike Cole

Mike Cole is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Work, Education & Community Wellbeing at Northumbria University, where he has been since 2012. His career includes extensive experience in secondary science education across the UK, where he held leadership roles while completing a Master’s in Education. Prior to joining Northumbria, he served as Deputy Director at Durham University's Science Learning Centres network, leading regional teacher development programs.

Cole's research focuses on science education pedagogy and innovative models for teacher professional development. His work emphasizes intrinsic motivation in PD design and simulation-based approaches to address psychological barriers in academia. Current projects explore long-term impacts of professional workshops and interventions for early-career academics.

He holds a PhD focused on the long-term impacts of short CPD workshops and an M.Ed. His interdisciplinary approach bridges educational theory with practical classroom applications, emphasizing sustainable teaching practices.