Samuel McKee is associate tutor in history and philosophy of science at Manchester Metropolitan University where he is finishing his PhD. He is a funded researcher in DNA repair at the University of Reading. He completed a theology degree followed by a master’s by research at the University of Chester. He studied undergraduate immunology at Cambridge University before switching to a genetics degree. He then completed a master’s degree in molecular biology at Birkbeck University of London. He returned to Cambridge for postgraduate genomic medicine as well as a Master of Education from the Open University. His research in DNA repair is around colorectal cancer and Lynch Syndrome as a result of a breakdown in the MutS family of proteins, but has crossover in bioastronautics. In 2024 he assisted a team of students whose experiment on biofilm was flown to the International Space Station. His research on the history of science is mostly around interwar physics, and his philosophy of science research is focused on structuralism.
Samuel McKee hosts The Polymath World Channel on YouTube which interviews scientists, philosophers, astronauts and researchers who are working at the forefront of their disciplines.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor of Arts with honours, Theology, University of Chester
- Master of Theology (Research), University of Chester
- Undergraduate Certificate in Immunology, Cambridge University
- Bachelor of Science, Genetics, Cambridge University
- Master of Science, Molecular Biology, Birkbeck University of London
- Master of Science, Genomic Medicine, Cambridge University
- Master of Education, Open University
- PhD in history and philosophy of science, Manchester Metropolitan University
- PhD in biomedical science, Reading University
SCIENCE/FAITH INTERESTS
Samuel’s science and faith interests are broad but generally centred on interwar physics and how the golden generation understood and interpreted the findings of relativity, quantum physics, and cosmology. His particular research focus is on Sir Arthur Eddington, Sir James Jeans, and Edward Arthur Milne. The beginnings of molecular biology from the mid-20th century to the present day is also a topic of Samuel’s research.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
Associate Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology
Board member for both Christians In Science and The Mars Society UK
Ambassador for the Genetics Society UK
Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Authority