A music marketing maestro who gave up the industry to become a lecturer has been nominated for a teaching award.

Dr Jennifer Otter Bickerdike, a lecturer at the University of East London, has been nominated for Most Innovative Teacher of the Year at the Times Higher Education Awards 2013.

Jennifer joined the university a year ago as senior lecturer at the Royal Docks Business School after decades working at the heart of the US music industry.

She began at 18 as college marketing representative for Sony Music, touring with Pearl Jam, Rage Against the Machine and the then little known band Nirvana.

Just seven years later Jennifer became the West Coast marketing director for Interscope Geffen A & M Records, creating branding and marketing campaigns for artists such as No Doubt, Sting, U2 and Eminem.

Jennifer said: “It’s a real honour to be nominated for my work at UEL. It’s fantastic being able to share my own industry experience with students keen to enter the entertainment business. We have plenty of students at UEL who can make a success of it, and I hope to inspire many more in the coming years.”

The overall winner of the category will be announced at an awards ceremony in central London in November.