Newcastle University

Introduction

My role predominantly involves embedding enterprise into the curriculum and enhancing the student experience through careers activities. I engage with bioscience companies and facilitate student placements and act as School exchange coordinator for ERASMUS and non-EU student exchanges.  I am a pastoral tutor and also lead undergraduate modules and supervise final year projects. My pedagogic research focuses on the impacts of enterprise education and e-learning projects and other School based collaborative work.

Background

Prior postdoctoral lab research work previously in Biochemistry, working on selenate reductase enzymes, work involved molecular biology and protein work.
PhD in the School of Biochemistry and Genetics at the University of Newcastle. "Kinetic analysis of the interaction between the QutA and QutR transcriptional regulator in Aspergillus nidulans"
BSc Hons Microbiology, University of Newcastle;

Roles and Responsibilities

Lecturer in Enterprise in the School of Biomedical Sciences.
School Exchange Coordinator (Erasmus and non-EU exchanges), Pastoral tutor,  MBBS selector, module leader, B9N2 degree coordinator, project supervisor and academic strand leader.

Qualifications

International Entrepreneurship Educators Programme, 2012
Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice, 2008
ILM Diploma in Management, 2005
ILM Certificate in First Line Management, 2004
PhD, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Newcastle, 2002
BSc Hons Microbiology, University of Newcastle, 1998

Previous Positions

Teaching Fellow, School of Biomedical Sciences, Newcastle University, 2006-2007.
Research Associate, ICAMB, University of Newcastle, 2002-2006; lab of Dr C.S. Butler. Research into selenate reduction for bioremediation.
Research Associate, School of Biochemistry and Genetics, University of Newcastle, 2001-2002; lab of Prof A.R Hawkins. Transcriptional control of the quinate pathway in A.nidulans.

Memberships

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Society for General Microbiology.
NELAWN (North East Local Academic Women’s Network); Athena SET.

Honours and Awards
Outstanding Contribution to Enterprise Award 2007(sponsored by North East Strategic Partnership).

Informal Interests

Membership of: Sustrans, Ncl BUG (Newcastle Bicycle Users Group), National Trust, RSPB, English Heritage, SGM (Society for General Microbiology).

Research Interests

Educational pedagogy and the development of new techniques for teaching undergraduate Biomedical Science degrees. Integration of enterprise skills to bioscience students and development of methods for embedding concepts of personal development and employability in education.

Other Expertise

Research skills:
Biochemistry: enzyme assays and kinetics (bacterial respiration). Genetics: genetic analysis of transcriptional regulation. Microbiology: growth and culturing of bacteria and fungi, serotyping, 16S DNA analysis, strain maintenance, anaerobic fermentation of bacteria. Molecular Biology: PCR, gene cloning and overexpression, mutagenesis. Biophysics: using Biacore Technology (SPR). Proteomics: overproduction and purification using chromatography, MALDI-TOF analysis of protein fragments.

Current Work

Embedding enterprise into the bioscience curriculum via careers activities, the Business for the Bioscientist module and Biomedical Sceicnes with Business degree.

Engagement with employers and regional stakeholders to increased student access to work experience, jobs, careers information and advice as well as peer advice (placements and year in industry work). Collaboration with the Careers service to develop effective and timely career development sessions.

Future Research

Investigation into incorporating career progression and transferable skills into the curriculum.
Analysis of the impact of e-learning methods in the bioscience curriculum (ReCap, Blackboard, online assessment)
Analysis of the impact of the Bsc Biomedical Sciences with Business; measurable outcomes.

HEA grant 2012-13: Enhancing the student feedback experience to promote employability using lecture capture for student presentations 

Research Roles

Educational research developing and evaluating innovative e-learning methods (e.g. Virtual lab development, use of ReCap and learning technologies: Blackboard, WebPA).
Enterpise pedagogy; analysis of methods and impact of embedding enterprise.

Funding

HEA Teaching Development Grant (individual), 2012
Curriculum development and UTLC funding (secondary applicant) 2008
Curriculum development funding (ONE, via Careers service) 2007
UTLC Innovation Fund Award 2006
SGM Vacation studentship 2006

Undergraduate Teaching

Module Leader for Stage 3 Business for the Bioscientist (BMS3003)
Strand leader for Microbial Physiology and Technology (MIC2026).
Supervision and assessment of final year project students; Experimental Design and the Process of Research (CMB3001).
Supervision and assessment of final year research project students (CMB3000) 
Pastoral tutor and in-school coordinator for careers events and placements.
Strand Coordinator for the Faculty of Medical Sciences Year 10 Masterclass sessions

• Watts CA, Wray K. Using toolkits to achieve STEM enterprise learning outcomes. Education and Training 2012, 54(4), 259-277.
• Watts CA, Wray K, Kennedy CMA, Freeman P, Trainer GH. Embedding enterprise in biosciences: Added value for employability. Industry and Higher Education 2010, 24(6), 487-494.
• Allenby NEE, Watts CA, Homuth G, Pragai Z, Wipat A, Ward AC, Harwood CR. Phosphate starvation induces the sporulation killing factor of Bacillus subtilis. Journal of Bacteriology 2006, 188(14), 5299-5303.
• Ridley H, Watts CA, Richardson DJ, Butler CS. Resolution of distinct membrane-bound enzymes from Enterobacter cloacae SLD1a-1 that are responsible for selective reduction of nitrate and selenate oxyanions. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 2006, 72(8), 5173-5180.
• Watts CA, Ridley H, Dridge EJ, Leaver JT, Reilly AJ, Richardson DJ, Butler CS. Microbial reduction of selenate and nitrate: Common themes and variations. In: 10th Nitrogen Cycle Meeting. 2004, University of East Anglia, Norwich: Biochemical Society Transactions: Portland Press Ltd.
• Watts CA, Ridley H, Condie KL, Leaver JT, Richardson DJ, Butler CS. Selenate reduction by Enterobacter cloacae SLD1a-1 is catalysed by a molybdenum-dependent membrane-bound enzyme that is distinct from the membrane-bound nitrate reductase. FEMS Microbiology Letters 2003, 228(2), 273-279.