Staff Profile

Introduction

I am a teaching focussed academic based in the School of Biomedical, Nutritional and Sport Sciences. My educational role  involves embedding enterprise into the curriculum, as well as teaching on bioscience undergraduate degrees including labs, seminars, lectures and online teaching and interaction. I am passionate about involving regional employers and alumni in school activities to broaden student perspectives and aspirations, and likewise to inspire others through taking part in outreach activities. My role as Exchange Coordinator means I have a global perspective, including study abroad activities.

I help facilitate school management and activities as Director of Engagement, and support my fellow school colleagues. I  lead undergraduate modules and help with allocation and supervision of final year projects. My pedagogic research focuses on the impacts of enterprise education, experiential learning, and other School-based collaborative work.

Background

Roles and Responsibilities

School level 

Director of Engagement

Teaching across all stages of BSc degrees in the School

Senior responsibilities for programme coordination and assessment (Executive Board)

Academic Secretary to Board of Examiners (Stages 3, 4)

Development, quality assurance and maintenance of exchange agreements and Study Abroad (incl. Pre-Med), exchanges, pastoral visits and coordination of incoming and outgoing students 

Pastoral Tutor, Support to Study Coordinator, and Phase Advisor

Faculty Level

2021 - Education Representative on Global Management team and Global Committee

2021 - Virtual Exchanges Working Group

2017 - Language Resource Centre Advisory Group FMS rep

2016- Student Experience Sub-Committee, FMS rep

2013-2016 - Chair of Equality and Fairness Self Assessment Team (Athena SWAN) - SBMS Awarded Athena SWAN Bronze in 2015

Ongoing - Grant and publication reviewer (internal and external to University)

Qualifications 

Advance HE External Examiner training (currently 2021)
Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, 2013
Fellow of the International Entrepreneurship Educators Programme
SEDA Leading Academic Practice award
Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Ph.D., Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University
ILM Diploma in Management
ILM Certificate in First Line Management
B.Sc (Hons) Microbiology,  Newcastle University

Previous Positions

Lecturer (Enterprise), School of Biomedical Sciences, Newcastle University, 2007-2013.
Teaching Fellow, School of Biomedical Sciences, Newcastle University, 2006-2007.
Research Associate, ICAMB, University of Newcastle, 2001-2006

Memberships

Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Member of the Royal Society of Biology
Microbiology Society member
NUWomen (Newcastle University Women's network)

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

Informal Interests

Cycling, running and all things outdoors. 
Fascination with bioscience and innovation, and committed to keep on learning. 

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.
Student communication of research - layperson accessibility
Online teaching and learning
Co-creation by students
Cross-disciplinary projects (including Business Schools and Arts and Culture)

Other Expertise

Biochemical Assays, Microbiology, Genetic manipulation of fungi and bacteria

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
• Molecular Biology: PCR, gene cloning and overexpression, mutagenesis.
• Biophysics: using Biacore Technology (SPR).
• Proteomics: overproduction and purification using chromatography, MALDI-TOF analysis of proteins.

Current Work

• Adding value to the student experience; encouraging students to reflect on their vacation research experiences for employability and personal development.
• Enhancing the global experience of student through internationalising the curriculum and providing virtual and physical mobility options.
• Using online teaching and learning tools to improve the student feedback experience and to enhance employability skills
  
  
• Embedding enterprise into the bioscience curriculum, including nurturing of these skills during the Business Enterprise for the Bioscientist module.
• Engagement with employers, alumni 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).

Future Research

An investigation into incorporating career progression and transferable skills into the curriculum.
Analysis of the impact of blended learning methods in the bioscience curriculum (Canvas and various online teaching and learning methods)
Analysis of the impact of the enterprise interventions upon graduate destinations and employability.
Evaluation of the impact of global experience upon future aspirations and development in graduates
Cross-curricular c--creation (joint project with Arts and Culture
Common ground in enterprise understanding - cross-discipline enterprise concepts

Research Roles

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

Funding

ERDP FMS, Newcastle University (Watts, Butler, Nolan), 2021
Microbiology Society Educational Outreach Grant, (individual), 2016
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
Society for General microbiology Vacation studentship (supervisor award), 2006

Undergraduate Teaching

Module Leader:
BMS3003 Business for the Bioscientist -
BMS2013 Practical and presentation skills in Biomedical Sciences
CMB3002 Research Project (Exchange students)
CMB3005 Biosciences Study Abroad year

Dissertation Project Supervisor - CMB3000 Biosciences Research Project

Teaching Developments

Designed and implemented new modules: 

• CMB3002 Biosciences Research Project module
• CMB3005 Biosciences Study Abroad Year 
• NCL3110  Vacation Research project module (now Ncl   Advanced Award in Research)

Degree Programme Design:

• Coordinated the development of the Biosciences suite of BSc Hons degrees with Placement year (study abroad version including CMB3005))
• Co-created and managed the B9N2 Biomedical Sciences with Business* degree (*later with Management) to 2016

Co-designed the assessment for the subsequent Ncl Advanced Award (Research) for vacation research projects)
Co-created the BMS3016 Science Communication module
Delivered university-wide term 3 poster training in communicating your research to a layperson

• Watts C, Marshall L. Once upon a time... retelling the research project story to a new audience. Using peer feedback to develop the language and clarity of the research narrative. In: HEA Annual Conference. Generation TEF: Teaching in the Spotlight. 2017, Manchester, UK.
• 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.
• Dridge EJ, Watts CA, Jepson BJN, Line K, Santini JM, Richardson DJ, Butler CS. Investigation of the redox centres of periplasmic selenate reductase from Thauera selenatis by EPR spectroscopy. Biochemical Journal 2007, 408(1), 19-28.
• Ridley H, Watts CA, Richardson DJ, Butler CS. Development of a viologen-based microtiter plate assay for the analysis of oxyanion reductase activity: Application to the membrane-bound selenate reductase from Enterobacter cloacae SLD1a-1. Analytical Biochemistry 2006, 358(2), 289-294.
• 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.
• Lowe EC, Watts CA, Richardson DJ, Santini JM, Singleton I, Butler CS. The bioenergetics of selenate respiration in Thauera selenatis. In: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, Bioenergetics: 14th European Bioenergetic Conference. 2006, Moscow, Russia: Elsevier BV.
• 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.
• Watts C, Si-Hoe SM, Lamb HK, Levett LJ, Coggins JR, Hawkins AR. Kinetic analysis of the interaction between the QutA and QutR transcription-regulating proteins. Proteins: Structure, Function and Genetics 2002, 48(2), 161-168.