Staff Profile

Introduction

I am teaching-focused academic with specialisms in microbiology and enterprise. My educational role involves embedding enterprise and creativity into the biosciences curricula, I teach across undergraduate programmes and contribute to Masters level bio-enterprise. including labs, seminars, lectures, and online teaching and interaction. I am passionate about employer and alumni engagement to broaden student perspectives and aspirations, and likewise to inspire others through taking part in outreach activities. I Lead the Global, Sustainability, and Enterprise activities in the school, bringing a global perspective, including study abroad activities, commitment to UN SDGs and language resource opportunities.

Values-led, I champion creativity and co-creation, involving cross-disciplinary working and learning. My pedagogic research focuses on the impacts of enterprise education, experiential learning, and other School-based collaborative work. I hold an External Examiner post in biosciences and have a School Governing role for KS1 and 2.

Background

Roles and Responsibilities

School level 

Lead for Global, Sustainability and Enterprise

Development, quality assurance and maintenance of exchange agreements, Study Abroad (incl. Pre-Med), and educational exchanges (global; physical and virtual mobility)

Pastoral Tutor 

SBNSS Recruitment Lead.

2013-2016 - Chair of Equality and Fairness Self Assessment Team (Athena SWAN)

Faculty Level

2021 - Global Education Lead (UG) on Global Management team and Global Committee

University Level

Co-Chair Sustainability Committee

Member of University Court

Heads of University Biosciences, Royal Society of Biology SIG (University representative)

Language Resource Centre Advisory Group FMS rep

Qualifications 

Fellow of Enterprise Educators UK - Academic Pathway, 2023

Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, 2013

SEDA Leading and Developing Academic Practice award

Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice

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

Teaching Fellow, School of Biomedical Sciences, Newcastle University

Postdoctoral Research Associate, ICAMB, University of Newcastle

Memberships

Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Member of the Royal Society of Biology

Microbiology Society member

Awards

HE Bioscience Teacher of the Year, Royal Society of Biology, 2024

Vice Chancellor's Education Excellence Award, 2023

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

Informal Interests

Cycling, running and all things outdoors. Sustainable living.

Fascination with bioscience and innovation, and committed to keep on learning. 

I am a bio-scientist (microbiology, genetics and biochemistry) turned enterprise educator academic (through management, academic practice and enterprise qualifications).

My educational role involves embedding enterprise and creativity into the biosciences curricula alongside bioscience theory, digital and practical skills, I teach across undergraduate programmes and contribute to masters level bio-enterprise. including labs, seminars, lectures, and online teaching and interaction.

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

Module (Lectures, Seminars, Labs or assessment)

• CMB1004 - Cell Biology
• BMS2013 - Practical and presentation skills in Biomedical Sciences 
• CMB1003 - Microbiology and Immunology
• CMB1011 - Professional and Practical Skills in Biomedical Sciences  
• CMB2009 - Clinical Skills       
• CMB3000 - Biosciences Research Project 
• CMB3002 - Biosciences Research Project (Exchange)  
• CMB3005 - Biosciences Study Abroad Year

Teaching Developments

Designed and implemented new modules: 

• CMB3002 Biosciences Research Project module
• CMB3005 Biosciences Study Abroad Year (model rolled out across school and subsequently revised for University-wide option)
• 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 Overseas Placement year (version including CMB3005)
• Co-created and managed the B9N2 BSc Hons 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

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.

Embedding Sustainability in Education (see my ESD toolkit Sustainable Development Goals Toolkit | Learning and Teaching @ Newcastle | Newcastle University (ncl.ac.uk) )

Co-creation by students

Cross-disciplinary projects (including Business Schools and Arts and Culture)

Research skills:

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.
• Embedding sustainability in the biosicences, within and aroudn the curriculum context.
• 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).

Scientific

Specialism in Microbiology, with experience in:

• Biochemistry: enzyme assays and kinetics (bacterial respiration).
• Genetics: genetic analysis of transcriptional regulation.
• Microbiology; fungal, bacterial, environmental and microbiota
• Molecular Biology: PCR, gene cloning and overexpression, mutagenesis.
• Biophysics: using Biacore Technology (SPR).
• Proteomics: overproduction and purification using chromatography

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 co-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

1. ERDP FMS, Co-creativity project. Newcastle University (Watts, Butler, Nolan), 2021
2. Microbiology Society Educational Outreach Grant, (individual), 2016
3. HEA Teaching Development Grant (individual), 2012

• Articles

  • Watts CA, Hetherington R. Reflections Upon Student Elective Engagement in STEM Enterprise Education. Research in Science Education 2025, 55, 205–229.
  • Hatt L, Nolan J, Watts C. How discipline shapes the meaning of value creation in higher education; implications for enterprise, entrepreneurship and employability. Journal of Teaching and Learning for Graduate Employability 2024, 15(1), 1-20.
  • 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. 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.
  • 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. 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.
  • 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.

• Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstracts)

  • 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.
  • 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.