Laura Bowater

Biography

I am curently the Academic Director for Innovation at UEA. Previously, I was the Associate Dean for Enterprise and Engagement in the Faculty of Medicine and Health. But I began my career at St Andrews University where I graduated with a BSc in Biochemistry with Microbiology, and moved to the University of Dundee for an MSc and a PhD in Microbiology. After a four year career break (to raise my family) I returned to scientific research as a Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Dr Stephen Bornemann’s Laboratory in the Department of Biological Chemistry at the John Innes Centre (JIC). As a bench scientist I researched, fungal and microbial proteins, and gene clusters, proteins and biochemical processes involved in novel antibiotic production from Streptomyces. I have incorporated my interest in antibiotics into my teaching areas and have had opportunities to share these interests in International settings and to wide audiences most recently through my new, popular science book, The Microbes Fight Back: antibiotic resistance.

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=the+microbes+fight+back+bowater&&view=detail&mid=C4CBA7423687EB1BC410C4CBA7423687EB1BC410&FORM=VRDGAR

My teaching career started as an Associate Lecturer at the Open University and I worked as an Honorary Lecturer in the School of Biological Sciences at UEA.   I  deliver lectures and run PBL sessions to Year 0 and Year 1 students on the MB/BS medical degree programme,  in the area of Molecular Biology, Genetics and Microbiology.    The A104 Medicine with a Foundation Year is a programme with a widening participation agenda that delivers significant opportunities for students from a non-traditional background to enter the medical profession and I a Course Director of this programme.  I also lecture on the School of Biology Module 3CXY, Science Communication.  I am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

It was while I was working at the John Innes Centre that I developed a key interest in Science Communication. I have been awarded funding from a wide variety of organisations for science communication activities, including the Society of General Microbiology (SGM). I have also had opportunities to share my expertise both nationally and internationally.

Career

• August 2010 - Present Senior Lecturer Norwich Medical School, UEA, Norwich
• May 2007 – August 2010 Lecturer Norwich Medical School, UEA, Norwich
• August 2008 - March 2009 Public Engagement/Science Communication Practitioner secondment for CUE east. UEA, Norwich
• July 2005 – July 2008 Honorary Lecturer School of Biological Sciences, UEA, Norwich
• February 2004 – February 2009 Associate Lecturer with the Open University
• August 1999 – April 2007 Part time, Post-Doctoral Research Assistant Stephen Bornemann Laboratory, Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre. Regraded from band 7 to band 6 November 2006.  Merit award July 2004 & July 2006
• April 1995 - August 1999 Career break to raise family
• June 1993 - May 1995 Post doctoral Research Fellow Professor David Boxer Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, University of Dundee.

Academic Background

• September 2008 - June 2010 MA in Higher Education Practice University of East Anglia, Norwich
• October 1989 - June 1993 PhD in Biochemistry University of Dundee, Nethergate, Dundee
• October 1988 - June 1989 MSc in Cellular and Molecular Biochemistry University of Dundee, Nethergate, Dundee
• October 1983 - June 1987 BSc (hons) in Biochemistry with Microbiology University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Fife

View graph of relations