Phebie Watson
Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences
Faculty of Science
Email: P.S.Watson@2019.ljmu.ac.uk
I am currently a Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology PhD candidate under the primary supervision of Dr Komang Ralebitso-Senior and co-supervision of Dr Sulaf Assi. My working research title is: 'The impact of clothing and remains removal on predictive soil microbial community structure and chemistry aiding in PMI estimation'.
My research interests in forensic ecogenomics are to exploit complex successional patterns of grave soil microbial communities in order to improve and extend the current forensic toolkit for post-mortem intervals. This will be achieved by investigating the influence of exogenous variables such as clothing materials on the predictive molecular clocks in clandestine graves.
Degrees
2020, Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom, MSc (Distinction)
2019, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom, BSc(Hons) (Upper Second Class)
Academic appointments
Research Assistant - Future of University Teaching of Critical Inclusion and Disability Courses and Programmes, Liverpool John Moores University, 2023 - 2023
Teaching Support Officer (grade 6), Faculty of Science, Liverpool John Moores University, 2022 - 2024
Curriculum Enhancement internship (Biological & Environmental Sciences) - Writing Design, Liverpool John Moores University, 2022 - 2022
Poster
Watson P, Shum P, Assi S, Ralebitso Senior TK. 2024. Bacterial Detectives: Investigating fabric presence and type on grave soil necrobiome dynamics The Microbiology Society Annual Conference 2024 Author Url Public Url
Watson P, Assi S, Ralebitso-Senior TK. 2023. Evaluating Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared to Identify and Delineate Gravesoil Post-Exhumation of a Murine Carrion Forensic Investigation Conference: From Death to Discovery Public Url
Watson P, Assi S, Ralebitso Senior TK. 2022. Evaluating attenuated total reflectance infrared and near infrared spectroscopy for classifying M. musculus grave soil in the presence of clothing material Joint Pharmaceutical Analysis Group Symposium Author Url Public Url
preprint
Watson P, Assi S, Ralebitso Senior TK. 2024. Gravesoil derived postmortem interval using attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and the influence of carrion-associated fabric. American Chemical Society (ACS) DOI Publisher Url
Conference publication
Watson P, Assi S, Ralebitso Senior T. Utilising attenuated total reflectance Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy to locate, identify and differentiate murine grave soil RSC Interest Group – Molecular Spectroscopy Author Url Publisher Url
Watson P, Ralebitso Senior T, Assi S. Investigating the Impact of Carrion-Associated Clothing Material on Gravesoil 16S Community Composition and Arrangement Forensic Investigation Conference: From Death to Discovery
Ralebitso Senior TK, Olakanye A, Bisker C, Watson P. Microbial forensic ecology: Applying multivariate analyses for postmortem interval determination 3rd International Caparica Conference in Translational Forensics Publisher Url
Watson P, Assi S, Ralebitso-Senior TK. From Threads to Timelines: Investigating Textile Influence on Grave Soil PMI Estimation European Meeting of Forensic Archaeologists Publisher Url
Watson P, Shum P, Assi S, Ralebitso Senior K. Necro-ecology: Structural and successional dynamics of gravesoil microbial communities in response to exhumation and subsequent longevity Conference Letters in Applied Microbiology ECS Research Symposium
Highlighted activities
Award:
Joint Pharmaceutical Analysis Group, Best Poster 2022. 2022
Professional activities
Award:
Applied Microbiology International, Best 15 Minute Talk. 2025
Faculty of Science, Liverpool John Moores University, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Engagement Award. 2024
Royal Society of Chemistry, Best 3-Minute Pitch. 2023
11th European Meeting of Forensic Archeologists, Best Professional Oral Communication. 2023
Liverpool John Moores Student Union, Event of The Year. 2023
Joint Pharmaceutical Analysis Group, Best Poster 2022. 2022
University of Liverpool Student Guild, Campaign of the Year. 2019
Industrial connections:
Lubrizol, Research Assistant. 2024
Other Professional Activity:
Research Assistant – Open Research In Biological and Environmental Sciences - Liverpool John Moores University. 2024
Research Assistant - Future of University Teaching of Critical Inclusion and Disability Courses and Programmes - Liverpool John Moores University. 2023
Curriculum Enhancement Internship: Reporting Harassment and Microaggressions LJMU - Biological & Environmental Sciences. 2022
Public engagement:
Public talk or lecture, Local Adults and Families, Invited speaker, Liverpool, Shotgun Science. 2023
Membership of professional bodies:
Applied Microbiology International, AMI Membership: Full Member. 2023
International Society for Microbial Ecology, Student Society Member. 2023
Chartered Society of Forensic Scientists, Affiliate Member.
Microbiology Society, Postgraduate Student Member.
External collaboration:
Equity in Doctoral Education through Participation and Innovation, Nottingham Trent, Sheffield Hallam and Liverpool John Moores, https://www.ntu.ac.uk/c/equity-in-doctoral-education-through-partnership-and-innovation. 2023
Teaching qualification:
Associate Fellowship of Higher Education Award. 2023
SEDA - Supporting Learning Award. 2023