Dr Nigel D Watson

Dr Nigel Watson has almost twenty years experience as a forensic scientist as an expert witness and has attended Bond Solon Courtroom skills training. His specialist areas include DNA testing and trace evidence analysis. He currently teaches DNA analysis, Trace evidence analysis and microscopy. His research interests are in novel methods of DNA testing and population genetics.

Dr Watson teaches on a number of undergraduate courses;

CH523 The  Chemistry of DNA Analysis

This course consists of an overview of the techniques used for DNA testing for human identification. The emphasis is on the techniques themselves but some consideration is given to the interpretation of the results for forensic purposes.

13.258 Analytical and Forensic Chemistry

This course covers a wide range of topics. Dr Watson ‘s contribution is the forensic examination of trace evidence such as textile fibres that can be used to associate individuals with crime scenes.

FS202 Forensic Natural History

Dr Watson covers aspects of the examination of non-human biological traces such as pollen and hairs. This is a specialist area, overlapping several disciplines such as archaeobotany, microscopy and palynology but is of interest to biologists. The course is delivered in partnership with Dr Linacre who covers molecular analyses and species identification.

FS301 Forensic Statistics and Communication

This course covers a number of statistical tests that are useful for the interpretation of the results of scientific examinations or analyses of evidence items. A large part of the course, but not all of it, is concerned with the interpretation of the results of DNA testing. A central theme is the use of probability and Bayes's theorem. The implications for court report writing are also considered.