Rate My Professor Kim Watson

Dr Kim Watson is a dedicated educator affiliated with the Department of Zoology at the University of Otago. She serves as Course Coordinator for CELS199 Cell and Molecular Biology, a 0.15 EFTS restricted-entry paper offered in Semester 2 that parallels the lecture content of CELS191 while adding compulsory two-hour tutorials. This paper targets students who enrolled in CELS191 earlier the same year, achieved a D or FC grade overall but passed the laboratory assessment, and requires departmental approval for enrolment. Covering modules on cell structure and diversity, molecular biology, genes, chromosomes and inheritance, human molecular genetics, microbes and medicine, and applied microbiology, CELS199 emphasizes graduate attributes such as interdisciplinary perspective, lifelong learning, scholarship, information literacy, self-motivation, and teamwork. Academic Convener Professor Sally McCormick collaborates with Dr Watson in delivering 36 lectures and 13 tutorials, alongside progress tests.

Dr Kim Watson is also a core member of the CELS191 Cell Biology teaching team, alongside Andrea Brown, Course Coordinator Dr Lisa Russell, and Dr Keith King, all based in Zoology. CELS191, the largest paper at the University of Otago with 1,800 to 2,500 enrolments, forms part of the Health Sciences First-Year Programme and acts as a prerequisite for diverse science degrees. The team earned the 2023 Te Whatu Kairangi – Aotearoa Tertiary Educator Group Award for progressing seamless ākonga transitions between contexts and the University of Otago Teaching Excellence Award, recognizing their student-centric philosophy. They cultivate inclusive environments with exceptional pastoral care, early interventions for non-engaged students, engagement monitoring linked to performance prediction, demonstrator training in content delivery, questioning, real-world analogies, and small-group facilitation—yielding 94% student satisfaction in 2022—and voluntary study skills workshops attended by 1,200 students. Dr Watson emphasized the team effort, crediting past contributors and Dr Russell's leadership in student prioritization. Her office is at MEG05 Mellor Laboratories.