Professor David Watts (BSc,PhD,DSc,FRSC,FInstP,FADM,FSB) - personal details
Contact details
Role: Professor of Biomaterials Science, Head of Research Group: Adhesive Biomaterials & Biomechanics
Email:
Tel: +44 (0)161 275 6749
Location:
University of Manchester
School of Dentistry
Coupland 3 Building
Higher Cambridge Street
Manchester M15 6FH
United Kingdom
Websites
Biography
I graduated in Chemistry and Physics, at the University of Wales, and completed a PhD in Chemical Physics with Prof. Graham Williams. Following two years as a 6th Form Science Teacher in Cheshire, I returned to research in Chemistry and Materials Science at the University of Manchester with Sir Geoffrey Allen FRS.
Through research into dielectric spectroscopy of polymers, I became a co-discoverer of the Kohlrausch-Williams-Watts [KWW] stretched-exponential function for modeling molecular-relaxation processes in condensed media. These papers have attracted more than 2700 citations.
I was appointed to a lectureship in Biomaterials Science within the School of Dentistry and subsequently promoted to S/L (1983), Reader (1992) and Professor (2000). During this period I also gained teaching experience with the Open University, Manchester Metropolitan University and NorthWestern University, Chicago. I was a co-founder of a new B.Sc. degree course in Biomedical Materials in the Manchester School of Materials.
I am concurrently Adjunct Research Professor in Biomaterials and Biomechanics, at Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA, and an Honorary faculty Member of the Center for Mechanics of Biological Materials, University of Padova. www.cmbm.unipd.it
I have a major commitment to Postgraduate Education and Research, through leading a group of Biomaterials researchers including circa 10 PhD candidates. 50+ PhDs and 50+ Masters degrees have been successfully supervised personally, to date.
I sustain a wide-ranging basic research activity in biomaterials for dentistry and orthopaedics and am a member of the Photon Science Institute. In 2003 I received the IADR Distinguished Scientist [Wilmer Souder] Award for research in dental biomaterials. In 2010 I received the Humboldt Research Award of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Germany - a lifetime research achievement award - and in 2011 the President's Prize of the UK Society for Biomaterials.
Since 1998 I have been Editor-in-Chief of Dental Materials [Elsevier], now one of the highest impact-factor research journals in dentistry and materials science. My other interests include:
- Biblical languages & literature. Christian Theology
- History & Philosophy of Science
- Modern European literature. Adventure travel
- Mountain photography and geology. Alpine mountaineering; rock & ice climbing; [Elected Member of the Alpine Club, London & the Swiss Alpine Club]
Memberships of Committees and Professional Bodies
- Fellow of the Institute of Physics
- Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry
- Fellow of the Academy of Dental Materials & Editor-in-Chief
- Fellow of the Society of Biology
- UK Principal Expert to International Standards Committee on Dentistry
- EPSRC College member
- IADR member
- BSDR member
- Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences (CTNS) member
Qualifications
BSc, PhD, DSc, FRSC, FInstP, FADM, FSB
Alexander von Humboldt Laureate
Role
Head of Research Theme: Adhesive Biomaterials & Biomechanics.
Teaching
- Biomaterials Science (BDS Y2 & Y3) and (BSc – Biomedical Materials Y2)
- Research Methods - in Biomaterials Science - postgraduate
- Course Coordinator: Biomaterials Science (BDS Y2 & Y3 & Y4)
- Coordinator: Research Methods Course (Postgraduate)
