Professor Watling became Pro-Vice-Chancellor for International at Manchester Metropolitan University in September 2016.

Professor Watling leads on the long-term vision for our International presence. This includes developing global partnerships, enhancing our Transnational Education (TNE) activities, attracting international students, increasing staff and student mobility, and engaging our international alumni. In addition, Professor Watling contributes more broadly to the overall leadership of the University.

Professor Watling graduated with an honours degree in Botany and Zoology from James Cook University in Australia. Following this, she was awarded a collaborative PhD scholarship at the Australian National University, where she completed her studies on photosynthesis in rainforest understorey plants in 1996. She held a post-doctoral research position in the Department of Animal and Plant Sciences at the University of Sheffield and then returned to Australia in 2001 to take up a lecturing position in plant physiology at the University of Adelaide. Professor Watling is an internationally recognised plant scientist and has published widely on photosynthesis, plant respiration, climate change, and plant responses to environmental stress. Her research has taken her to many parts of the globe, collaborating with colleagues in the UK, USA, Japan, China, Canada, Mexico, Africa, and Australia.

Prior to working at Manchester Metropolitan University, Professor Watling was Associate Dean (Research and Innovation) at Northumbria University from 2015 – 2016 and held a range of senior leadership roles at the University of Adelaide in Australia, including: Associate Dean International, Associate Dean Research and Head of the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences. She continues to hold visiting Professor status with the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Adelaide.

Contact

To get in touch with Professor Jennifer Watling , please contact:

For PVC International enquiries:
Jack Mottram
Phone: +44 (0)161 247 1584
Email: PAtoPVCInternational@mmu.ac.uk

For Faculty PVC Health and Education enquiries:
Michele Wawryk
Phone: +44 (0)161 247 1880
Email: PAtoFPVChealthandeducation@mmu.ac.uk