PhD joy for Rotherham student

Former Oakwood School and Thomas Rotherham College pupil Michael Watson (27), from Moorgate, will received the honour from the University of Leeds on July 24.

Mr Watson also holds a first class BSc Honours degree in human biology from Sheffield Hallam University and joined the plant science department at the University of Leeds in 2009, since when he has studied plant epigenetics — the study of changes in genes.

He is currently continuing his work at the university’s School of Biology as a post-doctoral research scientist.