Louise completed a degree in criminology and sociology before going on to do her PhD at Teesside.

Dr Louise Wattis' PhD focused on the student experience in a post-industrial location, exploring how student identity/ies intersect with gender and locality to shape experiences of place, crime, safety and fear of crime in a 'non-traditional' university setting.

She also worked as research project officer at Liverpool John Moores University.

Louise has a strong interest in gender both within criminology and more widely across social policy and has carried out funded research on gender, work-life balance and family-friendly policy. Her publications focus on class, gender, crime and space, as well women, work and care. At present, Louise's research interests focus on gender, the meaning and significance of crime, crime and history and applying oral history and narrative methodologies within criminology. This is reflected in her current research project, which is funded by The British Academy and explores the meaning and significance of the Yorkshire Ripper murders. Louise also represents Teesside University on the Regional Race, Crime and Justice Research Group.

Louise’s teaching interests are criminological theory and gender, crime and the criminal justice system.

She welcomes PhD supervisions relating to the above.