Associate Professor & Seafood Extension Specialist for LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Sea Grant, she manages the LSU Seafood Quality Laboratory, and she the Research Director of the LSU AgCenter Seafood Processing Demonstration Laboratory. Her work focus is outreach and applied research to ensure seafood safety, quality, and by-product recovery. She works with the seafood industry assisting in regulatory compliance, as well as providing guidance on handling, processing, packaging, and storage technologies. She is an active member of IAFP, Phi Tau Sigma Honor Society, AFDOSS, Louisiana Marine Extension Project, Aquatic Foods Conference, and the Guatemalan Veterinary Medicine Professional Society. She has worked in the food industry and academia for nineteen years, where most of her work has been in the areas of regulatory compliance and food safety. Dr. Watts has extensive experience teaching food safety for different industries. Dr. Watts holds a doctorate degree in Veterinary Medicine from the University of San Carlos in Guatemala, a master’s degree in food safety from the same university, and a Doctorate degree in Food Science from Louisiana State University.

She received the LSU AgCenter Denver T & Ferne Loupe Extension Team Award in 2017 and was recognized by the LSU Office of the President in 2018 for her effort to improve and safeguard wild caught catfish industry in Louisiana.

• Louisiana State University, Doctor of Philosophy in Food Science. May 2016.
• University of San Carlos in Guatemala, Master’s in Quality Assurance Systems, Specialized in Food Safety, March 2011.
• University of San Carlos in Guatemala, Veterinary Medicine, November 2001.

• July 2023-present: Associate Professor, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center; & Seafood Extension Specialist, Louisiana Sea Grant.
• 2022 -present: Research Director, Beyond the Boat, Seafood Processing Demonstration Laboratory, LSU AgCenter
• January 2017-June 2023: Assistant Professor, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center; & Seafood Extension Specialist, Louisiana Sea Grant.
• January 2014-December 2016: Instructor, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center.
• November 2012-December 2013: Research Associate, Food Science Department, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center.
• June 2011-October 2012: Graduate Research Assistant, Food Science Department, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center.
• January 2009-May 2011: Professor, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of San Carlos in Guatemala. Guatemala.
• May 2003-December 2008: Consultant, Independent. Guatemala.
• May 2001-April 2003: Quality Control and Food Microbiology Laboratory Coordinator (pork slaughterhouse, boning and processing plant), Empacadora Toledo, S.A. Guatemala.
• January 2001-April 2001: Research Associate, Poultry Diagnostics Laboratory. School of Veterinary Medicine, University of San Carlos in Guatemala. Guatemala.

Helping Fishermen and Processors Explore New Concepts, Opportunities in Processing and Packaging Seafood Products.

The state’s only seafood-focused facility of its kind, SPDL houses commercial food processing equipment for demonstration, training and research purposes. The goal is to help potential and existing seafood processors explore opportunities and new concepts for processing, packaging and value-added seafood products.

Located at: LSU AgCenter Iberia Research Station, 603 LSU Bridge Road, Jeanerette, LA

Visit the Seafood Processing Demonstration Lab webpage to learn more about educational programs.