Staff profile

Teaching Biography

My main teaching aims are to provide innovative and accessible teaching and to support Biology and Natural Sciences undergraduates throughout their studies. To achieve this, I have developed a range of practical and fieldwork activities designed to inspire students and develop their understanding of ecological and evolutionary biology concepts and research methods. I have also developed the Level 3 modules Biology into Schools and Public Engagement in Biosciences with the aim to improve students’ skills in communicating science content to a wider audience. In addition, I teach statistics at Level 1, incorporating workshops and practical activities into my teaching to make sure that students can apply their knowledge in a practical context.

Research Biography

My past research includes studying rocky-shore interactions, impacts of fish farming on the benthic fauna, life history and population dynamics of Daphnia exposed to toxic cyanobacteria and mutation-accumulation and body-size mutants of C.elegans.

Outreach and external links

I am an active member of the Durham Wildlife Trust Botany group and a member of the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Previously, I have worked as a field teacher for the RSPB over many years.

Publications

Azevedo, R. B. R., Keightley, P. D., Laurén-Määttä, C., Vassilieva, L. L., Lynch, M., & Leroi, A. M. (2002). Spontaneous mutational variation for body size in Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics, 162(2).

Hietala, J., Laurén-Määttä, C., & Walls, M. (1997). Life history responses of Daphnia clones to toxic Microcystis at different food levels. Journal of Plankton Research, 19(7).

Hietala, J., Laurén-Määttä, C., & Walls, M. (1997). Sensitivity of Daphnia to toxic cyanobacteria: Effects of genotype and temperature. Freshwater Biology, 37(2).

Laurén-Määttä, C., Hietala, J., Reinikainen, M., & Walls, M. (1995). Do Microcystis aeruginosa toxins accumulate in the food web: a laboratory study. Hydrobiologia, 304(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02530700

Laurén-Määttä, C., Hietala, J., & Walls, M. (1997). Responses of Daphnia pulex populations to toxic cyanobacteria. Freshwater Biology, 37(3).

Laurén-Määttä, C., Kleiven, O., & Kiviranta, J. (1997). Horizontal distribution of Daphnia pulex in response to toxic and non-toxic algal extracts. Journal of Plankton Research, 19(1).

Walls, M., Laurén-Määttä, C., Ketola, M., Ohra-Aho, P., Reinikainen, M., & Repka, S. (1997). Phenotypic plasticity of Daphnia life history traits: The roles of predation, food level and toxic cyanobacteria. Freshwater Biology, 38(2).