Research interests and projects

The School of Chemistry and Forensic Science has a strong record of research and development; essential to facilitating quality postgraduate research programs and encourages research that engages the interest of industry and community partners.

Our research focuses on applied and practical chemistry and forensic science to bring about benefits to the community and industry. The School collaborates closely with industry such as the Australian Federal Police, government and defence agencies.

Majority of the research members in the Centre for Forensic Science are academics from the School of Chemistry and Forensic Science. The Centre has established and maintained high profile and relationships both nationally and internationally, It is recognised as the premier academic institution offering forensic programs in Australia.

The holistic forensic approach of the UTS Centre for Forensic Science combined with its unique expertise and professional networks, give UTS a distinctive profile in analytical science, which include these areas of research:

Forensic analytical chemistry / Chemical criminalistics:

• hyperspectral (chemical) imaging of forensic samples
• pre-blast and post-blast explosive residue technologies
• development of forensic portable instrumentation.

Fingerprints and other physical evidence:

• development of new fingerprint detection methods using nanotechnology
• development of a 'fingerprint standard' for QA purposes
• statistical evidential value of fingerprints
• evidential value of various types of forensic in the Australian context.

Forensic toxicology and illicit drugs

• llicit drug profiling for intelligence and evidence purposes
• elucidation of the role of morphine metabolites in deaths from morphine poisoning
• detection of peptide hormone used as sports doping agents
• use of novel methods to detect biochemical changes following exposure to toxic and carcinogenic substances.

DNA and forensic biology:

• evaluating the role and impact of forensic DNA profiling in the criminal justice system (including DNA statistics)
• inferring phenotypic and ancestry intelligence from autosomal and Y-chromosome SNP analyses
• forensic anatomy
• forensic entomology.

For further information on research projects, see UTS Centre for Forensic Science website.