Dr Edmond Sanganyado is interested in reconstructing contamination events using chromatographic and spectrometric techniques, with a focus on emerging contaminants in aquatic environments. He also has interests in environmental risk assessment, marine mammalian toxicology, and enantioselective analysis.
Dr Aaron Amankwaa has research interests in the evaluation of the effectiveness of forensic DNA databases, biometrics, forensic technologies, and the development of forensic genetic testing, with a focus on increasing DNA yield/ quality and determining the age of biological evidence.
Dr Sophie Carr undertakes research in the application of ‘critical trust’ to considerations of the reliability of forensic evidence, in collaboration with Northumbria Centre for Evidence and Criminal Justice Studies.
Dr Ruth Croxton has research interests in latent fingermarks and studying their chemistry to derive information about the person who left them or developing and evaluating new enhancement techniques. She also has interests in drugs abuse, trace evidence and pedagogy in forensic science. Ruth is also a member of the TeLePRT Pedagogical Research Group, and has interests in the development of virtual reality crime scenes for training students and the police.
Dr Eleanor Graham undertakes research in the application of molecular genetics to human identification and forensic evidence at the activity level, including both low-template DNA analysis and wildlife forensics, and to archaeological specimens via ‘ancient DNA’. Eleanor leads the TeLePRT Pedagogical Research Group and is interested in embedding forensic employability within the academic curriculum.
Dr Alan Langford has a primary research interest in pedagogy, specifically in advancing knowledge in teaching and learning in forensic science. He has also published on the interpretation of toxicological evidence in legal-medicine. Alan is also a member of the TeLePRT Pedagogical Research Group, and has interests in the development of virtual reality to provide an immersive learning experience for students as well as the development of CPD activities for professional in fields such as crime scene investigation.
Dr Ed Schwalbe has research interests in statistics and bioinformatics, including the investigation of patterns of DNA methylation in the identification of body fluids and tissue sources, as well providing statistical support to other members of the group.
Dr Kelly Sheridan is an expert in forensic textile fibre analysis, having conducted research in fibre transfer and persistence in a number of practical contexts, and in the interpretation of fibre evidence.
Dr Patrick Randolph-Quinney has research interests in human identification, forensic archaeology, and forensic taphonomy. His main forensic specialisation is taphonomy (peri and post-mortem processes) with an emphasis on sub-surface burial processes, trauma analysis, the recovery and analysis of burnt human remains, and the application of digital methods in the analysis of spatial taphonomy and the decomposition process. Pat is also a member of the TeLePRT Pedagogical Research Group, and is interested in virtual and augmented reality methods in immersive learning and training, and standards development in forensic archaeological field training.
We are active in research in forensic DNA and databases, forensic taphonomy and thanatology, forensic anthropology, trace evidence analysis—transfer and persistence, gunshot residue analysis and firearms identification, forensic drug analysis and toxicology, latent print chemistry and enhancement, blood pattern analysis, and issues in forensic science policy and procedure. We collaborate with other groups in the University:
We also engage with eternal partners and stakeholders in the academic, private and governmental sectors. Our researchers also are engaged with academic quality assurance and subject development through various agencies. Some of our external stakeholders and partners include:
Members of the FSRG actively participate in case consultancy work. Please visit the individual staff pages for further details of expertise.
Members of the FSRG are committed to the communication of scientific research and engagement with the criminal justice system and public. As part of this some of our members have published a number of articles in The Conversation (UK and Africa editions) on their research and its applications:
Our team have also had their research featured in National and International news stories in the media:
Catching lightning in a bottle — how study of a natural phenomenon could aid pathologists in criminal investigations
We have a vibrant postgraduate and postdoctoral community within the FSRG. Our staff also co-supervise researchers at external institutions. Our current PG and PD researchers comprise:
Prospective postgraduate research students are encouraged to enquire with the relevant member of staff. University information on postgraduate research studies can be found here.
For further information on research and consultancy interests, please contact Dr Patrick Randolph-Quinney or individual staff members.
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