XClose

UCL Centre for the Forensic Sciences

Home
Menu

Trace evidence dynamics

We seek to understand how different trace evidence behaves within different environments over space and time so when we find trace evidence, we know what it means.

 

microscope

Forensic geoscience

We study environmental materials including soils and sediments, pollen, diatoms and aquatics. Our research seeks to understand how these trace particulates behave in real-life scenarios: how long to they persist on clothing or vehicles and how to do they transfer between people and things?

DNA

Trace DNA

We can now find and analyse ever-smaller traces of DNA. But when we find it, what does it mean? Our research investigates the spatial and temporal dynamics of DNA, which is crucial for forensic investigators so they can evaluate what the DNA they analyse actually means for a particular investigation.

microscopic

Explosives and gunshot residue (GSR)

What does it mean when find GSR on your hands? Have you fired a gun, or could it have transferred to your hand when you used a supermarket trolley? Our research seeks to answer these questions and discover how a greater understanding of explosive residue and precursor chemicals used in explosives can be used in intelligence and forensic applications.

top of police car

Other forensic trace evidence research

We’re always on the look out for innovative new areas of research that can push the boundaries of what we know in the forensic sciences. We’ve recently researched how fragrance and perfume can be used in a forensic investigation or how we can use trace amounts of drugs to reconstruct a crime event.