PhD Science, 2018
UTS International Alumni Award (proudly supported by UTS College)
Dr Rolanda Lam came to UTS as an international student, receiving three competitive PhD scholarships to work on an ARC Linkage Project to develop novel methods to detect fingermarks.
At the end of her studies, Dr Lam moved back to Canada and trained in her second specialisation, forensic toxicology. She continued her professional progression at the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Ottawa and is currently the organisation’s only full-time research scientist in forensic identification.
Dr Lam embodies the UTS ethos of academic and industry engagement to the benefit of society. She is committed to developing and applying her science to make the world a safer and more just place. Her research improved the success rate for detecting fingermarks on difficult surfaces. This helped to improve crime resolution and, ultimately, increase public safety.
Her mentorship, supervision, and public outreach work demonstrates her commitment to the next generation of forensic scientists (and young scientists in general). Dr Lam mentored and supervised students and peers at UTS and continues to do so at the RCMP and with McGill University in Montreal.
In Sydney, her outreach included being a part of the Sherlock Holmes Exhibition at the Powerhouse Museum and giving forensic science workshops to high school students. In Canada, she gets involved with annual events such as Take Our Kids to Work Days and National Police Week.
Dr Lam has volunteered with various local and national organisations throughout her studies and career. She is increasingly in demand on an international level – having her research presented to the International Fingerprint Research Group, being invited to join a panel discussion at an International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) Global Women's Breakfast, and recently being selected to become a Special Committee member for the International Association for Identification.
I want to lead by example and demonstrate to peers and aspiring forensic scientists how getting involved, sharing ideas, and being a part of the change can push us forward together to success.