PhD candidates
Anillada Nettakul
Optimizing ancestry inference through efficient extraction and preservation of DNA from bone
Supervisors: Professor Dennis McNevin, Dr Maiken Ueland
Expected completion date: June 2028
This research project focuses on enhancing ancestry inference by optimising a DNA extraction method for bone samples. The innovative approach from this research utilizes preservative solutions to leach DNA from bones, simplifying the extraction process and reducing the risk of DNA damage. The primary aim is to genotype Ancestry Informative Markers (AIMs) from DNA extracted using preservative solutions, providing a more efficient and reliable approach to ancestry inference. This innovative method has the potential to enhance human identification in forensic investigations, providing forensic scientists with a valuable alternative for ancestry prediction from challenging biological samples.
Manal Nasser M Alhosawi
Using mass spectrometry approach for toxicological investigation of functional neurological disorder (FND)
Supervisors: Professor Shanlin Fu and Dr Unnikrishnan Kuzhiumparambil
Expected completion: November, 2026
This study will identify metabolites that can differentiate patients with FND from controls, which will provide significant insight into molecular mechanisms and will lead to incorporation of promising biomarkers of FND into clinical practice.
Kathy Tou
Lipidomics Investigations for Improved Equine Anti-Doping using LC-HRMS
Supervisor: Professor Shanlin Fu, Dr. Adam Cawley, Associate Professor David Bishop and Mr. Christopher Bowen
Expected completion: November, 2023
Historically when it came to the detection of drugs for anti-doping purposes, usually it is a targeted detection of the drug itself. However, there has been improvements into using biomarkers for an indirect form of screening to provide a complementary approach to current methods. My research aims to expand the current scope of biomarker detection using equine plasma to include lipids (specifically eicosanoids) and corticosteroids to detect for drug administrations used in the equine racing industry (i.e. exogenous corticosteroids and Bisphosphonates). This research will also aim to expand the biomarkers currently on the equine biological passport to provide a longitudinal assessment of individual horses and gain a better understanding of an individual horse compared to itself rather than the general population.
Layal Zaarour
The application of mass spectrometry-based proteomics for the identification of body fluids for forensic purposes
Supervisor: Professor Dennis McNevin, Associate Professor Matthew Padula and Dr Roland van Oorschot
Expected completion: April, 2025
This research focuses on the development of a mass spectrometry-based approach for the forensic identification of body fluids by targeting specific protein biomarkers present in biological fluids. This method aims to address the challenges of current tests and allow for the multiplex analysis of body fluids, where multiple analytes in one sample can be targeted simultaneously. The findings will also highlight what other information found within protein profiles of body fluids can be helpful to forensic investigations.
Steve Pavlovich
Producibility profiling of 3D printed polymer/hybrid deposition layers as toolmarks for forensic source comparison and identification
Supervisor:Distinguished Professor Claude Roux, Dr Scott Chadwick
Expected completion: February 2028
3D printing technology using polymer and polymer/hybrid filament materials is used to construct illicit firearm components with strength and longevity using low-cost fused deposition modelling (FDM) 3D printers. Filament deposition builds layers and surface characteristics created by additive manufacturing (AM) technology and produces visible patternation upon a manufactured object. An understanding of how 3D build patternation characteristics form within deposition layers has the potential for forensic comparison and analysis. A determination of the same origin inference may be developed to establish a threshold of similar origin and the possibility of source printer identifications of illicit 3D printed components. The forensic examination and analysis of 3D printer deposition layers based on the mechanical variation within 3D printers have yet to be thoroughly investigated. Its adaption to provide intelligence and evidential data to assist policing agencies in combating the illicit manufacture of firearm components demands further study. 3D FDM-printed polymer used to produce firearm components is a fast-emerging global threat currently linked to terrorism, organised crime and paramilitary groups.
Ciara Di Scala
Algorithms for forensic kinship analysis
Supervisors: Professor Dennis McNevin, Dr Jodie Ward, Dr Kelly Grisedale
Expected completion date: July 2027
This project aims to develop algorithms capable of comparing and analysing autosomal, sex chromosome and mitochondrial SNPs to extract information about sample donors such as their biological sex, ancestral origins and genetic relationships. These algorithms could be used to compare SNP profiles of persons of interest to aid in generating leads and linking cases, especially in relation to unidentified human remains and long-term missing persons. Such a program could be used in forensic laboratories where SNP genotyping is performed in-house and where a dedicated analysis pipeline is required and would be of use to the National DNA Program for Unidentified and Missing Persons.
ChaeRin Hayley Song
Forensic Intelligence in the Cultural Aspect of Handwriting Examination and to Improve the Effectiveness of Forensic Handwriting Examination
Supervisors: Distinguished Professor Claude Roux, Dr Marie Morelato, Professor James Brown
Expected completion date: July 2027
I'm currently working on analysing English handwriting of different cultural backgrounds. From these extracted features, I'll be working statistically and to develop an automatic machine learning program that could assist handwriting examination field by combining forensic intelligence.
Rinika Barua
Biomarker Discovery of Functional Neurological Disorder in Children and Adolescents.
Supervisors: Professor Shanlin Fu, Dr Unnikrishnan Kuzhiumparambil, Dr Kasia Kozlowska and Dr Jingyi Yan
Expected completion date: July 2027
Paediatric FND is a neuropsychiatric condition characterised by the dysregulation within and between the neural networks in the brain, coupled with the dysregulation within the stress system, leading to involuntary neurological symptoms that comprise a child's daily life. This research aims to determine biomarkers that denote the difference between children and adolescent patients with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) and healthy patients.
Emily Sunnucks
A novel multi-omics approach to estimating time since death
Supervisors: Dr Maiken Ueland, Associate Professor Matt Padula, Dr Lana Brockbals, Professor Dennis McNevin
Expected completion date: August 2027
Time since death (TSD) estimation remains one of the most challenging issues for investigators during forensic death investigations due to the complexity of decomposition chemistry. This project aims to create an objective and accurate approach for TSD estimation. Muscle and VOC samples collected at various time points post-mortem will be analysed using a suite of mass spectrometry-based analytical instrumentation to develop a model combining four-omics techniques: lipidomics, proteomics, metabolomics and volatilomics. This multi-omic technique allows coverage of a wide range of biomolecule degradation, leading to a more comprehensive understanding of the complex chemical and biological changes behind decomposition.
Ali Almazrouei
Evaluating Source Conclusions and Criteria in Toolmark Examinations: Enhancing Decision-Making Practices in Firearms Identification
Supervisors: Distinguished Professor Claude Roux , Associate Professor Scott Chadwick and Dr Mackenzie de la Hunty
Expected completion date: July, 2027
My project aims to enhance the reliability of forensic firearms identification by critically evaluating and improving the criteria and decision-making processes used by toolmark experts. The research will begin by establishing a comprehensive overview of current scientific practices regarding source conclusions and evaluation criteria in toolmark examinations. By exploring and critically assessing how experts form these conclusions, the project seeks to gain foundational insights into their decision-making processes. Ultimately, it will provide critical findings and offer practical recommendations to refine the criteria and methodologies used in toolmark examinations, contributing to more accurate and dependable forensic analyses in firearms identification.
Kainat Fatima
E-nose for Timber Products
Supervisors: Dr Maiken Ueland, Dr Shari Forbes (University of Windsor)
Expected completion date: January 2028
Illegally traded timber products hold a market worth approximately USD 152 billion pa. One of the main challenges is the rapid identification of timber species to determine if an item is legal or illegal. Current identification methods rely on visual identification or costly and destructive methods. The aim of the PhD project is to investigate the use of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from timber products as a means of identification. The project involves generating a database of VOC profiles from commonly illegally traded timber species using GC×GC-TOFMS to determine biomarkers of interest. These biomarkers will subsequently be used in development of an electronic nose for rapid, on-site timber species identification.
Harrison Fursman
Expanding Our Understanding of Injecting Drug Consumption: Chemical Analysis Before and After Injection
Supervisors: Dr Marie Morelato, Distinguished Professor Claude Roux and A/Prof Scott Chadwick
Expected completion: October 2026
This research aims to gain a better understanding of consumption trends among people who inject drugs, utilising two innovative methods of monitoring. The first method involves a spatiotemporal analysis of used syringes collected across Sydney in order to analyse their residual drug content. The second method involves the optimisation and implementation of a portable near-infrared technology for the characterisation of illicit drugs for use in policing and health contexts.
Eathan Walker
Metabolic biotransformation of Synthetic Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists (SCRAs)
Supervisors: Professor Shanlin Fu, Dr Morgan Alonzo and Dr Unnikrishnan Kuzhiumparambil
Expected completion: February, 2027
Synthetic Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists (SCRAs) are an ever-evolving subclass of drugs belonging to the New Psychoactive Substances. This project aims to use an in-vitro model in which human liver microsomes are utilised to produce phase 1 metabolites for various SCRAs identified using LC-QToF-MS. Identifying these metabolites assists with extrapolating the involved metabolic pathways and biotransformations for each SCRA investigated. This allows for specific metabolites to be proposed as biomarkers that can indicate the presence of the parent SCRA within a human system.
