Research plays a pivotal role in the evolution and advancement of forensic science, serving as the cornerstone for innovation and progress in addressing real-world challenges.

Our Research

Our Research Ethos

By embracing a culture of inquiry and discovery, ChemCrimLab is contributing to the continuous improvement of forensic methodologies, standards, and practices, ultimately enhancing the reliability and credibility of forensic evidence in the pursuit of justice.

Through rigorous investigation, experimentation, and analysis, our research endeavors are aimed at unlocking new insights, methodologies, and technologies that propel the field forward. By delving into the complexities of forensic chemistry, toxicology, and related disciplines, ChemCrimLab’s research uncovers critical knowledge about evidence analysis and interpretation, crime scene analysis, and investigative techniques.

This knowledge also informs the development of novel tools and methodologies that aid in crime detection and investigation. Moreover, the research we perform fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, drawing upon expertise from chemistry, biology, physics, and other fields to tackle complex forensic challenges.

Research Disciplines

We are pursuing a broad research program, across:

  • Illicit drugs, detection, analysis, profiling, clandestine laboratories

  • Chemical trace evidence (i.e. glass, fibres, paint, ignitable liquids, soil, etc.)

  • Toxicology, analytical methodology, detection/analysis, drug-metabolism, drug-facilited crimes

  • Environmental and food forensics

  • Chemical enhancement across the identification sciences

  • Document examination — ink analysis, paper analysis

  • Crime Scene — preservation and recover of evidence, photography, digital capture (laser, photogrammetry, etc.)

  • Defence/Military Science — evidence recovery in active theatre, chemical warfare agent detection and analysis

  • Policy — drugs in society, national security, counter terrorism

Research Facilities

ChemCrimLab leverages laboratory and analytical facilities within Murdoch University’s School of Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences, and has established research and teaching partnerships with the School of Mathematics, Statistics, Chemistry and Physics and the School of Law and Criminology.

We have access to stereo and compound microscopes, high resolution and innovative bench top nuclear magnetic resonance mass spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, triple-quad and ToF liquid chromatograph mass spectrometry, gas chromatographs equiped with FIDs, ECDs, single sector and triple-quad mass spectrometer,

Our laboratories provide a dynamic environment for conducting research, experimentation, and analysis in forensic chemistry. Whether we’re exploring the profiling of illicit drug samples, detecting drugs in drug-facilitated sexual assaults, or enhancing the evidential value of trace evidence, our research addresses pressing issues in crime detection, law enforcement, and public health.

More about research at Murdoch’s School of Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences

Current Research Students

PhD Candidates

  • Amber Skye - Illicit Drug Profiling ^

  • Marie Lynam - Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assaults

  • Rhiannon Murphy - Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assaults

  • Tess Meyer - Enhancing the evidential value of trace evidence

  • Aaron Hamilton - Hair Proteomics ^

Research Masters by Training Candidate

  • Shahista Rojah - Hair analysis for toxicological applications ^

Master of Forensic Science (Professional Practice) Candidates

  • Eight candidates, exploring research questions across the following topics:

    • Illicit drugs rapid detection and analysis

    • Illicit drugs decriminalisation policy

    • Sports doping

    • Novel imaging techniques for injury detection

    • Fingerprint detection and enhancement on native building materials

    • Chemical techniques for enhanced blood detection

    • Enhancement of evidential value from trace chemical material

    • Natural toxins and venoms

^ In collaboration with Brendan Chapman