Magda joined the Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science in February 2019 to pursue a PhD in Forensic Chemistry. Her research project focuses on the synthesis and characterisation of new nanomaterials and nanohybrids (graphene oxide, quantum dots, nanoparticles, MIPs, and many others) to be integrated on novel colorimetric and fluorometric nanobiosensors formats for body fluids identification such as blood, saliva and semen. These nanobiosensors are aimed to be selective, sensitive, non-destructive, fast, and easy to handle in order to be applied as presumptive and confirmatory tests within a forensic investigation.

Catarina joined the Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science in September 2018 to pursue a PhD in Forensic Chemistry. Her research project focuses not only on the transfer and persistence of gunshot residue (GSR), but also on the characterisation of GSR particles and how its recovery affects the elemental and chemical composition and the morphology of the materials. The study will also investigate how GSR can affect and be affected by the donor substrates (for example fabrics), looking closely at the interaction of the particles during primary transfer and the damages caused by the particles and the traces left on the textiles.

Caitlyn joined the Forensic Drug Research Group in the Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification in September 2018 to pursue a PhD in Forensic Drug Chemistry. Her research project focuses on synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists in prisons, including the detection and quantification of these compounds in seized non-judicial samples, evaluation of rapid screening methods, and the exploration of potential secondary exposure to these compounds via transdermal delivery and passive smoking.