Alex Smyth - Project 1
Alex Smyth is a Marie Curie Early Stage Researcher within the University of Leicester’s INTREPID Forensics programme. His current research focuses on the visualisation of fingerprints on metal surfaces subjected to extreme conditions. You can read his full biography over on our Staff & Researcher page and a full description of the project here.
Blog 22: End of my INTREPID PhD – What Have I Achieved?!**
November 7, 2017 By Alex Smyth
As I have now come to the end of my INTREPID PhD Research Phase, I thought I’d write a brief final blog about what I have done and achieved during these 3 years!
First off, I have nothing to do with electrowetting of fingerprint sweat anymore. In fact, I haven’t worked on that since January 2015. Instead, right at the start of my PhD I turned my focus to obtaining fingerprint evidence from post-blast crime scenes, specifically related to Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), realising that there had been incredibly little research in this area of growing importance.
Throughout my INTREPID PhD I have created a new forensic technology called FINDER (Forensic Identification via Non-Destructive Evidence Retrieval), based on astrophysics, satellite and planetary exploration techniques. FINDER is able to visualise fingerprints from volume and serious crime scenes via a non-contact, non-destructive technique, preserving fingerprint evidence for additional analyses such as DNA recovery. FINDER can be used in the field for rapid crime scene examination with minimal training requirements and is currently the subject of a patent application.
Volume crimes: FINDER currently outperforms traditional fingerprint powdering techniques by more than 50%, based on an extensive worldwide study involving fingerprint examiners from Europe, North America and Australia, as well as utilising the expertise of fellow INTREPIDers, Silke and Francisco. FINDER is capable of visualising fingerprints to a standard suitable for identification on non-porous substrates, therefore able to be used as a confirmatory method on non-porous materials without the need for any physical or chemical enhancement techniques. FINDER can be used as a speculative technique on porous materials, rapidly identifying areas where fingerprint ridge detail is present, allowing for a more targeted approach using traditional enhancement techniques on porous materials – saving on time and resources.
Serious crimes: FINDER has been extensively tested for the visualisation of fingerprints from IED fragments after detonation. This is the bulk of my PhD research. Only 5 previous research attempts have explored this important area of post-blast investigation, with the general view in forensic science being that fingerprints cannot survive bomb blasts. I have employed the most extensive study to be conducted in post-blast fingerprint visualisation, undertaking over 25 realistic IED scenarios in collaboration with the FBI, ATF and US Law Enforcement. At present, FINDER has an unprecedented success rate, visualising 57% of fingerprints from post-blast IED fragments and debris. No single technique previously visualised more than 2% of fingerprints post-blast.
To date, I have presented or published my research in the following forms:
- Keynote Presentations at International Conference Proceedings: 2
- Oral Presentations at International Conference Proceedings: 7
- Poster Presentations at International Conference Proceedings: 10
- Journal Publications: 1 (under review)
Moving on, as mentioned in a previous blog entry, I have applied for a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Global Fellowship, the result of which I will find out at the end of January. This will allow me to further develop FINDER for additional forensic applications, including investigating the ability for FINDER to confirm blood, semen, explosives, explosive residues and drugs via a non-contact, non-destructive method. If successful, FINDER will be the first technology or technique capable of doing this.
Blog 21: Marie Curie Global Fellowship Application
August 16, 2017 By Alex Smyth
In my last post I touched upon the fact that the future becomes uncertain towards the end of the PhD. I’m applying for a Marie Curie Global Fellowship, which is an incredibly intense process and insanely difficult to make sure you hit all the key points that the examiners are looking for when marking your proposal in the tiny 10 page limit. I’ve luckily received a lot of assistance from Tory over in the EU office who has provided me with funding for undertaking training in writing the perfect application (that’s right, it’s so competitive that there are training companies who make their living from teaching people how to try and write the perfect Marie Curie application!!) So I’m going through these processes, writing drafts and getting feedback from friends, peers and academics. It’s slow, it’s long and it’s hard. But hopefully it will all pay off and I’ll be rewarded with 2 years in Perth, Australia, working with James Speers and his team developing my technology, ready to build it during a third year back at Leicester. Please everyone cross your fingers and toes for me!
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Blog 20: The Future Remains a Mystery
July 11, 2017 By Alex Smyth
What will happen in a few months when the 3 years of INTREPID funds ends?! The lab work has to cease and I’ll be given up to a year to write the thesis, possibly while unemployed. I like that you get up to a year to write the thesis, especially as I think my lab work will continue right up until the end of September. But does that really mean that come October 01 2017 I will have gone from being a Marie Curie Early Stage Research Fellow in Physics to an unemployed ‘writer’ staring out of my kitchen window for inspiration. I hope not. So in this, the busiest of periods in a PhD, I’m already applying for Post-Docs, research grants, funding and other Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions. As nice as getting up mid-morning, staying in my dressing gown all day, writing a paragraph or two over a few hours, and being able to watch all the sport TV can muster (day or night) might be, I’m really hoping for some luck in at least one of my proposals. Who knows though. We shall see. For now the future remains a mystery… But I couldn’t have been given a better opportunity to set myself up for future employment than INTREPID. People say that it’s not luck that gets you to where you are, but hard work and deserving it. I’m sure there were many unsuccessful applicants of INTREPID who were very deserving, so I do believe the 10 of us were lucky to get this opportunity. It’s up to us to make the most of it now it’s finishing.
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Blog 19: MSCA Prizes EU Presidency Conference
May 22, 2017 By Alex Smyth
After getting back from an amazing holiday travelling through Malaysia, Vietnam and Hong Kong, I thought I’d be hitting the workload head on. But instead, 5 days after touching down at Heathrow I was sitting in East Midlands Airport waiting to board yet another plane. During the final few days of my travels I was invited to be a guest speaker at the EU Presidency Conference MSCA Prizes 2017 in Malta in the session “Contributing to a Better Society”, where I would showcase my research from my Marie Curie Fellowship at this prestigious event. On top of this, I was shortlisted for the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Prizes for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Award. It was a great honour to be recognised in the top 10 for an award open to over 100,000 researchers worldwide… even if I didn’t take home first prize (http://msca2017.eu/msca-2017-awards/awardees/). The conference was one of the best I’ve attended so far. It wasn’t overly big and almost everyone there was invited to be there, so no groups or cliques of researchers all from the same place huddling together for the entire conference – everyone had to and wanted to mingle and meet new people. The entire event was well planned, well organised and incredibly interesting! From presentations about early warning systems for monsoons in India, to marine ecology, and even my own IED research, the spectrum of talks was so broad and captivating. Heading back to Malta for a few days to reminisce and revisit my old stomping ground was also lots of fun 🙂
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Blog 18: Holiday
April 12, 2017 By Alex Smyth
It’s Easter and the University has 4 compulsory closure days. It’s also nearly May Day which is a public holiday in England. So a perfect time to have a nice holiday and not use too many days of annual leave! See you all in May when I get back to the nitty gritty of thesis writing and labwork. But for now all I have to remember is to get the Factor 50 out 🙂
Blog 17: Where’s the Time Gone
March 14, 2017 By Alex Smyth
Six months left until my time in the INTREPID Program is effectively over. It’s absolutely flown by… but hopefully with the amount of work I still have left to do the next six months will go verrrrrry slowly. Not sure what my other INTREPIDers are feeling like at the moment, but six months seems like a very short time now.
Blog 16: Warsaw Secondment 3
January 18, 2017 By Alex Smyth
It seems I’m never in Leicester! I got back from my last trip to the US on the 21 December, had a break from travelling to spend Xmas and New Year with the family, before heading out to Warsaw a few weeks into this year.
So I’m back in Warsaw for my third second
ment. I’ve been working at the Institute of Forensic Research, going over the results of some fingerprint work that I’m doing. All of the results I have obtained so far have been really promising, so it’s nice to be in Warsaw to be able to carry out the tests with the support of the Forensic Institute team. Looking forward to being back in Leicester in March to start analysing the results of the work done while I’ve been here.
Blog 15: Washington
November 18, 2016 By Alex Smyth
It’s been an incredibly busy and whirlwind few weeks. Since my last update I’ve been over to Washington DC to present my work at the American Academy of Forensic Sciences Annual Conference. It was an amazing experience and a great opportunity to meet some of the world’s leading forensic scientists.
It was my first time in Washington and I managed to fit in a few visits to the main sights whilst there. I also managed to fit in a few social activities, so a nice balance of work and play. I had a very successful week with my presentation and managed to get some great feedback on my research. I’m now looking forward to taking a bit of a break and preparing for the next phase of the project.
Blog 14: Manchester
October 4, 2016 By Alex Smyth
It has been an incredibly busy month! I have spent the last few weeks traveling to Manchester to attend the UK Forensic Science Conference. It was an excellent opportunity to present some of my initial findings and get feedback from experts in the field. The conference was very well organized and had some great talks and discussions about current trends and future developments in forensic science.
I also had a chance to visit some of the facilities at the University of Manchester and meet with some of the researchers there. It was a very productive trip and I’m looking forward to incorporating some of the ideas and feedback I received into my ongoing work.
Blog 13: A Very Busy Period
August 8, 2016 By Alex Smyth
It’s been a very busy period for me recently. I’ve been working hard to finalize some of the initial experiments and prepare for upcoming presentations. The lab work has been intense, but I’m making good progress.
I’ve also been preparing for several conferences and workshops where I will be presenting my work. It’s a lot of work, but it’s great to see everything coming together and to get the chance to share my research with others.
Blog 12: Research Update
July 6, 2016 By Alex Smyth
I’ve been making good progress with my research over the past few months. The experiments are going well, and I’m starting to see some promising results. I’ve also been working on a few publications and presentations to share my findings with the wider community.
It’s been a busy time, but I’m excited about the direction the research is taking and looking forward to seeing where it leads.
Blog 11: Warsaw Secondment 2
June 3, 2016 By Alex Smyth
I’m back in Warsaw for my second secondment. This time, I’m focusing on a different aspect of the research and working closely with the team at the Institute of Forensic Research. The collaboration has been very productive, and I’m gaining some valuable insights and experience.
It’s great to be back in Warsaw and to have the opportunity to work with such a knowledgeable and experienced team.
Blog 10: Easter Break
March 24, 2016 By Alex Smyth
It’s Easter and the University is on a break. I’m taking some time off to recharge and catch up on some reading. It’s been a busy few months, and I’m looking forward to a bit of downtime before diving back into the research.
I hope everyone has a great Easter and I’ll catch up with you all soon!
Blog 9: Washington DC
February 10, 2016 By Alex Smyth
I’m off to Washington DC next week to attend the American Academy of Forensic Sciences Annual Conference. I’m excited to present my work and to learn more about the latest developments in forensic science. It’s going to be a great opportunity to network and to get some valuable feedback on my research.
Blog 8: First Year Reflection
December 1, 2015 By Alex Smyth
It’s hard to believe that a year has passed since I started my PhD. The first year has been incredibly rewarding, but also challenging. I’ve learned a lot and made significant progress with my research.
I’m looking forward to the next year and to continuing to build on the foundation I’ve established. It’s been a great experience so far, and I’m excited to see where the next year takes me.
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Blog 7: Warsaw Secondment 1
October 15, 2015 By Alex Smyth
I’m currently in Warsaw for my first secondment. It’s been a fantastic experience so far, working with the team at the Institute of Forensic Research. The research is progressing well, and I’m learning a lot from the experts here.
I’m looking forward to continuing the work and seeing how the research develops over the next few months.
Blog 6: Early PhD Reflections
August 20, 2015 By Alex Smyth
I’ve now been working on my PhD for a few months, and it’s been an exciting and challenging time. I’m getting to grips with the research and starting to see some promising results.
It’s been a steep learning curve, but I’m enjoying the process and looking forward to what the rest of the PhD has in store.
Blog 5: Initial Research
June 10, 2015 By Alex Smyth
I’ve started my research and am beginning to get into the details of the project. It’s an exciting time, and I’m eager to see where the research takes me.
The initial experiments are underway, and I’m looking forward to sharing more updates as the work progresses.
Blog 4: PhD Start
April 5, 2015 By Alex Smyth
I’ve officially started my PhD! It’s an exciting time, and I’m looking forward to diving into the research. There’s a lot to learn and a lot of work ahead, but I’m excited about the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Blog 3: Preparing for the PhD
March 10, 2015 By Alex Smyth
I’m in the final stages of preparing for the start of my PhD. It’s an exciting time, and I’m getting ready to dive into the research and begin this new chapter of my academic career.
Blog 2: Getting Started
February 20, 2015 By Alex Smyth
I’m getting ready to start my PhD and am excited about the research that lies ahead. There’s a lot to prepare, but I’m looking forward to the challenge and the opportunity to make a difference in the field.
Blog 1: Introduction
January 5, 2015 By Alex Smyth
I’m thrilled to be starting my PhD and looking forward to embarking on this new journey. I’ll be sharing updates about my research and experiences throughout my time in the program.
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