Details
1079310
Liverpool John Moores University
06/05/2024
Other - See Job
5 Weeks, 3 days a week (which days are negotiable), 10:00 – 15:00 (4 hours)
Smart Casual
Pay
£12.00
£1.45
Description
Role
RINGFENCED TO LEVEL 5 & 6 LJMU SCIENCE OR RELATED SUBJECT STUDENTS ONLY
FORRI (Forensic Research Institute) is a LJMU research group consisting of researchers who wish to impact practice within forensic science and within the criminal justice system while fostering a more diverse, inclusive, and fair criminal justice system. FORRI is looking for a level 5 or a level 6 student for a temporary research internship. During this research internship the research conducted intends to serve as the foundation work for a student dissertation while encouraging critical analysis, multi-disciplinary interaction with various academics, and general exposure to a research culture.
The selected Student Intern will use some new LJMU equipment that has the potential to obtain fingerprints from a range of materials which are both reflective, curved and may have difficult backgrounds. The project work will be to investigate the applicability of this new equipment in recovering fingerprints from these difficult surfaces.
Project Outcomes:
The proposed work is to use a novel technique to recover usable ridge detail initially from eggs before expanding to feathers. A range of size and colours of eggs, including ones with speckling, will be used before looking at factors which may affect the subsequent recover and analysis of the prints. These factors will include environmental factors such as soil and rain, but may also include other factors such as whether the eggs have had any coating or been washed, depending on their use.
To achieve this the equipment will be trialled using the full range of wavelengths available both before (untreated) and after ‘normal’ treatment of the substrate. This treatment may include the use of powders and superglue as both have had some success using the larger system, although not trialled on these samples.
Feathers will be similarly studied if time allows. Here there is a greater difficulty in regards to the patterns and multiple colours but the use of 254nm wavelengths has shown success on other patterned background. This is a completely novel use of the equipment which has not been studied previously and will provide data which may lead to publications and certainly to further research projects at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.
The proposed work will directly support both the Crime Scene Analysis Network and the Trace evidence analysis aspect of FORRI, and will be a novel use of an emerging technique.
Duties and responsibilities
Duties and key result areas:
The most widely accepted and traditional method of identifying potential perpetrators of crimes is the use of fingerprinting. Methods are available for the most commonly encountered surfaces but, for some, there are still problems in obtaining usable prints. This is particularly true for curved or reflective surfaces, and those with ‘busy’ backgrounds which make it difficult to visualise the prints. Additionally, some of the chemicals used are being phased out due to their levels of toxicity and it is not always possible to find acceptable replacements. Further techniques to deal with these problems are required.
We have recently acquired new equipment which has the potential to deal with at least some of the problems noted above. This equipment, an FSIS backpack system, has the potential to obtain fingerprints from a range of materials which are both reflective, curved and may have difficult backgrounds. This is through the use of hyperspectral imaging over a wide range of wavelengths from UV including 254nm, up to Infra red imaging at over 1100nm. A laboratory only system is available and has been shown to obtain fingerprints on some difficult substrates but the work has not yet been duplicated using the backpack system. Additionally, further work is needed on other substrates including ones of particular interested to the applicant.
At present few studies have been published on recovery of fingerprints from wildlife samples and particularly birds eggs and feathers. However, wildlife crime relating to birds, whether that is stealing eggs, persecution or illegal trading is increasing so a means of obtaining usable prints is needed. The Intern will trial the use of the equipment mentioned on a range of bird eggs initially before expanding this to include feathers. The factors which may affect recovery of ridge detail, such as various environmental factors will be considered.
The Interns will conduct all of the investigative/research/production work required to develop the materials listed above, supported by the Supervising Team. The students who undertakes the Intern role will develop in a number of areas, including:
- Research skills
- Time management
- Problem solving
- Communication skills
- Working with complex information
- Producing work to professional standards
Skills and experience
The internship student will develop their experimental procedures skills and knowledge, through the design and implementation of the various experiments. Furthermore, they will learn new skills through using the equipment. Their understanding of research ethics and risk assessments will be greatly enhanced along side teamworking with both academics, technicians and postgraduate students.
The duties and responsibilities highlighted in this Job Description are indicative and may vary over time. Post holders are expected to undertake other duties and responsibilities relevant to the nature, level and extent of the post and the grade has been established on this basis.
Location
Byrom Street LJMU
Additional information
Ringfenced to level 5 & 6 LJMU students only
Deadline for submission of applications is midnight on Thursday 2nd May 2024.
Interviews TBC
Apply for job