Research
Wildlife forensic DNA degradation, studied under real pressure.
My MSc work studies wildlife forensic DNA degradation, degraded blood evidence, processed wildlife products, and the limits of species identification when samples are exposed, mixed, or compromised.
MSc Wildlife Forensics: DNA degradation and species identification
My current MSc project sits where forensic genetics meets field conditions, processed products, mixtures, wildlife crime, and the limits of interpretation.
Core field
Wildlife forensic genetics
Main problem
Degraded biological evidence
Application
Forensic species identification
Current MSc Research
What happens to evidence before the result?
Chapter 2 looks at blood and DNA degradation across surfaces such as metal, wood, cotton, and rubberized car mat material under indoor, semi-extreme, and extreme outdoor conditions. Chapter 3 moves into processed products and mixtures. Chapter 4 pulls the interpretation together.
Research Components
A practical view of the thesis themes, with room to add posters, presentations, publications, and thesis updates as the research matures.
Blood and DNA degradation across metal, wood, cotton, and rubberized car mat substrates
Indoor, semi-extreme, and extreme outdoor exposure conditions
mtDNA barcoding for wildlife species identification
STR and microsatellite limitations for degraded or low-template samples
qPCR and multiplex qPCR for DNA quantity, inhibition, and sample quality
Processed wildlife products, mixed species samples, and species identification bias
Methods
Methods that matter when samples are imperfect.
The common thread is forensic restraint: what can still be tested, what the result can support, and where degradation, contamination, mixtures, or method bias limit the claim.
mtDNA Barcoding
A robust route for species identification when nuclear DNA is limited or the sample is environmentally stressed.
STR / Microsatellite Profiling
Useful for individualisation, but sensitive to degradation, low template DNA, contamination, and interpretation limits.
qPCR / Multiplex qPCR
Used to assess DNA quantity, inhibition, and whether a sample is likely to survive downstream testing.
Substrate and Mixture Testing
Testing how surfaces, outdoor exposure, processed matrices, and mixed species samples shape the final result.
Research Interests
Questions I want to keep sharpening.
Wildlife forensic geneticsWildlife forensic DNA degradationDegraded blood evidenceSpecies identificationmtDNA barcodingSTR and microsatellite profilingqPCR and multiplex qPCRSubstrate and environmental exposureProcessed wildlife productsMixed-species DNA samplesForensic interpretation