Post-Doctoral Research Assistant in MALDI Mass Spectrometry Imaging of fingermarks

Vacancy Reference Number

086565

Organisation:

Sheffield Hallam University

Closing Date

23 Nov 2022

Salary

£36,386 to £40,931 (pro rata) dependent on experience

Address

Sheffield Hallam University, City Campus, Howard Street S1 1WB Sheffield, UK

Duration

6 months

The Role

Sheffield Hallam University has led the development of Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionisation Mass Spectrometry Imaging (MALDI-MSI) to detect and map molecules contained in latent and patent fingermarks, directly onto the ridge pattern. Fifteen years of research have led this technology to be occasionally used in casework and hence to be very close to a systematic deployment into an operational setting.

Within this post, the PDRA will analyse fingermarks from archived, live and cold cases provided by Police Forces in the UK to recover the highest number of identifying fingerprint minutiae on our state of the art MRT SELECT Series MALDI qTOF Mass Spectrometer (Waters Corp. Manchester, UK).

The researcher will rationalise and summarise the operational capabilities of MALDI MSI to provide full, complementary or additional ridge detail across over 100 fingermarks characterised by several and cross-talking variables.

The post is funded by the Home Office through the Forensic Capability Network managed by Dorset police. The candidate will be required to provide punctual monthly reports on the casework fingermark analysed and professionally liaise with the government and policing bodies involved in the project.

It is paramount that the candidate has expertise in the use and development of MALDI MS Imaging methods or, in alternative, of SIMS MSI or DESI MSI. Basic chemometrics knowledge is desirable.

Further Information

For further information and to apply, please visit the relevant SHU website https://bit.ly/3Dlhcc0

Contact Details

Simona Francese, Professor of Forensic and Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometery, s.francese@shu.ac.uk