Simon Lewis
Associate Professor in Forensic and Analytical Chemistry
Department of Applied Chemistry
Associate Professor Simon Lewis cites a key reason for joining Curtin as being the unique opportunities for research collaboration, particularly with the Chemistry Centre (WA) and the Western Australian Police, that will occur at the Curtin's new Resources and Chemistry Precinct now being built.
His research group at Curtin's Nanochemistry Research Institute specialises in chemical techniques applied to forensic analysis. A key focus of their research is to improve methods of separation and detection for forensic analysis. These include applications of chemiluminescence to the detection of drugs and explosives, and capillary electrophoresis for the rapid separation of illicit substances and toxicology.
The research will assist in the development of portable instrumentation and methods for on-site analysis of explosive residues, chemical and biological warfare agents and illicit drugs. The demand for this type of development is high due to increasing overseas deployments of forensics investigative teams.
Associate Professor Lewis' research also includes investigations into decomposition chemistry and chemical methods for the visualisation of marks and impressions. The latter project combines analytical chemistry, spectroscopy and synthetic chemistry to develop new reagents that are safer than current fingermark detection technologies. The group's research is undertaken with various forensic science industry partners including the Australian Federal Police, Western Australia Police, Forensic Science South Australia and the Victoria Police Forensic Services Department.
Associate Professor Lewis has used his role as Coordinator of the Forensic Science Program to create a learning environment where scientists and practitioners also collaborate. For example, his current forensics program has Western Australia Police forensic investigators working alongside undergraduate and postgraduate research students on projects that broaden the expertise of both groups.
... his current forensics program has Western Australia Police forensic investigators working alongside undergraduate and postgraduate research students on projects that broaden the expertise of both groups.
Associate Professor Lewis has published more than 50 articles in refereed journals, and is a regular referee for several international analytical chemistry journals including the Journal of Forensic Sciences and Talanta. He gained his PhD from the University of Plymouth in 1994, and joined Curtin in 2006 after 12 years at Deakin University.
