Dr Kirstie Scott
School of Biological and Environmental Sciences
Faculty of Science
Email: K.R.Scott@ljmu.ac.uk
Telephone: 0151 231 8078
I am a Senior Lecturer in Forensic Bioscience at LJMU with a keen research interest in forensic ecology and environmental trace evidence analysis. My primary research interest and expertise relates to diatom analysis in forensic investigations - both as an indicator for drowning and as a form of environmental trace evidence to ascertain links between persons and scenes of forensic interest. I have past experience and am available to advise and consult on crime investigations in the UK and internationally as an expert witness.
My wider research interests include environmental DNA analysis in forensic contexts (trace evidence, post-mortem interval estimations, wildlife crime, rural crime), aquatic forensic investigations, palynology, and soil forensic analysis. Within these areas, I supervise several PhD students alongside colleagues in the Schools of Biological & Environmental Sciences and Pharmacy & Biomolecular Sciences and in collaboration with stakeholders including the James Hutton Institute, University of Central Lancashire, South Wales Police, and Police Scotland.
I am the Programme Leader and Level 6 Year Tutor for the BSc Biology degree. I teach on a range of undergraduate and postgraduate modules including 6214NATSCI Forensic Bioscience (module leader), 4202NATSCI Practical Skills for Biology, 6207NATSCI Current Topics in Zoology, 7101FSBMOL Trace Evidence Analysis, and 7105FSBMOL Forensic Bioscience. I supervise undergraduate and postgraduate research projects within forensic ecology and trace evidence analysis.
Degrees
2017, University College London, United Kingdom, PhD, Environmental Forensic Science
2013, University College London, United Kingdom, MRes, Security and Crime Science
2011, University of Oxford, United Kingdom, M.A. (Oxon), Geography
Certifications
2019, Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom, PGCert Academic Practice
Academic appointments
Programme Leader Biology, Liverpool John Moores University, 2024 - present
Senior Lecturer Forensic Bioscience, Liverpool John Moores University, 2017 - present
Teaching Fellow Forensic Science, University College London, 2016 - 2017
Journal article
Stevens A, Scott KR. 2025. The impact of environmental variability and clothing type on the transfer of marine diatoms as trace evidence indicators in coastal locations Forensic Science International, 370 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Lewis M, Lainé K, Dawnay L, Lamont D, Scott K, Mariani S, Hӓnfling B, Dawnay N. 2024. The forensic potential of environmental DNA (eDNA) in freshwater wildlife crime investigations: From research to application Science & Justice, 64 :443-454 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Cubbage HR, Macey C, Scott KR. 2023. Macroscopic assessment of environmental trace evidence dynamics in forensic settings Science & Justice, 63 :376-386 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Scott KR, Jones VJ, Cameron NG, Young JM, Morgan RM. 2021. Freshwater diatom persistence on clothing II: Further analysis of species assemblage dynamics over investigative timescales Forensic Science International, 326 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Scott KR, Jones VJ, Cameron NG, Young JM, Morgan RM. 2021. Freshwater diatom persistence on clothing I: A quantitative assessment of trace evidence dynamics over time. Forensic Science International, 325 :110898-110898 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Scott KR, Morgan RM, Cameron NG, Jones VJ. 2018. Freshwater diatom transfer to clothing: Spatial and temporal influences on trace evidence in forensic reconstructions Science and Justice, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Morgan RM, Scott KR, Ainley J, Bull PA. 2018. Journey history reconstruction from the soils and sediments on footwear: An empirical approach Science and Justice, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Scott KR, Morgan RM, Jones VJ, Dudley A, Cameron NG, Bull PA. 2017. The Value of an Empirical Approach for the Assessment of Diatoms as Environmental Trace Evidence in Forensic Limnology Archaeological and Environmental Forensic Science, 1 :49-78 DOI Publisher Url
Levin EA, Morgan RM, Scott KR, Jones VJ. 2017. The transfer of diatoms from freshwater to footwear materials: An experimental study assessing transfer, persistence, and extraction methods for forensic reconstruction Science & Justice, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Scott KR, Morgan RM, Jones VJ, Cameron NG. 2014. The transferability of diatoms to clothing and the methods appropriate for their collection and analysis in forensic geoscience Forensic Science International, 241 :127-137 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Poster
De Bruyn C, Scott K, Panter H, Bezombes F, Ralebitso Senior K. 2024. From decay to discovery: The necrobiome's role in clandestine grave detection AMI MMEG: Molecular Microbial Ecology Group (https://appliedmicrobiology.org/ems-event-calendar/past-events/mmeg24.html)
De Bruyn C, Scott K, Panter H, Bezombes F, Ralebitso Senior K. 2024. Unseen connections: Why multidisciplinary approaches matter in identification and detection of human remains British Association for Forensic Anthropology (BAFA) Winter conference and AGM 2024. Conference Theme: "Bridging the gap between academia and practice". Wolfson College, University of Oxford
Internet publication
Scott KR. 2016. How microscopic algae are helping forensic teams catch criminals
Editorial/letter to the editor
Scott KR, Morgan RM, Jones VJ, Cameron NG. 2015. Reply to A. Dragutinovic, 'A reply to: The transferability of diatoms to clothing and the methods appropriate for their collection and analysis in forensic geoscience Forensic sci. Int. 241 (2014) 127-137' FORENSIC SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL, 247 :E26-E27 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Conference publication
Morgan R, McCulloch G, Scott K. 2013. Developing the forensic applications of the organic component of sediments 2nd International Conference on Engineering Geophysics, DOI
Other invited event:
Quaker House, Liverpool, Merseyside Archaeology Society Evening Lecture: New research by Liverpool students. Talk presented by Cherene de Bruyn. Supervisors: Dr. K. Scott, Dr. H. Panter, Dr F. Bezombes, and Dr. K. Ralebitso-Senior., Graveyard Shift: From Grave Relocation to Grave Detection.. 2025
Association of Anatomical Pathology Technology, Invited Lecture, Diatom analysis in forensic pathology. 2023
University College London, Guest lecture, Metagenomics in forensic reconstructions. 2022
University of Illinois Chicago, Invited lecture, Forensic biology: an insight. 2020
University of Adelaide Environment Institute, Invited lecture, Diatom analysis as a tool for crime reconstruction in freshwater forensic contexts. 2019
Staffordshire University, Invited lecture, Forensic ecology - the case for diatom analysis. 2019
University of Huddersfield, Invited lecture, Environmental forensics - research and casework. 2019
University College London, Invited lecture, Forensic geoscience in aquatic environments. 2018
University College London, Invited lecture, Forensic palynology. 2018
University College London, Invited lecture, Aquatic forensic geoscience. 2017
University of Portsmouth, Invited lecture, Environmental forensic science. 2017
University of Central Lancashire, Invited lecture, Environmental forensic science: The case for diatom analysis. 2017
UCL Environmental Change Research Centre, Invited lecture, Diatoms as environmental indicators in forensic science. 2016
The University of Oxford Centre for the Environment, Invited lecture, Biological analyses of soils, sediments, and earth surface materials in forensic geoscience.. 2016
Conference presentation:
Poster presentation, Southampton, AMI MMEG: Molecular Microbial Ecology Group 2024, de Bruyn C, Scott K, Panter H, Bezombes F, and Ralebitso-Senior TK, (2024). From decay to discovery: The necrobiome's role in clandestine grave detection, https://appliedmicrobiology.org/ems-event-calendar/past-events/mmeg24.html. 2024
Poster presentation, Wolfson College, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK, British Association for Forensic Anthropology (BAFA) Winter conference and AGM 2024. Conference Theme: "Bridging the gap between academia and practice’", de Bruyn C, Scott K, Panter H, Bezombes F, and Ralebitso-Senior TK, (2024). Unseen connections: Why multidisciplinary approaches matter in identification and detection of human remains.. 2024
Poster presentation, Leeds, UK, Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences Annual Meeting, Evaluating the efficiency of 16S rRNA and rbcL DNA markers for the discrimination of environmental samples in forensic reconstructions. 2024
Poster presentation, Riga, Latvia, 11th ENFSI APST Working Group Annual Meeting, Exploring the impact of environmental variability and clothing type on diatom trace evidence transfer in coastal locations. 2024
Oral presentation, Zurich, Switzerland, 10th ENFSI APST Working Group Annual Meeting, Massively Parallel Sequencing (MPS) as a novel tool to support forensic diatom analysis. 2023
Oral presentation, American Academy of Forensic Sciences, Massively Parallel Sequencing (MPS) of diatom and bacterial DNA: a new approach for freshwater trace evidence analysis. 2021
Oral presentation, 22nd Triennial Meeting of the International Association of Forensic Sciences, Diatom DNA: development of a novel MPS protocol for trace evidence analysis. 2020
Oral presentation, 22nd Triennial Meeting of the International Association of Forensic Sciences, Integrating microscopy with multiple molecular markers to enhance the exclusionary analysis of freshwater forensic samples. 2020
Oral presentation, 22nd Triennial Meeting of the International Association of Forensic Sciences, The recovery of diatom traces from external human tissues – implications for forensic taphonomy in freshwater environments. 2020
Oral presentation, London, UK, Forensic Archaeology, Anthropology, & Ecology Symposium, Aquatic ecology in forensic science and crime reconstruction. 2017
Oral presentation, Auckland, New Zealand, International Symposium of the Australia and New Zealand Forensic Science Society, A multidisciplinary approach to the collection and analysis of aquatic trace evidence from clothing exhibits. 2016
Oral presentation, Auckland, New Zealand, International Symposium of the Australia and New Zealand Forensic Science Society, Examining the temporal variation of diatoms as trace evidence indicators: implications for forensic ecology.. 2016
Oral presentation, Auckland, New Zealand, International Symposium of the Australia and New Zealand Forensic Science Society, Recommendations for the forensic investigation of freshwater crime scene environments.. 2016
Oral presentation, Prague, Czech Republilc, 7th European Academy of Forensic Science conference, The transfer and persistence of diatom particulates on clothing: forensic implications for the analysis of aquatic trace evidence. 2015
Oral presentation, San Antonio, Texas, US, National Institute of Justice Impression Pattern and Trace Evidence Symposium, Developing the techniques available for the collection and analysis of forensic trace evidence in freshwater crime scene environments. 2015
Oral presentation, Chicago, Illinois, Inter/Micro conference, McCrone Research Institute, The use of optical techniques for the analysis of diatom traces in forensic investigation. 2015
Oral presentation, London, UK, Forensic Geoscience: Future Horizons, The Geological Society, The forensic implications of diatom seasonality: directing a new technique for the ecological assessment of trace evidence in forensic geoscience.. 2014
Oral presentation, Leicester, UK, The changing face and pace of trace evidence: The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences Annual Autumn Conference, Forensic applications of diatom analysis: a ‘new’ technique for the assessment of environmental trace evidence.. 2014
Oral presentation, Hay-on-Wye, Wales, British Diatom Meeting, Forensic implications of diatom seasonality: the transfer and persistence of diatom particulates on clothing. 2014
Oral presentation, Adelaide, Australia, International Symposium of the Australia and New Zealand Forensic Science Society, The application of diatom analysis in forensic geoscience: developing a new technique for the comparative assessment of trace evidence.. 2014
Oral presentation, The Lake District, UK, British Diatom Meeting, Diatoms in forensic geoscience: an investigation into the transfer and collection of aquatic and terrestrial diatoms from clothing for use in forensic investigation.. 2013
Other Professional Activity:
PhD Secondary Supervisor: The detection and investigation of human remains using forensic ecology and remote sensing approaches. Cherene de Bruyn. 2024
PhD Principal Supervisor: Development of an environmental forensic toolkit to support crime investigations within Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) across the UK. Researcher: Alice Stevens. 2024
PhD Secondary Supervisor: Development and application of forensic tools to support the conservation of endangered freshwater pearl mussels (Margaritifera margaritifera) in the United Kingdom. Researcher: Matthew Lewis. 2023
PhD Principal Supervisor: The development of Massively Parallel Sequencing (MPS) approaches for the identification, comparison, and exclusion of bioenvironmental trace indicators in forensic investigations. Researcher: Harry Kelman. 2022
PhD Secondary Supervisor: An Investigation into Soil Diatom Communities and Their Potential Contribution as Trace Evidence Indicators in Forensic Science Reconstructions. Researcher: Sean Keeley (Wrexham Glyndwr University). 2021
PhD Secondary Supervisor: Natural Samplers for Marine Environmental DNA Monitoring. Researcher: Alice Cunnington. 2020
Research Grants Awarded:
Grant value (£): £2353, Research Support, Forensic Research Institute (FORRI), Dr Komang Ralebitso-Senior, Dr Heather Panter, Dr Kirstie Scott, and Dr Frederic Bezombes, Research Visit to the University of Central Lancashire’s Taphonomic Research in Anthropology: Centre for Experimental Studies (TRACES) Facility, as part of Cherene de Bruyns PhD research.. 2024
Duration of research project: 3 months, Grant value (£): 3,987, LJMU Biological & Environmental Sciences Research Capability Fund, Exploring soil microbial diversity with changing land use in urban wildlife garden environments.. 2022
Duration of research project: 3 years, Grant value (£): 51,327, Liverpool John Moores University: Faculty of Science ECR PhD Studentship, Development of Massively Parallel Sequencing (MPS) Approaches for the Identification, Comparison, and Exclusion of Bioenvironmental Trace Indicators in Forensic Investigations. 2022
Grant value (£): 9,998, LJMU Early Career Researcher development seed corn funding, Next-generation sequencing: developing a new tool for diatom analysis in forensic ecology.. 2019
Grant value (£): 6,003, LJMU Early Career Researcher Collaborative Fellowship funding, University of Adelaide, Flinders University, Protocols for freshwater DNA analysis to support the comparison and exclusion of forensic trace evidence samples.. 2018
Media Coverage:
BBC - Body on the Beach: What Happened to Annie? 2023
IFLScience - Dead Bodies Can Reveal Details Of Their Death Through Microscopic Diatoms 2023
Plant Crimes - Death by Drowning 2021
How microscopic algae are helping forensic teams catch criminals 2016
Industrial connections:
Police Scotland, Independent consultant. 2019
Teaching qualification:
Fellow (Higher Education Academy). 2019
Editorial boards:
Editorial Board, Forensic Science International: Synergy, https://www.journals.elsevier.com/forensic-science-international-synergy. 2018
Conference organisation:
Organising Committee, Forensic Geoscience: Future Horizons. 2014