Location | University of Western Sydney, Graduate Research School |
Discipline | |
App. deadline | 15/04/2016 |
Funding |
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Project ID | 001 |
Eligibility | Open to international applicants |
Development of person-portable analytical methods for the rapid on-siteidentification of hazardous organics at fire scenes
Forensic Scienceresearch in the School of Science and Health is strongly focussed towardsthe development of field-based methods for the preliminary testing ofsamples at crime scenes and environmental incidents. The aim is to bridgethe gap between the scene and laboratory analysis.
We seek a talentedand dedicated PhD candidate to undertake research into the development ofperson-portable Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) methods forthe rapid on-site identification of hazardous organics at fire scenes. ThisPhD scholarship is partly funded by a three-year NSW Environmental Trustgrant and partly by Western Sydney University.
Factory and similarfires are an ongoing issue for the protection of water-dependent ecosystemsand human health. It is critical that highly-discriminating and rapidon-site monitoring tools are available for the detection and identificationof toxics at low levels, to allow for quick, reliable advice tostakeholders, and to ensure fire scenes are assessed and managedappropriately. Such tools are not currently available. The projectaddresses this by evaluating an advanced person-portable analytical methodthat can identify low-level toxic compounds in water and air samples inminutes.
The project is in collaboration with the NSW EnvironmentProtection Authority (EPA), NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH)and Fire & Rescue NSW (FRNSW). The PhD is based at the Western SydneyUniversity Hawkesbury campus with frequent day travel to locations in andaround the larger Sydney metropolitan area.
The objectives of theresearch are to:
•Define and evaluate field-based,highly-discriminating sampling and analysis protocols that can be used bythe OEH, EPA and FRNSW to rapidly and efficiently investigate and managefire scenes;
•Improve our understanding of the release ofhazardous compounds
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