DrBianca Szkuta

Bianca is a Senior Lecturer in Forensic Science specialising in forensic biology. Her research focuses on understanding the factors that influence the transfer, persistence, prevalence and recovery (TPPR) of biological material, and how these factors affect the interpretation of biological evidence in forensic casework.

Bianca completed her PhD in collaboration with the Victoria Police Forensic Services Department (VPFSD), investigating variables affecting DNA TPPR. She subsequently held an Alfred Deakin Postdoctoral Fellowship and an Industry Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, the latter jointly based at Deakin University and the VPFSD

Through her research and sustained collaboration with forensic practitioners, Bianca investigates the multitude of factors that influence the behaviour and recovery of biological material, with the aim of generating information and data that can inform forensic practice and the interpretation and evaluation of biological evidence.

Her areas of expertise span forensic biology, including:

• Forensic DNA analysis and interpretation
• Evaluation and reporting of biological evidence
• DNA transfer, persistence and prevalence
• DNA recovery and substrate effects
• DNA contamination and quality assurance
• Biological material detection and recovery