Kevin Farrugia

Dr. Kevin Farrugia is an Associate Professor in Forensic Chemistry at De Montfort University, affiliated with the Leicester School of Pharmacy within the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences. He teaches forensic chemistry courses and supervises postgraduate research students.

• B.Sc. (Hons) in Chemistry & Physics, University of Malta
• M.Sc. in Forensic Science, University of Strathclyde
• Ph.D. in Forensic Science, University of Strathclyde
• Pg. Cert. in Higher Education, Abertay University

His research focuses on the enhancement of latent fingermarks and footwear impressions, with a strong emphasis on alternative and greener solvents, vacuum-based development methods, and integrated multi-evidence approaches. He actively investigates techniques such as vacuum metal deposition, UV imaging, and chemical enhancement on challenging substrates like thermal paper, leather, and biodegradable bags.

His recent publications demonstrate a consistent trend in advancing latent mark detection through pseudo-operational trials and method optimization, particularly in the areas of cyanoacrylate fuming, fluorescent techniques, and solvent-free processes. His work bridges laboratory research with real-world forensic applicability.

Scientific Awards and Recognitions:

• DMU Teacher Fellow

Professional Memberships and Service:

• Chartered Chemist (CChem), Royal Society of Chemistry
• Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)
• Member, Editorial Board, Journal of Forensic Identification
• Reviewer for Analytical Chemistry, Science & Justice, Forensic Science International, and others
• Member of the International Association of Identification, Fingerprint Society, IFRG, and AAFS Standards Board

Kevin Farrugia supervises current research students including Leisa Nichols-Drew, Joel Able, and Sophie Taylor, and has secured both internal and externally funded research projects. He is actively involved in professional development, regularly presenting at international forensic conferences and contributing to benchmarking standards in forensic education.

He is a key figure in advancing practical and sustainable forensic chemistry techniques with real operational impact.