Marie Morelato

Dr. Marie Morelato is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), affiliated with the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences and the Centre for Forensic Science. She holds a PhD in drug intelligence from UTS (2015) and a prestigious Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (2015–2019). Her research focuses on forensic intelligence, illicit drug data analysis, and organized crime systems, emphasizing data triangulation from sources like cryptomarkets, seizures, and wastewater. She teaches courses such as Forensic Intelligence and serves as Course Director for the Bachelor of Forensic Science program.

Marie has received awards including the UTS Teaching and Learning Award (2022) and recognition for contributions to student learning (2024). She leads grants on drug surveillance, including the Residue and Post Overdose Substance Testing (RePOST) project and studies on opioid-related harms. Her editorial roles include Associate Editor for Forensic Science International and contributions to the International Association of Forensic Sciences.

Her work bridges forensic science with intelligence-led policing, advancing methodologies like machine learning for crime scene analysis and portable NIR drug detection. She collaborates with agencies like the Australian Federal Police and emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to tackle complex criminal systems.