Dr Maddie Robles
| Post Nominals | ACSFS |
|---|---|
| Biography | I have a PhD in Forensic Science and Forensic Anthropology with the Department of Security and Crime Science and UCL Centre for Forensic Sciences. I hold an MRes degree in Security and Crime Science from UCL which has given me a broad knowledge across crime reconstruction issues, and an MSc from the University of Edinburgh in Forensic Anthropology and an undergraduate degree in anthropology from Sarah Lawrence College in New York. I hold active membership with several relevant professional bodies, including associate membership for the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences as well as the British Association of Biological Anthropology and Osteoarchaeology and British Association for Forensic Anthropology (BAFA). |
| Research Interests | I have directed and collaborated on two major interdisciplinary forensic science research projects with colleagues across UCL including the Institute of Archaeology, which have resulted in 6 presentations at major international conferences (including American Academy of Forensic Sciences) and three first author publications in international peer-reviewed journals (Impact Factor: 0.86 and 1.188). The successful collaborations resulted with an invitation to present our publication as a workshop at the BAFA Virtual Conference (2020). The final publication is due in the coming months (2021) which will highlight the utility of forensic anthropology sex estimation methods in 3D modelling and using open-source software and data for research. I have two papers in preparation for submission and an ambitious plan for developing my existing international networks within forensic anthropology and forensic science more broadly to develop projects in 3D modelling and victim identification. My current research interests have laid a foundation where the trajectory of my research is aimed towards testing new technologies such as 3D modelling or augmented/virtual reality into forensic anthropology and crime scene science. |
| Teaching and Learning | Lecturer in Forensic Science (University of the West of England, August 2021) My role as a lecturer in Forensic Science involves leading a range of lecture and practical sessions across the (Level M) Crime Scene Investigation Module. My teaching is supported by both current research and casework material to provide the most well-rounded learning experience for both face-to-face sessions and virtual environments. The topics covered in this module include fingermark and footwear recovery; packaging; documentation; outdoor crime scenes etc. I also supervise undergraduate and postgraduate research projects across a range forensic science topic involving lab and desk-based research that contribute to the growing knowledge of Forensic Science. Seminar Leader for MSc Module ‘Designing and Doing Research’ (2019-2020) I led 30 MSc students in various practical and critically engaging tasks to better understand strengths and limitations of various research methods and understand their overall design to better inform their dissertations. This included reviewing and critiquing scientific articles; developing research questions; hypotheses; writing a literature review as well as leading informed discussion about the key components of research. This course also required online engagement for the distance learners where I critiqued and offered feedback to students’ weekly assignments through the Moodle discussion board. This experience improved my leadership skills and ability to communicate advance research methods and theoretical frameworks to students from various academic backgrounds in both virtual and face-to-face environments. Teaching Assistant for MSc module ‘Practices of Crime Scene Investigation and Expert Testimony’ (2018-2020) This course provided a variety of CSI investigative practices and techniques via lectures, workshops and practical sessions. My responsibility as a postgraduate teaching assistant included preparing the workshop materials as well as guiding the students throughout their practical sessions. This also required preparation of the lecture and tutorial materials for the module convener on Moodle and Blackboard. This involved creating reading lists; recording and posting Lecturecast; preparing Turnitin; posting important lecture material; and communicating with students when necessary. Therefore, I am greatly familiar with online teaching and adhering lecture and teaching materials to UCL policy. I also prepared and marked the final examinations for each student which required a speedy and smooth transfer to a virtual setting as result from the unforeseen UCL closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This was particularly challenging as the transfer to the virtual environment required reworking the assessment criteria and expectations to fit the new circumstances while maintaining a fair but challenging assessment. |