Forensic Data Science Laboratory
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Master’s level online CPD training: Concepts of Forensic Inference & Statistics

Next start date: September 2025

PhD positions

The PhD research should address a real problem in forensic science and should be aligned with the research programme of the lab.


Before sending an enquiry, please read this advice.

About Us

The Forensic Data Science Laboratory conducts research to develop methods for evaluation of forensic evidence that are based on relevant data, quantitative measurements, and statistical models; methods that:

1. are transparent and reproducible;
2. are intrinsically resistant to cognitive bias;
3. use the logically correct framework for interpretation of evidence (the likelihood-ratio framework); and
4. are empirically calibrated and validated under casework conditions.

In order to develop methods that provide solutions for real forensic-evaluation problems, solutions that have a high probability of actually being adopted in casework, members of the Laboratory conduct research in collaboration with researchers and practitioners who have expertise in particular branches of forensic science.

Members of the Laboratory also conduct research on calibration and validation of forensic-evaluation systems, and on communication of forensic science to courts, research whose results are applicable across many branches of forensic science.

In addition to research, members of the Laboratory provide training in forensic inference and statistics to forensic practitioners and to lawyers, and contribute to the development of standards and guidelines for forensic science.

Members

Selected Publications

Morrison G.S., Elliott S., Guiness J., Sonden L., Syndercombe Court D. (2025). A guide to ISO 21043 Forensic Sciences from the perspective of the forensic-data-science paradigm. Science & Justice, 65, 101304. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101304



Morrison G.S. (2022). Advancing a paradigm shift in evaluation of forensic evidence: The rise of forensic data science. Forensic Science International: Synergy, 5, 100270.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsisyn.2022.100270

Research and Development Projects

Calculation of Likelihood Ratios

• methods for calculation of likelihood ratios
  
  

Calibration and Validation of Forensic-Evaluation Systems

• empirical calibration of forensic-comparison systems
• empirical validation of forensic-comparison systems
  
  

E³ Forensic-Speech-Science System (E³FS³)

• standards, guidelines, and standard operating procedures
• data-collection protocols and software
• open-code software tools based on state-of-the-art automatic-speaker-recognition technology
• library of validation reports
• training for practitioners
  
  

Speaker Recognition / Speaker Identification by Human Listeners

speaker recognition by earwitnesses
speaker identification by judges and juries

Firearms

• comparison of fired cartridge cases
• data collection
• development and validation of feature-based methods for calculation of likelihood ratios
  
  

Forensic Anthropology

• development and validation of methods for calculation of likelihood ratios
  
  

Forensic Comparison of Facial Images

data collection
development and validation of methods for calculation of likelihood ratios

Cell-Site Analysis

• data collection
• development and validation of methods for calculation of likelihood ratios
• training for practitioners
  
  

Communicating Forensic Science

• understanding of likelihood ratios by legal-decision makers
• understanding of validation by legal-decision makers
  
  

Training and Events

Master’s level online CPD training:

– Concepts of Forensic Inference & Statistics

• Next start date: September 2025
  
  

In-person / online talk:

– You the jury - Is this case a prosecutor fallacy or not?

• In this event, Nigel Marriott (CStat MAE) will give an interactive talk on the Prosecutor’s Fallacy. He will describe a case he has worked on as a statistical expert and the audience will have the chance to vote on the likelihood of guilt as each piece of evidence is described. He will also discuss the Sally Clark case and why he thinks statisticians have drawn the wrong lesson from this case.
  
  
• 20 October 2025, 17:00–19:00 BST
  
  This event is organized by the Royal Statistical Society Statistics and the Law Section and by the Royal Statistical Society West Midlands Local Group.
  
  It is hosted by Aston University’s Forensic Data Science Laboratory.
  
  More information and registration link to attend in person.
  
  More information and registration link to attend online.
  
  

European Academy of Forensic Science Conference:

• 26–30 May 2025
  
  

– Workshop: Introduction to the likelihood-ratio framework for evaluation of forensic evidence

• Geoffrey Stewart Morrison
  
  Slides
  
  

– Workshop: Calibration and validation of likelihood-ratio systems

• Geoffrey Stewart Morrison
  
  Slides
  
  

– Poster: Stop using similarity-score-based likelihood ratios

• Rafael Oliveira Ribeiro, Philip Weber, Geoffrey Stewart Morrison
  
  Poster
  
  

1 day CPD workshops:

– Introduction to the likelihood ratio framework for evaluation of forensic evidence

• Birmingham, UK
  
  
• Future dates TBA
  
  

– Concepts of likelihood-ratio calculation + Calibration and validation of likelihood-ratio systems

• Birmingham, UK
  
  
• Future dates TBA
  
  
  

Reading Group:

We have regular meetings where lab members and invited guests discuss recently published papers related to forensic inference and statistics.

https://forensic-data-science.net/

This webpage is maintained by Geoffrey Stewart Morrison and was last updated 2025-09-19