PhD project

'A better understanding of environmental impact through ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry and organic geochemistry'

I am a 3rd year student on the Central England NERC Training Alliance (CENTA) doctoral programme. My research is focused on the analysis of contaminated sediments from urban waterways using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR MS). I am exploring how FTICR MS complements routine geochemical analytical methods for understanding the environmental impact of anthropogenic activities.

This project is funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and sponsored by the British Geological Survey (BGS).

• http://www.centa.org.uk/
• https://nerc.ukri.org/
• https://www.bgs.ac.uk/

Latest blog

You can read my BGS blog by following the link below:

• Understanding environmental impact through the study of sediments - British Geological Survey (bgs.ac.uk)

Qualifications and memberships

• 2014 | Chartered Chemist (CChem) | Royal Society of Chemistry
• 2011 | Member (MRSC) | Royal Society of Chemistry
• 2004 | BSc dual hons Chemistry & Physical Geography | Keele University

Previous research experience

• 2008 - 2018 | Fingermark visualisation research and development | Centre for Applied Science and Technology

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9611-5029

Publications

• I.J. Vander Meulen, R.P. Downham, L. Alostad, K.M. Peru, D.W. McMartin, M.P. Barrow, J.V. Headley, Advances in Fourier transform mass spectrometry forensic tools for naphthenic acid fraction compounds in oil sands environmental samples and crude oil, in: The chemistry of oil and petroleum products, Mervin Fingas (Ed.), Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter, 2022, pp. 127-176
• R. Downham, V. Sears, L. Hussey, B. Chu, B. Jones, Fingermark visualisation with iron oxide powder suspension: The variable effectiveness of iron (II/III) oxide powders, and Tween® 20 as an alternative to Triton™ X-100, Forensic Science International (2018), DOI:10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.09.012
• R. Downham, E. Brewer, R. King, V. Sears, Sequential processing strategies for fingermark visualisation on uncirculated £10 (Bank of England) polymer banknotes, Forensic Science International (2018), DOI:10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.04.018
• R. Downham, E. Brewer, R. King, A. Luscombe, V. Sears, Fingermark visualisation on uncirculated £5 (Bank of England) polymer notes: Initial process comparison studies, Forensic Science International (2017), DOI:10.1016/j.forsciint.2017.02.026
• R.P. Downham, T.M. Ciuksza, H.J. Desai, V.G. Sears, Black iron (II/III) oxide powder suspension (2009 CAST formulation) for fingermark visualisation, part 2: surfactant solution component investigations, Journal of Forensic Identification (2017)
• R.P. Downham, T.M. Ciuksza, H.J. Desai, V.G. Sears, Black iron (II/III) oxide powder suspension (2009 CAST formulation) for fingermark visualisation, part 1: formulation component and shelf life studies, Journal of Forensic Identification (2017)
• R.P. Downham, S. Kelly, V.G. Sears, Feasibility Studies for Fingermark Visualization on Leather and Artificial Leather, Journal of Forensic Identification (2015)
• R.P. Downham, S. Mehmet, V.G. Sears, A pseudo-operational investigation into the development of latent fingerprints on flexible plastic packaging films, Journal of Forensic Identification (2012)