Profile

Dr Sarah Hall started her career working in the area of thermal analysis for Foseco International before graduating with a BSc (Hons) in Chemistry and Environmental Science. After graduating she worked as a Laboratory Manager and Plant Chemist and in the specialist waste treatment/management industry. Therefore Dr Hall has considerable experience in various analytical techniques and working in accredited analytical laboratories. Her PhD (sponsored by a Schering Plough) successfully researched the mechanism and kinetics of a novel solid water sterilising formula based on chlorine dioxide. She is a member of the Investigate Chemistry Research Group at Anglia Ruskin University and currently involved in research in the areas of fire debris analysis, environmental analysis and detection of pharmaceuticals and drugs in the environment.

Responsibilities

• Course Group Leader for Forensic Science and Chemistry (undergraduate and postgraduate)
• Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry
• Committee member of the RSC East-Anglia Region Analytical Division.
• Member of the committee for the RSC conference: Forensic Analysis 2012.
• RSC representative for Anglia Ruskin University.
• Forensic Science Section representative for the HEA (UK Physical Sciences Centre).
• External examiner (Chemical Sciences) University of the West of Scotland.
• Currently supervising three PhD students, one recent successful PhD completion and supervising various MSc students.

Teaching

Module Leader:
Introduction to Analytical Chemistry and Laboratory Quality Management
Physical and Quantitative Chemistry for Forensic Scientists
Advanced Fire and Explosives
Combustion Science (MSc level)
Fire related Analytical Methods (MSc level)
Explosions and Explosives (MSc level)
Electricity and Fire (MSc level)
Masters Reseach Project (MSc level)

Other Modules:
Chemical Criminalistics
Introduction to Forensic Methodologises
Physical Criminalistics
Advanced Forensic Methodologises
Final year projects

Research Interests

• Fire debris analysis
• Environmental analysis and detection of pharmaceuticals and drugs in the environment.
• Water sterilisation methods and formation of associated by-products.
• Waste/Industrial waste treatment methods.
• Hair/wool/fur/feather analysis as a tool for investigating exposure levels of pollutants.

Publications and Presentations

White, G. and Hall, S. The effectiveness of adsorbents to sample ignitable liquid residues using GC-MS. 2010 Forensic Analysis Conference (RSC). Huddersfield University, UK 8-10 September 2010. 3rd prize for best conference poster.

White, G. and Hall, S. The use of adsorbents for detecting ignited petrol residue on concrete using a passive headspace technique and GC-MS. 6th National FORREST Conference 2010 (FORensic RESearch and Teaching). Coventry University, UK, 29-30 June 2010. 2nd Prize for best conference poster

Dawkins, J., Hall, S. and Spence, S. The impact of using Compressed Air Foam on the examination of forensic evidence and fire debris analysis. 6th National FORREST Conference 2010 (FORensic RESearch and Teaching). Coventry University, UK, 29-30 June 2010. 3rd Prize for best conference poster

Richards, N., Lancaster, S., Hall, S. and Scott, K., 2009. The importance of reliable and efficient sample preparation in the development of a novel forensic method to detect diclofenac residues in vulture and livestock animals?. LABMATE , 34 (6), pp. 28-29.

Richards, N., Lancaster, S., Hall, S., Scott, K., 2009. The importance of reliable and efficient sample preparation in the development of a novel forensic method to detect diclofenac residues in vulture and livestock animals. LAB ASIA, 16 (4), pp. 12-13.

Richards, N., Lancaster, S., Hall, S., Scott, K., 2009. Diclofenac-Rückstände bei: Geiern bestimmen. LaborPraxis, 33, pp. 50-51.

Cole, M. D., Hall, S., 2008. From wizardry to alchemy: the science behind crime investigation. RSC Analytical Division East Anglia Region AGM and Mid-Anglia Section AGM. Cambridge, UK, February 2008.

Hall, S., 2007. Forensic Science and Chemistry attend fire test burns. Bulletin, Anglia Ruskin University Publication, 4 (7) pp.10-11.

Hall, S., Scott, K. S., What's your poison. Annual convention of Funeral Directors. Ipswich, UK, April 2007.

Naked Scientist, 2007 "Hair analysis and determination of metals" [Radio programme] BBC, BBC Cambridgeshire, 17 June 2007.

Richards, N. L., Scott, K. S., Hall, S., Harrison, N. M., 2006. Detection of NSAIDs in livestock animals and scavenging birds of prey with emphasis on vultures and condors. Vulture News 54, pp. 68-71.

Hall, S., 2006. "The Generation of Chlorine Dioxide from the Reaction between Sodium Chlorite and Acetic Anhydride", PhD Thesis, Anglia Ruskin University.

Hall, S., Davies, M., Hudson, J., and Waterhouse, J. The generation of chlorine dioxide in aqueous solutions. The European Conference of Inorganic Reaction Mechanisms Group (RSC). Zagreb, Croatia, January 2000.

Hall, S., Davies, M., Hudson, J., and Waterhouse, J. The formation of chlorine dioxide in aqueous solutions. The European Conference of Inorganic Reaction Mechanisms Group (RSC), Galway, Ireland, January 2001.

Hall, S., Davies, M., Hudson, J., and Waterhouse, J. The generation of chlorine dioxide in aqueous solutions; the sodium chlorite and acid anhydride reaction. The Environmental Sciences Research Centres Conference. Anglia Polytechnic University, Cambridge, UK, January 2002.

Hall, S., Davies, M., Hudson, J., and Waterhouse, J. A novel composition for the generation of chlorine dioxide. The Environmental Sciences Research Centres Conference. Anglia Polytechnic University, Cambridge, UK, January 2001.

Hall, S., Davies, M., Hudson, J., and Waterhouse, J. The role of chlorine dioxide as a chemical sterilant. The Environmental Sciences Research Centres Conference. Anglia Polytechnic University, Cambridge, UK, January 2000.