Associate Professor Alison Beavis

Associate Professor Alison Beavis

Deputy Dean

BSc (Hons 1) in Applied Chemistry - Forensic Science, UTS
Doctor of Philosophy, UTS

Science
Dean's Unit, Science

Associate Professor Alison Beavis joined UNSW Sydney in Decemb er 2019 as Deputy Dean (Education). She is responsible for providing strategic leadership in the learning and teaching portfolio for the Faculty which is home to over 900 staff and 6000 students. Alison's primary research interest is in the area of analytical chemistry with a focus on the analysis of forensic traces and how this information is interpreted, including a current ARC funded project involving forensic drug intelligence. She has extensive experience in the analysis of explosives and illicit drugs using various analytical techniques and leads the gunshot residue analysis group as Visiting Professor in the Centre for Forensic Science at UTS. Alison is also an experienced science educator, with multiple national teaching citations and sits on the NESA Science Board Curriculum Committee representing the Chairs of Academic Boards. In 2019 she received the UTS Medal for Excellence in Teaching and Research before joining UNSW Sydney in this current role.

Phone
+61-2-9385 8223
Location
Robert Webster Building, Room 128
  • Books | 2020
    Gibbs P; Beavis A, 2020, Contemporary Thinking on Transdisciplinary Knowledge, Springer International Publishing, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-39785-2
  • Book Chapters | 2020
    Beavis A; Gibbs P, 2020, 'Gray Kochhar-Lindgren', in SpringerBriefs on Key Thinkers in Education, pp. 31 - 36, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-39785-2_5
    Book Chapters | 2020
    Beavis A; Gibbs P, 2020, 'Julie Thompson Klein', in SpringerBriefs on Key Thinkers in Education, pp. 43 - 51, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-39785-2_7
    Book Chapters | 2020
    Beavis A; Gibbs P, 2020, 'Transdisciplinary Knowledge—An Emergent Concept', in SpringerBriefs on Key Thinkers in Education, pp. 7 - 15, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-39785-2_2
    Book Chapters | 2020
    Beavis A; Gibbs P, 2020, 'Valerie Brown', in SpringerBriefs on Key Thinkers in Education, pp. 25 - 29, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-39785-2_4
    Book Chapters | 2020
    Gibbs P; Beavis A, 2020, 'Basarab Nicolescu', in SpringerBriefs on Key Thinkers in Education, pp. 59 - 64, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-39785-2_9
    Book Chapters | 2020
    Gibbs P; Beavis A, 2020, 'Christian Pohl', in SpringerBriefs on Key Thinkers in Education, pp. 65 - 71, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-39785-2_10
    Book Chapters | 2020
    Gibbs P; Beavis A, 2020, 'Introduction to the Project', in SpringerBriefs in Education, Springer International Publishing, pp. 3 - 6, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-39785-2_1
    Book Chapters | 2020
    Gibbs P; Beavis A, 2020, 'Introduction to the Project', in SpringerBriefs on Key Thinkers in Education, pp. 3 - 6, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-39785-2_1
    Book Chapters | 2020
    Gibbs P; Beavis A, 2020, 'Kate Maguire', in SpringerBriefs on Key Thinkers in Education, pp. 37 - 42, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-39785-2_6
    Book Chapters | 2020
    Gibbs P; Beavis A, 2020, 'Linda Neuhauser', in SpringerBriefs on Key Thinkers in Education, pp. 53 - 58, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-39785-2_8
    Book Chapters | 2020
    Gibbs P; Beavis A, 2020, 'Sue L. T. McGregor', in SpringerBriefs on Key Thinkers in Education, pp. 19 - 24, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-39785-2_3
    Book Chapters | 2020
    Gibbs P; Beavis A, 2020, 'Thematics Reflections', in SpringerBriefs on Key Thinkers in Education, pp. 75 - 77, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-39785-2_11
    Book Chapters | 2009
    Van Gramberg A; Beavis A; Blanes L; Doble P, 2009, 'Optimization of the Separation of Amino Acids by Capillary Electrophoresis Using Artificial Neural Networks', in Chemometric Methods in Capillary Electrophoresis, pp. 169 - 180, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/9780470530191.ch7
  • Journal articles | 2022
    Maitre M; Horder M; Kirkbride KP; Gassner AL; Weyermann C; Gupta A; Beavis A; Roux C, 2022, 'An application example of the likelihood ratio approach to the evaluation of organic gunshot residues using a fictional scenario and recently published data', Forensic Science International, 335, pp. 111267 - 111267, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2022.111267
    Journal articles | 2022
    Popovic A; Morelato M; Baechler S; De Grazia A; Tahtouh M; Roux C; Beavis A, 2022, 'Understanding Australian methylamphetamine drug markets through relational, temporal and spatial analyses', Drug Testing and Analysis, 14, pp. 481 - 495, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/dta.3181
    Journal articles | 2021
    Maitre M; Chiaravalle A; Horder M; Chadwick S; Beavis A, 2021, 'Evaluating the effect of barrel length on pellet distribution patterns of sawn-off shotguns', Forensic Science International, 320, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2021.110685
    Journal articles | 2021
    Popovic A; Morelato M; Roux C; Beavis A, 2021, 'Interpreting the link value of similarity scores between illicit drug specimens through a dual approach, featuring deterministic and Bayesian frameworks', Forensic Science International, 319, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2020.110651
    Journal articles | 2021
    Taudte RV; Roux C; Bishop DP; Fouracre C; Beavis A, 2021, 'High-throughput screening for target compounds in smokeless powders using online-SPE tandem mass spectrometry', Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences, 53, pp. 16 - 26, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00450618.2019.1629019
    Journal articles | 2019
    Gassner AL; Manganelli M; Werner D; Rhumorbarbe D; Maitre M; Beavis A; Roux CP; Weyermann C, 2019, 'Secondary transfer of organic gunshot residues: Empirical data to assist the evaluation of three scenarios', Science and Justice, 59, pp. 58 - 66, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scijus.2018.08.007
    Journal articles | 2019
    Maitre M; Chadwick S; Kirkbride KP; Gassner AL; Weyermann C; Beavis A; Roux C, 2019, 'An investigation on the secondary transfer of organic gunshot residues', Science and Justice, 59, pp. 248 - 255, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scijus.2019.01.007
    Journal articles | 2019
    Popovic A; Morelato M; Roux C; Beavis A, 2019, 'Review of the most common chemometric techniques in illicit drug profiling', Forensic Science International, 302, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.109911
    Journal articles | 2018
    Maitre M; Horder M; Kirkbride KP; Gassner AL; Weyermann C; Roux C; Beavis A, 2018, 'A forensic investigation on the persistence of organic gunshot residues', Forensic Science International, 292, pp. 1 - 10, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.08.036
    Journal articles | 2018
    Maitre M; Kirkbride KP; Horder M; Roux C; Beavis A, 2018, 'Thinking beyond the lab: organic gunshot residues in an investigative perspective', Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences, 50, pp. 659 - 665, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00450618.2018.1457718
    Journal articles | 2017
    Hofstetter C; Maitre M; Beavis A; Roux CP; Weyermann C; Gassner AL, 2017, 'A study of transfer and prevalence of organic gunshot residues', Forensic Science International, 277, pp. 241 - 251, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2017.06.013
    Journal articles | 2017
    Maitre M; Kirkbride KP; Horder M; Roux C; Beavis A, 2017, 'Current perspectives in the interpretation of gunshot residues in forensic science: A review', Forensic Science International, 270, pp. 1 - 11, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.09.003
    Journal articles | 2017
    Popovic A; McBriar T; He P; Beavis A, 2017, 'Chiral determination and assay of optical isomers in clandestine drug laboratory samples using LC-MSMS', Analytical Methods, 9, pp. 3380 - 3387, http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c6ay03125k
    Journal articles | 2017
    Taudte RV; Roux C; Beavis A, 2017, 'Stability of smokeless powder compounds on collection devices', Forensic Science International, 270, pp. 55 - 60, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.11.027
    Journal articles | 2016
    Taudte RV; Roux C; Blanes L; Horder M; Kirkbride KP; Beavis A, 2016, 'The development and comparison of collection techniques for inorganic and organic gunshot residues', Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 408, pp. 2567 - 2576, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00216-016-9357-7
    Journal articles | 2015
    Baechler S; Morelato M; Ribaux O; Beavis A; Tahtouh M; Kirkbride KP; Esseiva P; Margot P; Roux C, 2015, 'Forensic intelligence framework. Part II: Study of the main generic building blocks and challenges through the examples of illicit drugs and false identity documents monitoring', Forensic Science International, 250, pp. 44 - 52, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.02.021
    Journal articles | 2015
    Morelato M; Beavis A; Tahtouh M; Ribaux O; Kirkbride KP; Roux C, 2015, 'The use of methylamphetamine chemical profiling in an intelligence-led perspective and the observation of inhomogeneity within seizures', Forensic Science International, 246, pp. 55 - 64, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2014.10.041
    Journal articles | 2015
    Stojanovska N; Tahtouh M; Kelly T; Beavis A; Fu S, 2015, 'Qualitative analysis of seized cocaine samples using desorption electrospray ionization- mass spectrometry (DESI-MS)', Drug Testing and Analysis, 7, pp. 393 - 400, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/dta.1684
    Journal articles | 2015
    Taudte RV; Roux C; Bishop D; Blanes L; Doble P; Beavis A, 2015, 'Development of a UHPLC method for the detection of organic gunshot residues using artificial neural networks', Analytical Methods, 7, pp. 7447 - 7454, http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c5ay00306g
    Journal articles | 2014
    Canning J; Huyang G; Ma M; Beavis A; Bishop D; Cook K; McDonagh A; Shi D; Peng GD; Crossley MJ, 2014, 'Percolation diffusion into self-assembled mesoporous silica microfibres', Nanomaterials, 4, pp. 157 - 174, http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nano4010157
    Journal articles | 2014
    Hare DJ; Lei P; Ayton S; Roberts BR; Grimm R; George JL; Bishop DP; Beavis AD; Donovan SJ; McColl G; Volitakis I; Masters CL; Adlard PA; Cherny RA; Bush AI; Finkelstein DI; Doble PA, 2014, 'An iron-dopamine index predicts risk of parkinsonian neurodegeneration in the substantia nigra pars compacta', Chemical Science, 5, pp. 2160 - 2169, http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c3sc53461h
    Journal articles | 2014
    Morelato M; Baechler S; Ribaux O; Beavis A; Tahtouh M; Kirkbride P; Roux C; Margot P, 2014, 'Forensic intelligence framework-Part I: Induction of a transversal model by comparing illicit drugs and false identity documents monitoring', Forensic Science International, 236, pp. 181 - 190, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2013.12.045
    Journal articles | 2014
    Morelato M; Beavis A; Tahtouh M; Ribaux O; Kirkbride P; Roux C, 2014, 'The use of organic and inorganic impurities found in MDMA police seizures in a drug intelligence perspective', Science and Justice, 54, pp. 32 - 41, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scijus.2013.08.006
    Journal articles | 2014
    Stojanovska N; Tahtouh M; Kelly T; Beavis A; Fu S, 2014, 'Presumptive analysis of 4-methylmethcathinone (mephedrone) using Desorption Electrospray Ionisation - Mass Spectrometry (DESI-MS)', Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences, 46, pp. 411 - 423, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00450618.2013.879206
    Journal articles | 2014
    Taudte RV; Beavis A; Blanes L; Cole N; Doble P; Roux C, 2014, 'Detection of gunshot residues using mass spectrometry', BioMed Research International, 2014, pp. 965403, http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/965403
    Journal articles | 2013
    Hare DJ; Lear J; Bishop D; Beavis A; Doble PA, 2013, 'Protocol for production of matrix-matched brain tissue standards for imaging by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry', Analytical Methods, 5, pp. 1915 - 1921, http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c3ay26248k
    Journal articles | 2013
    Morelato M; Beavis A; Kirkbride P; Roux C, 2013, 'Forensic applications of desorption electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (DESI-MS)', Forensic Science International, 226, pp. 10 - 21, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2013.01.011
    Journal articles | 2013
    Morelato M; Beavis A; Tahtouh M; Ribaux O; Kirkbride P; Roux C, 2013, 'The use of forensic case data in intelligence-led policing: The example of drug profiling', Forensic Science International, 226, pp. 1 - 9, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2013.01.003
    Journal articles | 2013
    Stojanovska N; Fu S; Tahtouh M; Kelly T; Beavis A; Kirkbride KP, 2013, 'A review of impurity profiling and synthetic route of manufacture of methylamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethylamphetamine, amphetamine, dimethylamphetamine and p-methoxyamphetamine', Forensic Science International, 224, pp. 8 - 26, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2012.10.040
    Journal articles | 2013
    Taudte RV; Beavis A; Wilson-Wilde L; Roux C; Doble P; Blanes L, 2013, 'A portable explosive detector based on fluorescence quenching of pyrene deposited on coloured wax-printed μpADs', Lab on a Chip, 13, pp. 4164 - 4172, http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c3lc50609f
    Journal articles | 2012
    Hare DJ; Lee JK; Beavis AD; Van Gramberg A; George J; Adlard PA; Finkelstein DI; Doble PA, 2012, 'Three-dimensional atlas of iron, copper, and zinc in the mouse cerebrum and brainstem', Analytical Chemistry, 84, pp. 3990 - 3997, http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ac300374x
    Journal articles | 2012
    Morelato M; Beavis A; Ogle A; Doble P; Kirkbride P; Roux C, 2012, 'Screening of gunshot residues using desorption electrospray ionisation-mass spectrometry (DESI-MS)', Forensic Science International, 217, pp. 101 - 106, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2011.10.030
    Journal articles | 2011
    Lloyd A; Blanes L; Beavis A; Roux C; Doble P, 2011, 'A rapid method for the in-field analysis of amphetamines employing the agilent bioanalyzer', Analytical Methods, 3, pp. 1535 - 1539, http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c1ay05078h
    Journal articles | 2010
    Epple R; Blanes L; Beavis A; Roux C; Doble P, 2010, 'Analysis of amphetamine-type substances by capillary zone electrophoresis using capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection', Electrophoresis, 31, pp. 2608 - 2613, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/elps.201000128
    Journal articles | 2010
    Van Gramberg A; Beavis A; Doble P; Mileham S, 2010, 'Optimisation of the separation of amphetamine-type stimulants using artificial neural networks for applications on lab-on-a-chip technology', Science & Justice, 50, pp. 41 - 41, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scijus.2009.11.056
    Journal articles | 2008
    Beavis A; Dawson M; Doble P; Scolyer RA; Bourne R; Li LXL; Murali R; Stretch JR; Lean CL; Uren RF; Thompson JF, 2008, 'Confirmation of sentinel lymph node identity by analysis of fine-needle biopsy samples using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry', Annals of Surgical Oncology, 15, pp. 934 - 940, http://dx.doi.org/10.1245/s10434-007-9693-0
    Journal articles | 2008
    Karim RZ; Scolyer RA; Li W; Yee VSK; McKinnon JG; Li LXL; Uren RF; Lam S; Beavis A; Dawson M; Doble P; Hoon DSB; Thompson JF, 2008, 'False negative sentinel lymph node biopsies in melanoma may result from deficiencies in nuclear medicine, surgery, or pathology', Annals of Surgery, 247, pp. 1003 - 1010, http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/SLA.0b013e3181724f5e
    Journal articles | 2008
    Moncrieff M; Scolyer R; Thompson J; Beavis A; Uren R; Stretch J, 2008, 'Correct identification of a sentinel node postselective lymphadenectomy using antimony levels', Melanoma Research, 18, pp. 365 - 366, http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/CMR.0b013e328307bf2d
    Journal articles | 2004
    Scolyer RA; Thompson JF; Li LXL; Beavis A; Dawson M; Doble P; Ka VSK; McKinnon JG; Soper R; Uren RF; Shaw HM; Stretch JR; McCarthy SW, 2004, 'Failure to remove true sentinel nodes can cause failure of the sentinel node biopsy technique: evidence from antimony concentrations in false-negative sentinel nodes from melanoma patients.', Annals of surgical oncology : the official journal of the Society of Surgical Oncology, 11, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/bf02523624
    Journal articles | 2004
    Scolyer RA; Thompson JF; Li LXL; Beavis A; Dawson M; Doble P; Soper R; Uren RF; Stretch JR; Sharma R; McCarthy SW, 2004, 'Antimony concentrations in nodal tissue can confirm sentinel node identity', Modern Pathology, 17, pp. 1191 - 1197, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/modpathol.3800202
    Journal articles | 2003
    Dawson M; Doble P; Beavis A; Li LXL; Soper R; Scolyer RA; Uren RF; Thompson JF, 2003, 'Antimony by ICP-MS as a marker for sentinel lymph nodes in melanoma patients', Analyst, 128, pp. 217 - 219, http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/b300527e
  • Conference Papers | 2017
    Maitre M; Kirkbride P; Horder M; Roux C; Beavis A, 2017, 'PERSISTENCE OF ORGANIC GUNSHOT RESIDUES EVIDENCE', in FORENSIC SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL, ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD, CANADA, Toronto, pp. 157 - 157, presented at 21st Triennial Meeting of the International-Association-of-Forensic-Sciences (IAFS), CANADA, Toronto, 21 August 2017 - 25 August 2017, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000415590000542&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1
    Preprints | 2014
    Canning J; Huyang G; Ma M; Beavis A; Bishop D; Cook K; McDonagh A; Shi D; Peng G-D; Crossley MJ, 2014, Percolation diffusion into self-assembled mesoporous silica microfibres, , http://dx.doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.1401.5218
    Conference Papers | 2014
    Stojanovska N; Kelly T; Tahtouh M; Beavis A; Fu S, 2014, 'Analysis of amphetamine-type substances and piperazine analogues using desorption electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry', in Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, pp. 731 - 740, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/rcm.6832
    Conference Papers | 2013
    Canning J; Ma M; Gibson B; Huyang G; Beavis A; Bishop D; Cook K; McDonagh A; Shi J; Shi D; Peng GD; Crossley M, 2013, 'The nanostructure of silica microfibers fabricated by microfluidic selfassembly', in Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/12.2032152

Selected grants from a total of $2.05 million in funded activities:

Disciplinary Research
A New Tool to Fight Crime: Illicit Drug Profiling in Forensic Intelligence, ARC Linkage Grant
, co-CI, ($415,000) 2017 – 2020
The Edge Project – Enabling and evidencing enterprise and entrepreneurship through work integrated learning (WIL) - Australian Technology Network (ATN) Universities T&L Grant, PI, ($150,000) 2017-2019
Transformation of Forensic Gunshot Residue Evidence, SA Dept of Further Education, Employment, Science & Technology, PI, ($403,500) – 2014-2016
Forensic drug intelligence: A tool in Intelligence-led policing, UTS Partnership Grant, co-CI, ($30,000), 2012
Three dimensional lymph node imaging: Improving detection of sentinel nodes to reduce false negatives. Cancer Institute NSW – Large Equipment Grant, co-CI, ($447,000) – 2011-2012
Portable Capillary Electrophoresis for Detection and Analysis of Explosives and Illicit Drugs, Australian Future Forensics Innovation Network – Queensland Health and Scientific Services, PI, ($203,000) – 2009-2012
Specialist Forensic Training in Thailand-A Capacity Building Activity, Australia-Thailand Institute, Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade, CI, $18,000 – 2011
Development of Field Portable Devices for the Detection of Explosives Residues – Phase 1 & 2, National Security Science and Technology Unit, Dept of Prime Minister & Cabinet, Commonwealth Government, PI, ($412,000) – 2007-2008

Education Initiatives

Inspiring Science Teaching- Today, Awarded from the UTS Allocation of Higher Education Participation & Partnerships Program funding Department of Education, co-CI, ($289,000) – 2013-2016
UTS Vice Chancellors Teaching and Learning Grants
- multiple grants totalling $87,500, 2010-2015

Award

Institution/Organisation Date of Award
UTS Medal for Excellence in Teaching and Research UTS September 2019

Wharton Reimagine Education Award (Bronze) –  Presence Learning

Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation
Wharton-QS Stars December 2016

OLT National Teaching Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (Team award)

For facilitating the First Year Experience program: supporting student transition and success through engaging academic and professional staff in curriculum innovation and collaborative communities
Office of Learning & Teaching September 2016

OLT National Teaching Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning

Transforming student engagement in the subject Chemical Safety and Legislation: from a hazard to a cross-disciplinary, collaborative success story”
Office of Learning & Teaching September 2014

UTS Learning and Teaching Award for Widening Participation (Team award)

First Year Experience Strategy team for the development of a systematic, institution-wide first year experience strategy that has improved student transition and engaged academic and professional staff
UTS May 2015

UTS Learning and Teaching Citation

A transdisciplinary approach to enhancing student engagement and learning in science
UTS November 2013

 

My Research Supervision

Analisa Chiaravalle - Investigation of metal-organic frameworks for gunshot residue visualisation 2018-2021
Ana Popovic - Chemometrics in illicit drug intelligence 2016-2020
Matthieu Maitire - Detection and interpretation of gunshot residues 2016-2019