John Cassella

Background

About John Cassella

I graduated with an honours degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences (Biomedical Science) and Chemistry from Leicester in 1988 and a Doctorate in Orthopaedic Pathology from the University College London in 1993 [Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital]. I have published widely in medical and related biomedical sciences and in forensics. Working in many of London’s major teaching hospitals in medical research, I also taught medical, radiography and podiatry students. As a lecturer in Biomedical Sciences and subsequently a University Reader in Biomedical Sciences and ‘Programme Leader’ for the Forensic Science degree at the University of Derby, I joined Staffordshire University in 2005. At Staffordshire University I taught elements of forensic pathology, techniques of Human Identification and body recovery from disaster situations. Conferred a Professorial Chair in Forensic Science Education in 2008 with over 70 journal publications and books and numerous national and international Conference presentations. I have sat on a number of groups that work at a national level to promote the development and improvement of the delivery of forensic education and improve the links between academia, the forensic industry and UK Police Services. I was part of a former Home Office Group (now part of DSTL) for Search Techniques development for homicide victims and was a work stream lead for ‘rapid services and custody suites’ for the successful Staffordshire Police-Staffordshire University partnership. I am an ‘Associate’ of Kenyon’s International Emergency Services and was deployed to Grenfell Tower in 2017. In 2021, I worked with Police and mortuary staff in the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust mortuary based at Birmingham International Airport for Covid-19 victims. My current role in the at the newly created Atlantic Technological University in the Republic of Ireland, has allowed me to develop my teaching in forensic science with a better understanding of the European perspectives and to develop research into the location of homicide victims.