Dr Caley Mein
![image overlay](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg width="223" height="223" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/%3E)
Caley is an Assistant Lecturer in Forensic Science. She gained her PhD in Forensic Taphonomy with us in 2023. She also has a Master's by Research in Forensic Anthropology (2019), and a BSc in Forensic & Analytical Science (2008), both from the University of Huddersfield. Caley is involved with teaching on both of our undergraduate Forensic courses and supervises both undergraduate and postgraduate dissertation projects in forensic science.
Caley’s current role involves laboratory and classroom-based teaching on several undergraduate modules for the BSc Forensic Science and BSc Forensic Science and Criminal Investigation courses. These include teaching on skeletal anatomy, death and decomposition, forensic casework examination and the analysis of trace evidence. She provides supervision for MSc and BSc student dissertation projects in several areas, including forensic anthropology, forensic taphonomy, trauma, and trace evidence. These projects have included literature-based dissertations, and laboratory and fieldwork-based studies.
Her research area is forensic taphonomy and bone diagenesis, with an emphasis on the physicochemical changes that occur to post-mortem bone and the recognition and timing of bone fractures. Caley has published multiple articles in peer-reviewed research journals on her research.
After completing her BSc in Forensic & Analytical Science, Caley went on to qualify as an Operating Department Practitioner. For this she spent several years in the operating theatre where she assisted in a variety of surgeries and gained her knowledge in human anatomy. After taking a break to raise a family, Caley decided to return to academia to undertake an MRes and PhD in forensic anthropology. For her MRes project, Caley investigated the microbial origins of bone diagenesis. This research formed part of the basis for her PhD project where she assessed the physicochemical composition of bone and how this can be changed during the post-mortem period. Further to this, she investigated how the presence of bone fractures could influence these changes over time and how this could impact future bone diagenesis research. After completing her PhD, Caley spent two years with us working as a Post-doctoral Researcher in Forensic Taphonomy.
Caley is an active member of the Research Centre for Field Archaeology and Forensic Taphonomy here. Since completing her PhD, she has published several research articles and presented her research at various conferences, both within the UK and internationally.
Caley regularly takes part in public outreach events, including school/college visits, workshops, and the popular Lancashire Science Festival.
- PhD Forensic Taphonomy, University of Central Lancashire, 2023
- MRes Forensic Anthropology, University of Huddersfield, 2019
- Dip HE Operating Department Practice, University of Huddersfield, 2011
- BSc Forensic & Analytical Science, University of Huddersfield, 2008
- Forensic taphonomy
- Forensic anthropology
- Bone trauma assessment
- Bone diagenesis
- Associate member of the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences
- Member of the British Association for Biological Anthropology and Osteoarchaeologists
Telephone:+44 (0)1772 894332
Email: Email:Dr Caley Mein