Department for Learning Development
’Students as Researchers Scheme’
**Please note this scheme is only available to undergraduate students**
Name
Mrs. Helen Page
Section/Subject
Life Sciences / BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences or BSc
(Hons) Forensic Biology
School/Department
School of Science and Engineering
Contact email
h.page@tees.ac.uk
Title of research project/activity
Retention of semen on bath scrunchies post-washing
Pedagogic or Discipline Specific
Discipline specific
Summary of project research
activity
In 2013 a joint official statistics bulletin on sexual violence
was released which reported that over 400,000 women are
sexually assaulted and 85,000 are raped in England and
Wales every year (Ministry of Justice, Office for National
Statistics and Home Office, 2013). The nature of sexual
assaults usually means that victims are, to varying extents,
psychologically traumatised resulting in a level of underreporting for this crime type. It is, therefore, difficult to make
accurate and reliable assessments of actual prevalence and
impact of this crime type. Consequences of the
psychological trauma for the victim include the need to try
and cleanse themselves by washing or douching and/or not
wishing to undergo a full medical examination (seen as “the
second rape”). Both of these result in a vastly reduced
chance of recovering forensic evidence, and subsequent
reduction in the ability to gather sufficient evidence for
prosecution.
Previous successful student research (Page, et al, 2013), in
conjunction with Forensic Rescue Ltd, examined the use of
an Evidence Recovery System to collect trace biological
evidence from bathwater, including semen. It is in this
exciting, newly-emerging field of research that the current
proposed research will be based.
Previous to work by Page, et al (2013) it was widely believed
that biological evidence was effectively ‘lost down the drain’
when an individual who had been subjected to rape or sexual
assault bathed (bathing post-assault is a common response
to the trauma of attack). It was established, however, that
trace levels of semen could effectively be “filtered” from
bathwater as well as remaining attached to the bath walls
and plug after bathing. These trace levels of semen could
therefore be recovered for forensic examination. The student
will examine the use of bath scrunchies, a personal cleaning
implement, as a novel evidence type for biological trace
evidence (including semen, and the sperm
heads/spermatozoa contained within).
To date (with the use of UG and MSc project work) it has
proved possible to successfully obtain considerable levels of
spermatozoa from new/fresh bath scrunchies (Newton and
Page, 2013). A strange phenomena has been noted where
the recovered sperm heads have clumped together on a
substance originating from the bath scrunchies. The student
will repeat earlier research but with bath scrunchies that have
been used previously in order to:
- (a) simulate a more realistic real-life case situation
where the used bath scrunchies contain other cell types,
bacteria and will have lost some of their tightly packed
structure and
- (b) to ascertain whether the material responsible for the
clumping effect is continually shed from the bath
scrunchies.
It is hypothesised that, although there may be some impact
on the number of spermatozoa which are recoverable, one
will still be able to recover sufficient numbers for analysis.
Any method of increasing the reporting rates and successful
prosecution of these crime types is of benefit within the
forensic and policing arena. The field of research is very
new, and as such student outputs from the project will
become the catalyst for further developments in trace
biological evidence recovery and even in the practices and
procedures for dealing with victims of sexual assault and
rape.
References:
Page, H., Sarna, A., Watts, L., Ward, E., Hodgson, C. and
McKenzie, M., (2013) The recovery of semen from bathwater
using the Evidence Recovery System (ERS). Science and
Justice, 54 (1), Pp 89-94.
Newton, R. and Page, H., (2013) Personal cleaning
instruments – a new area of evidence recovery after sexual
assault? Poster presentation. FORREST conference.
Have you obtained ethical
clearance for this project?
Ethics approved 24th September 2014
Summary of student tasks
The student will be building upon previous laboratory
research carried out at TU.
The student will be expected to:
- Complete (with guidance) COSHH and risk
assessments for the laboratory work
- Prepare the bath scrunchies with semen, following
established protocols
- Examine and test the bath scrunchies using Acid
Phosphatase to determine the presence/absence of
the presumptive enzymatic marker for semen
- Extract semen and prepare microscope slides using
Haematoxylin and Eosin staining for the detection of
spermatozoa
- Examine the prepared slides using high-powered
microscopy (400X) and meticulously note the number
of spermatozoa found, using established methods
- Complete data analysis (of the results of this study
and previous UG and MSc research data)
- Assist in preparation and drafting of a journal article
for publication (results dependant)
Research output(s) for student
It is envisaged that the student be at least Level 5 of study
within the programme areas of BSc (Hons) Biological
Science/Forensic Biology/Forensic Science. S/he will,
therefore, be familiar with the proposed methodology and
have experience with working within the science laboratories.
Specifically, the student will have an enhanced learning
experience with this additional opportunity. It will provide
them with experience in the field of research in preparation
for career development within this area (further study/PhD
research). It also permits them a unique opportunity to be
involved in a newly-emerging field of forensic research.
The student will have the opportunity to:
- Draft COSHH and risk assessment documentation,
thereby increasing their understanding of legal
requirements in association with Health and Safety
- Gain an understanding of biological evidence
analysis
- Develop their laboratory (specifically slide
preparation, slide analysis and microscopy skills) and
data analysis skills
- Further develop good laboratory practices introduced
to them in their degree programmes
- Enhance their CV with co-authorship of a paper
Are there specific criteria
students need to address when
applying for the project?
Students must:
- Be willing to work with human biological samples
(semen)
- Adhere to strict legal requirements on the use of
human tissue, according to the Human Tissue Act
2004 and in-line with SSE ethical and Health and
Safety guidelines
- Have an understanding of health and safety practices
- Have relevant laboratory experience e.g. slide
preparation, microscopy
- Possess an interest in the research area
It is desirable that students have:
- Understanding of good laboratory practices
Anticipated timeline for project
The timeline is flexible/negotiable around the students’
teaching timetable, assessments and other commitments.
November/December
- COSHH and risk assessment completion (2 hours)
- Laboratory training (if required) and competency
assessment (2 hours)
December/January/February/March
- Approximately 3 hours/week of laboratory work (48
hours)
April/May
- Data analysis (10 hours)
Throughout
- Supervisory meetings (3 hours)
Number of student hours
required (up to 65)
65 hours
Are there any additional costs
associated with the student
researcher i.e. travel? Please
provide details of how this will
be funded
The student will be working on site at Middlesbrough TU
campus.