Sociology, Philosophy and Anthropology
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Professor Dana Wilson-Kovacs

BA (Bucharest) MPhil (Exeter) PhD (Exeter)

Associate Professor (Sociology)

2683

01392 722683

Amory 318B

 

My current research examines the or­­gan­­i­­sa­­tion­­al re­sources, op­­er­­a­­tion­­al de­­mands and pro­­fes­­sion­al va­­lues that cir­­cum­­scribe the development and ap­p­li­­ca­­tion of dig­­i­­tal foren­­sics in po­­lice in­­ves­­ti­­ga­­tions in Eng­­land and Wales. Long-term, I have been interested in the interface between forensic and operational cultures, and especially the contexts and ways in which, outside the laboratory, forensic expertise is acquired and recognised in policing, and its impact on investigative practices.

 

Projects

 

Human Factors and Digital Technology in Forensic Science: Decision-Making and Legal Implications (January 2022-March 2022). Co-Investigator. Policy Support Fund, University of Exeter. Principal Investigators: Dr. Bethany Growns and Dr. Rebecca Helm. £16,750.

 

Understanding the Use of Digital Forensics in Policing in England and Wales: An Ethnographic Analysis of Current Practices and Professional Dynamics (September 2018-June 2022). Principal Investigator. ESRC Open Call Award. Co-Investigators: Prof. Brian Rappert and Prof. Sabina Leonelli. £445,045

Digital Forensics in UK Policing: An Ethnographic Investigation of a Rapidly-Developing Forensic Domain (September 2017- August 2019). British Academy Small Grant Award. £9999

Triage in Digital Forensics (January 2017-July 2017). Innovation, Impact and Business Link Award, University of Exeter. £1448


https://digital-forensics-in-policing.net/

Research group links

Research interests

  • The use and role of digital forensics in policing and the criminal justice system
  • Standards and accreditation in digital forensics
  • Organisational change in forensics and policing
  • The governance, understanding and application of forensic technologies
  • Forensic cultures, occupations and practices
  • Cyber-crime
  • Crime investigation
  • Professions and professionalisation
  • Class, gender and sexuality

 

Research supervision

  • The governance, understanding and application of forensic technologies
  • Forensic cultures, occupations and practices
  • The use and role of digital forensics in policing and the criminal justice system
  • Cyber-crime
  • Crime investigation
  • Professions and professionalisation
  • Class, gender and sexuality
  • Work and employment

 

Research students

Current

 

Elena Teodora Manea

Thesis title: The Other Voice of Medical Consultation. Analysis of Medical Interpreting in the NHS.

 

Past

 

Elena Sharratt

Thesis title: Exploring the emergence and disappearance of transableism on transabled.org: Digital ethnography of a transient mental illness. ESRC-funded. PhD awarded May 2021

 

Rita Alberto

Thesis title: Gender distorting genre distorting gender: exploring women's rock musicking practices in contemporary Portugal. PhD awarded April 2018.

 

David Wyatt

Thesis title: Accomplishing Technical and Investigative Expertise in Everyday Crime Scene Investigation. ESRC-funded. PhD awarded July 2015.

 

Victoria Coven

Topic: In vitro fertilisation and multiple births: international context and policy consideration. MPhil awarded January 2015.

 

Louise Bezuidenhout

Thesis title: Contextuality in life science ethics: dual-use as a case study. Wellcome Trust-funded. PhD awarded July 2013.

 

Sigrun Einarsdottir

Thesis title: Bach in Everyday Life and the Performance of ‘Art Music’- The case of the Croydon Bach choir in London performing Bach’s Mass in B Minor. PhD awarded October 2012.

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