Assoc Prof Stewart Walker

Position/s:Forensic, Environmental and Analytical Chemistry
School of Chemical and Physical Sciences
 Director Centre of Expertise in Energetic Material
School of Chemical and Physical Sciences
Phone: +61 8 82012406
Email:
Location: Physical Sciences (304)
Postal address: GPO Box 2100, Adelaide 5001, South Australia

Biography

Stewart Walker has worked on the design, development and application of advanced analytical techniques to solve problems in the analytical, environmental, industrial, forensic and medical arenas.  He has worked or collaborated with Industrial Companies including BP Research in London, BHP, Melbourne, Universities including St Andrews and Glasgow in Scotland, La Trobe, James Cook, Curtin, UWA, UofSA, Adelaide and Flinders Universities in Australia and many international universities and with Government Agencies, including CSIRO, AIMS(Australian Institute of Marine Science), DSTO, Chemistry Centre WA and the CRC-Great Barrier Reef. He is a long-serving committee member and former President of the SA Branch of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute and is currently President of the South Australian Branch of the Australian and New Zealand Forensic Science Society.  He is active in consultation and has assisted AFP, SafeworkSA and SA Police on cases and as an 'International Expert' for IAEA/UN Environmental Analysis Projects in Asia.

Qualifications

B.Sc.(Hons) Chemistry University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland 1985
Ph.D. Chemistry, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland 1989
Graduate Business Qualification (1/3 MBA), Curtin University of Technology, Western Australia 2000

Honours, awards and grants

Honours
Invited Keynote Presentation ANZSMS 24, Melbourne 2013
Invited Keynote Presentation to ANZSMS 23, Fremantle - 2011
Best Poster (Toxicology Section), Partridge, E, Walker, GS, Feldgate, P, Kostakis, C and Stockham, P. 19th Australian and New Zealand Forensic Science Society Symposium, Melbourne - 2008
Invited Keynote Presentation at ANZFSS 19, Melbourne - 2008
Invited Plenary Presentation at FIRMS Network Conference, Dunedin, NZ - 2007
Best Presentation (by a non-student) 9th Australasian Environmental Isotope Conference and 2nd Australasian Hydrogeology Research Conference, Glenelg - 2006
Invited Keynote presentation at ANZFSS 18, Fremantle - 2006 
RACI Physical Chemistry Conference - Prize for Best Poster (non-student) - 2002
Australian Coral Reef Society Prize for Best Presentation - 2001


Awards
National Institute for Forensic Science Award for Best Paper - Case Study - 2011
South Australian Unsung Hero - Science Communication 2011
Sandy Congdon Memorial Scholarship, Australian and New Zealand Forensic Science Society-SA Branch - 2010
National Institute for Forensic Science Award for Best Paper in a Refereed Journal (Two Best Papers and one Highly Commended Awards) - 2004
Vice Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching, Flinders University - 2004
Orkney/Hordaland Scholarship - 1985
University of St Andrews Vacation Scholarship - 1984
Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Travelling Fellowship - 1982
Frank Muir Prize for Humour - University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland - 1979

Grants
-2010

Key responsibilities

Director of the Centre of Expertise in Energetic Material (DSTO/Flinders)
Topic Coordination and Teaching in Analytical, Forensic and Environmental Chemistry
Representative on Faculty Board
Member of Flinders Housing Board
Coordinator and presenter of the annual Flinders/RACI-SA 'Chemical Murder Mystery'

Teaching

Teaching interests

All aspects of advanced analytical techniques - especially mass spectrometric, chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques
Applications of techniques to environmental, industrial, medical and forensic arenas
Developing innovative and involving teaching methods

Topic Coordinator:

  • CHEM3702  Inorganic and Organometallic Chemistry
  • FACH2702  Chemical Analysis of Physical Evidence
  • FACH4703  Chemistry of Energetic Material
  • FACH8703  Chemistry of Energetic Material GE

Topic Lecturer:

  • CHEM1102  Chemistry 1B
  • CHEM2711  Spectroscopy and Data Analysis
  • CHEM2712  Separation Science
  • CHEM3701  Applied Spectroscopy and Electrochemistry
  • CHEM3702  Inorganic and Organometallic Chemistry
  • FACH1701  Introduction to Forensic Science
  • FACH2702  Chemical Analysis of Physical Evidence
  • FACH3702  Drug Action, Metabolism, Toxicology and Analysis
  • FACH4703  Chemistry of Energetic Material
  • FACH8703  Chemistry of Energetic Material GE

Research and supervision

Research expertise

  • Analytical chemistry
  • Environmental science and management
  • Food sciences
  • Geochemistry
  • Inorganic chemistry
  • Other chemical sciences
  • Other physical sciences
  • Soil-plant-atmosphere continuum

Research interests

Design, development and application of advanced analytical techniques (inc spectrometric, electrochemical, chromatographic and mass spectrometric) to solve problems in analytical, environmental, industrial, forensic and medical arenas.  Specialisation in combining ICPMS, LA-ICPMS and HR-MC-ICPMS for multi-elemental fingerprinting, GCMS, LCMS for compound and impurity detection and Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry and other techniques to identify and provenance materials including glass, paint, paper, ink, wine, food-stuffs, drugs and condoms.

RHD research supervision

Current

Principal supervisor: Use of IRMS and ICPMS and other techniques for Improvised Explosive Material (1); Interaction of Dandicol in Polymer Bonded Explosives (1); Investigation into fluorescence of semen and fingerprint agents by Far-IR Synchrotron Beam (1); Extending Surface Assisted LDI-MS for forensic investigations (1); Food and Drink Provenancing (1); Environmental Analysis of Coral (1);

Associate supervisor: Contamination of Buildings and People in Clandestine Amphetamine Laboratories (1);

Completion

Principal supervisor: Pyrolysis of Peat (1); Steroid Detection by Surface Assisted Laser Desorption Ionisation Mass Spectrometry (1); Differentiation of GHB by Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry and Ion Chromatography (1); The Stability of Selected Psychiatric Medications During Simulated Post-Mortem Decomposition (1); Electrochemical Analysis of Multiple Metals (1);

RHD Student Achievements

  • Chad Prior
    Bloom-Gutmann Medal - Best Electrochemical Student Presentation RACI Connect - July 2005
  • Hayley Brown
    National Institue for Forensic Science Prize for Best Paper in A Refereed Journal (Amphetamines) - November 2005
  • Hazel Rivera
    National Institue for Forensic Science - Highly Commended Paper in A Refereed Journal - November 2005
  • Emma Partridge
    Best Toxicology Paper Australian and New Zealand Forensic Science Society International Symposium - September 2008
  • Broderick Matthews
    National Institue for Forensic Science - Best Published Case Study 2011 - November 2012
  • Danielle Butzbach
    Finalist (Top 3) Channel 9 Young Achiever Awards for 2012/2013 Science and Technology - February 2013

Publications

Book chapters
Walker, G. (2012). Sample Preparation for Chromatographic Applications in Forensic Science. In J Pawliszyn, XC Le, X-F Li & HK Lee, ed. Comprehensive Sampling and Sample Preparation Vol 3. Oxford, UK: Elsevier, pp. 863-876. [online]. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-381373-2.00120-4.
Walker, G.S. (2009). Analysis of Soils in a Forensic Context: Comparison of Some Current and Future Options. In Karl Ritz, Lorna Dawson and David Miller, ed. Criminal and Environmental Soil Forensics. Netherlands: Springer, pp. 397-409. [online]. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9204-6_25.
Refereed journal articles
Matthews, B., Walker, G., Kobus, H., Pigou, P., Bird, C. and Smith, G. (2011). The analysis of dyes in ball point inks on single paper fibres using laser desorption ionisation time of flight mass spectrometry (LDI-TOFMS). Forensic Science International, 209(1-3), pp.e26-e30. [online]. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2011.03.033.
Watchman, H., Walker, G., Randeberg, L. and Langlois, N. (2011). Re-oxygenation of post-mortem lividity by passive diffusion through the skin at low temperature. Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology, 7(4), pp.333-335. [online]. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12024-011-9244-7.
Hughes, R. and Walker, G. (2011). Rapid Screening for the Detection and Differentiation of Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate using Ion Chromatography. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 56(5), pp.1256-1260. [online]. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1556-4029.2011.01845.x.
Partridge, A.B., Walker, G.S. and Armitt, D. (2010). Detection of impurities in organic peroxide explosives from precursor chemicals. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 63(1), pp.30-37. [online]. http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1071/CH09481.
Benson, S.J., Lennard, C.J., Maynard, P., Hill, D., Andrew, A., Neal, K., et al. (2010). Forensic analysis of explosives using isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) - part 2?: forensic inter-laboratory trial?: bulk carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes in a range of chemical compounds (Australia and New Zealand). Journal of Forensic Sciences, 55(1), pp.205-212. [online]. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1556-4029.2009.01242.x.
Guild, G.E., Lenehan, C.E. and Walker, G.S. (2010). Surface-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionisation Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometry with an Activated Carbon Surface for the Rapid Detection of Underivatised Steroids. International Journal of Mass Spectrometry, 294(1), pp.16-22. [online]. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijms.2010.04.001.
Coumbaros, J., Denman, J.A., Kirkbride, K.P., Walker, G.S. and Skinner, B. (2008). An investigation into the spatial elemental distribution within a pane of glass by time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 53(2), pp.312-320. [online]. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1556-4029.2007.00644.x.
Prior, C.R., Lenehan, C.E. and Walker, G.S. (2007). Utilising gallium for enhanced electrochemical copper analysis at the bismuth film electrode. Analytica Chimica Acta, 598(1), pp.65-73. [online]. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2007.07.020.

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Book chapters
Walker, G. (2012). Sample Preparation for Chromatographic Applications in Forensic Science. In J Pawliszyn, XC Le, X-F Li & HK Lee, ed. Comprehensive Sampling and Sample Preparation Vol 3. Oxford, UK: Elsevier, pp. 863-876. [online]. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-381373-2.00120-4.
Walker, G.S. (2009). Analysis of Soils in a Forensic Context: Comparison of Some Current and Future Options. In Karl Ritz, Lorna Dawson and David Miller, ed. Criminal and Environmental Soil Forensics. Netherlands: Springer, pp. 397-409. [online]. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9204-6_25.
Refereed journal articles
Watchman, H., Walker, G., Randeberg, L. and Langlois, N. (2011). Re-oxygenation of post-mortem lividity by passive diffusion through the skin at low temperature. Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology, 7(4), pp.333-335. [online]. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12024-011-9244-7.
Hughes, R. and Walker, G. (2011). Rapid Screening for the Detection and Differentiation of Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate using Ion Chromatography. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 56(5), pp.1256-1260. [online]. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1556-4029.2011.01845.x.
Matthews, B., Walker, G., Kobus, H., Pigou, P., Bird, C. and Smith, G. (2011). The analysis of dyes in ball point inks on single paper fibres using laser desorption ionisation time of flight mass spectrometry (LDI-TOFMS). Forensic Science International, 209(1-3), pp.e26-e30. [online]. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2011.03.033.
Benson, S.J., Lennard, C.J., Maynard, P., Hill, D., Andrew, A., Neal, K., et al. (2010). Forensic analysis of explosives using isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) - part 2?: forensic inter-laboratory trial?: bulk carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes in a range of chemical compounds (Australia and New Zealand). Journal of Forensic Sciences, 55(1), pp.205-212. [online]. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1556-4029.2009.01242.x.
Partridge, A.B., Walker, G.S. and Armitt, D. (2010). Detection of impurities in organic peroxide explosives from precursor chemicals. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 63(1), pp.30-37. [online]. http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1071/CH09481.
Guild, G.E., Lenehan, C.E. and Walker, G.S. (2010). Surface-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionisation Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometry with an Activated Carbon Surface for the Rapid Detection of Underivatised Steroids. International Journal of Mass Spectrometry, 294(1), pp.16-22. [online]. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijms.2010.04.001.
Coumbaros, J., Denman, J.A., Kirkbride, K.P., Walker, G.S. and Skinner, B. (2008). An investigation into the spatial elemental distribution within a pane of glass by time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 53(2), pp.312-320. [online]. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1556-4029.2007.00644.x.
Prior, C.R., Lenehan, C.E. and Walker, G.S. (2007). Utilising gallium for enhanced electrochemical copper analysis at the bismuth film electrode. Analytica Chimica Acta, 598(1), pp.65-73. [online]. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2007.07.020.
Prior, C.R. and Walker, G.S. (2006). The use of the bismuth film electrode for the anodic stripping voltammetric determination of tin. Electroanalysis, 18(8), pp.823-829. [online]. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/elan.200503467.
Prior, C.R., Lenehan, C.E. and Walker, G.S. (2006). Enhanced resolution of copper and bismuth by addition of gallium in anodic stripping voltammetry with the bismuth film electrode. Electroanalysis, 18(24), pp.2486-2489. [online]. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/elan.200603705.
Brown, H.J., Pigou, P., Kirkbride, P. and Walker, G.S. (2004). New Developments in SPME Part 2: The Analysis of Ammonium Nitrate-Based Explosives. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 49(2), pp.215-221. [online]. http://dx.doi.org/10.1520/JFS2003219.
Green, G.P., Bestland, E.A. and Walker, G.S. (2004). Distinguishing sources of base cations in irrigated and natural soils: evidence from strontium isotopes. Biogeochemistry, 68(2), pp.199-225. [online]. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/B:BIOG.0000025743.34079.d3.
Brown, H.J., Kirkbride, P., Pigou, P. and Walker, G.S. (2003). New Developments in SPME, Part 1: The use of vapor-phase deprotionation and on-fibre derivatization with alkilformates in the analysis of preparations containing amphetamines. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 48(6), pp.1231-1238. [online]. http://www.astm.org/JOURNALS/FORENSIC/PAGES/4460.htm.
Rivera, H.M., Walker, G.S., Sims, D.N. and Stockham, P. (2003). Application of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to the analysis of benzodiazepines in blood. European Journal of Mass Spectrometry, 9(6), pp.599-607. [online]. http://dx.doi.org/10.1255/ejms.573.
Conference publications
Butzbach, D., Byard, R., Kobus, H.J., Sims, D.N., Stockham, P., Lokan, R., et al. (2010). Stability of selected prescription drugs during decomposition. In The 48th Annual Meeting of the International Association of Forensic Toxicologists (TIAFT). The 48th Annual Meeting of the International Association of Forensic Toxicologists (TIAFT).
Other public research outputs
Walker, G.S. (2003). McLafferty's Rearrangement. European Journal of Mass Spectrometry, 9(6), pp.527-527. [online]. http://dx.doi.org/10.1255/ejms.606.

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Professional and community engagement

Fellow of Royal Australian Chemical Institute (South Australian Branch) - long-serving committee member and President 2005-2007
Australian and New Zealand Forensic Science Society (South Australian Branch) - long-serving committee member and Immediate Past President.
Australian and New Zealand Society for Mass Spectrometry - Member - Convener of ANZSMS 20 - Glenelg, SA 2005
 

Expertise for media contact

  • Analytical chemistry sampling, analysis and interpretation
  • Mass spectrometry ICPMS, LA-ICPMS, LA-HR-MC-ICPMS, MALDI-ToF MS, GCMS, LCMS, Q-TofMS, IRMS
  • Pollution - determining terrestrial and marine pollution in corals, fish,water and soil/sediment especially in Great Barrier Reef and Asian marine environment
  • forensic investigations

Subject/s

  • Chemistry
  • Environment
  • Forensic Science
  • Pollution


inspiring achievement