Dr Barbara Daniel

Dr Daniel founded King’s Forensics in 2017. Since her retirement in 2019 she has continued to contribute and support forensic wildlife initiatives. She was an integral part of the original City of London team who went to Zimbabwe in 2019 and in June 2023 returned (with CoLP) to assess impact and future collaborations. As a result of this recent visit Dr Daniel is progressing a DNA identification concept to assist the Zimbabwean research group and is also currently working with Republic of Zimbabwe Police on a research project to develop a method to distinguish legal from illegal (bushmeat) products. She is the 2^nd supervisor to a King’s Forensics PhD student investigating fingermark development methods on seized wildlife items focusing on best evidence recovery from ivory, rhino horn and pangolin scales.

Dr Daniel’s significant accomplishments include the creation of key strategic alliances with the Metropolitan Police Forensic Directorate and the City of London Police Forensic Directorate; forged successful collaborations with major forensic providers, and in 2011 brought in the Forensic DNA unit from Queen Mary College to create ‘Forensic DNA Analysis at King’s’, a fully accredited DNA testing laboratory.

As the Lead for the Masters in Forensic Science programme from 1996, Dr Daniel transformed the programme from a small niche MSc to an internationally renowned programme with students and alumni around the globe. In recognition for her contributions to this course, she has received two education awards for both excellence and sustained excellence in teaching. The programme is recognised for consistently delivering cutting-edge knowledge and research in the field.

Dr Daniel retired in 2019 leaving as her legacy a thriving and diverse group of researchers and educators. As an Emeritus Reader, Dr Daniel continues to contribute to the ongoing success of King’s Forensics through delivering key educational and research initiatives, such as the co-direction and development of a wildlife forensic initiative in Africa in partnership with the City of London Police and the provision of supervisory support to PGR students.