We are thrilled to announce the addition of Dr Roberto King to our team here at West Technology, as Head of Research, Development and Operations. Roberto brings a wealth of scientific research and development experience with him, making him an invaluable asset to the team.
Roberto’s academic journey began at Loughborough University, where he earned his 1st Class BSc Honours degree in Chemistry with Sports Science. Later, in 2009, he completed his PhD in Chemistry, demonstrating his dedication to scientific excellence. Roberto continued his journey at Loughborough as a Postdoctoral Research Associate and subsequently as a Lecturer in Inorganic Chemistry.
In 2014, Roberto joined Foster+Freeman’s Research and Development department as an R&D Applications Specialist. His passion for innovation, technology development, and problem-solving allowed him to advance through the organisation, eventually becoming Vice President of Products in 2022.
Roberto is an accomplished inorganic chemist with vast expertise in applying the sciences to the world of forensics. His background includes work on novel fingermark-enhancement reagents specifically designed for challenging substrates and the use of innovative approaches for forensic imaging. He has also delved into unique methodologies for recovering evidence from document-based sources. His current research interests span a wide range of forensic topics, including fingermarks, body fluids, document examination, trace evidence, omics, and contact transfer.
He has shared his knowledge through more than 200 lectures at scientific events worldwide, including both keynote and plenary sessions. His research outputs are equally inspiring, with over thirty research papers and three book chapters to his name. Roberto has recently completed co-editing a textbook, Driving Forensic Innovation in the 21st Century: Crossing the Valley of Death, which serves to bring together forensic innovation stakeholders in appraising the opportunities and roadblocks for technological development within the discipline. In addition, Roberto has made appearances on both television and news broadcasts, showcasing his expertise and passion for translational outreach within the field.
Beyond the realm of academia, Roberto sits on two external Advisory Boards and has spearheaded collaborative research initiatives as Principal Investigator, including both PhD and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs). Notably, his endeavours over the last 15 years have led to the publication of ten patents and multiple groundbreaking product innovations.
Whilst we know about his impressive professional background, we should also mention that Roberto has a keen interest in cars, reef aquaria, pugs and gardening! Quite the combination!
From all of us at West Technology, we extend a warm welcome to Dr Roberto King and look forward to collaborating with him and achieving great things together. 🌟
Say hello to Roberto on his LinkedIn profile.