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Anthony Fitzpatrick

Dr Anthony Fitzpatrick

Senior Lecturer

School of Science & Technology

Staff Group(s)
Chemistry and Forensic Science

Role

Dr Fitzpatrick is a Forensic Chemist with an interest in applying functional chemistry and materials science to solve forensic science issues. His research mainly focuses on areas of drug detection and analysis, and next generation document security. He is currently involved in collaborative projects with local law enforcement as well as international universities and forensic providers.

He is the Forensic Science Admissions Tutor and Module Leader for Forensic Chemistry (CHEM10033), BSc Project Module  (FORE30003), and MSci/MSc Project  Module (CHEM40271)

He also teaches on the following modules:

  • Drugs of Abuse (CHEM30331)
  • Research Methods and Independent Studies (CHEM40261)
  • BSc and Master level Projects and Dissertations

Career overview

Dr Fitzpatrick completed his BSc in University College Dublin (UCD) in 2011 graduating with first class honours. He remained there for his PhD under the supervision of Dr Grace Morgan working on “Modulation of the Magnetic Anisotropy and the Jahn-Teller Distortion in Manganese(III)” where he was awarded the BOC Gases Thesis Prize and the Royal Irish Academy Young Chemist Prize. He finished his PhD in 2015 and stayed as a PDRA until the end of 2016. ​He joined Nottingham Trent University as a lecturer in January 2017 teaching inorganic chemistry to undergraduate and postgraduate students until August 2020. He then took up a post as lecturer of inorganic chemistry at Sheffield Hallam University in September 2020 before returning to NTU as a senior lecturer in November 2021.

Research areas

Dr Fitzpatrick is a member of the Imaging, Materials and Engineering Centre (IMEC) research centre. His research interests lie at the intersection of inorganic, materials, and forensic chemistry. Some of the groups current projects are:

  • Novel ionic liquids based presumptive tests for illicit drug detection
Developing novel presumptive drug‑testing technologies through the design of novel ionic‑liquid‑based reagents and functional coordination complexes. By addressing long‑standing limitations of traditional colorimetric tests; such as poor stability, harsh chemistry, limited selectivity and single‑use formats; this work aims to deliver more robust, sustainable and chemically tunable alternatives for frontline forensic applications. The research spans the full analytical pipeline, from enhanced colorimetric assays (including Froehde, Mandelin, Simon’s and Chen-Kao tests) to integrated confirmation using techniques such as GC‑MS. A key theme is harnessing the unique solvating, thermal and photochemical properties of ionic liquids to improve drug solubilisation, test specificity, and ease of deployment in both laboratory and field settings. This programme ultimately seeks to modernise presumptive testing by creating stable, high‑performance reagents and paper‑based platforms capable of detecting a broadening range of controlled substances encountered in contemporary forensic casework.
  • Soft luminescent materials for next generation security features
Developing next‑generation anti‑counterfeiting technologies through the design of advanced luminescent ionic liquids incorporating lanthanide complexes. This work addresses long‑standing limitations in document‑security materials; such as poor processability, low robustness, and restricted chemical tunability; by combining the well‑defined photonic properties of lanthanide f–f emission with the versatility of ionic liquids. By creating structurally diverse, room‑temperature liquid complexes and mixing them in controlled ratios, this research demonstrates how highly distinctive and tuneable spectral signatures can be generated, enabling new authentication paradigms based on complex, multicomponent photoluminescent “barcodes”. This approach opens a pathway to more secure, customisable and industrially viable security inks, supporting critical applications in banknotes, identification documents, and other high‑value materials.
  • Smart fingerprint powders for forensic fingermark detection
Exploring the development of advanced chitosan–polyphosphate powder systems as versatile solid‑state platforms for the rapid detection of forensically relevant molecules. By combining the innate biocompatibility, high surface area and tunable porosity of chitosan‑based matrices with the stabilising, ion‑binding properties of polyphosphate networks, this work aims to create robust, shelf‑stable and easily deployable sensing materials. These powders can be functionalised with tailored additives, such as molecular dyes, coordination complexes or long‑lived phosphorescent emitters; to provide selective responses to targets including cocaine, THC, improvised‑explosive precursors and other trace substances encountered in modern forensic casework. The approach enables rapid colorimetric or luminescent readouts, improved environmental resilience, and the potential for multi‑modal detection within a single formulation.
  • Current supervised PhD students include:
    • Vera Marques (Supervisor)
    • Annie Prasad (Supervisor)
    • Dhanushiyaa Sivarajah (Co-Supervisor)
  • Previously supervised PhD students include:
    • Dr Elizabeth Rusbridge (Co-Supervisor)

Opportunities to carry out postgraduate research towards an MPhil/PhD exist in the School of Science and Technology and further information may be obtained from the NTU Graduate School.

External activity

Publications

Please see the following for latest publications

NTU Open Research Archive

Google Scholar

ORCID

See all of Dr Anthony Fitzpatrick's publications...

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

My research aligns with following UN Goals:

9 - Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure Badge 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production Badge 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions Badge