Corinne counters counterfeiting
Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:23:00 BST
Scientist uses DNA to combat cloth counterfeiters
FROM the retail sector to forensic science to the textile industry – Corinne Waite’s studies at the University of Huddersfield have enabled her to follow a highly unusual career path. And her role as Knowledge Transfer (KTP) Associate was a catalyst.
Since 2012, Mirfield-born Corinne has worked for the innovative textile company Camira Fabrics. She is now technical services manager at its Meltham site. But it was an MSci degree in forensic and analytical science at the University of Huddersfield that propelled her into the world of high-end fabrics.
After graduation, she was alerted to a KTP linking the University and the Textile Centre of Excellence in Huddersfield. The project was to investigate the potential for adding botanical DNA to the fabric of high quality woollen cloth, in order to detect and deter the massive problem of counterfeiting.
A U.S. company named Applied DNA Sciences had developed the concept and the technology, and now the Textile Centre of Excellence and the University of Huddersfield would test and develop the idea as part of a KTP.
Corinne won the post as Associate – “it was too good an opportunity to miss” – and her supervisor at the University was the forensic scientist Dr Graham Williams, who had also supervised her final-year degree project.
“During my time on the KTP I had weekly meetings with Graham – all the DNA knowledge came from him,” said Corinne. A DNA laboratory was built at the Textile Centre, and she used it to test fabrics into which DNA had been introduced, to see if it could still be detected.
“It was very interesting because there’s nothing else like it out there,” said Corinne. “We had a lot of challenges to begin with but just before I left the project we started to see some very good results.”
After school in Mirfield and A-levels at Huddersfield’s Greenhead College, Corinne worked in the retail sector for some years, becoming a manager. On one occasion, there was a break-in at the shop she was working and she was fascinated by the forensic investigation carried out by a police officer.
Later, she learned about forensic science courses at the University of Huddersfield and signed up for a degree, leading to the KTP and then her role at Camira.
“They are a very innovative company, for example, in terms of the sustainability strategies that they pursue, and I find it really exciting to be here.”
