Dr Thomas Bassindale BSc, PhD, FHEA
Deputy Head of Department
Summary
Deputy Head of Department of Biosciences and Chemistry. Responsible for student experience and staff management within the department.
I have led significant curriculum developments in modules, courses, and programmes. I lead on student voice activities, such as development of surveys and feedback to ensure students get a high-quality experience at SHU and institutions I work with. I work across many teams in the department and University, being a very collegial and supportive person.
About
I joined Sheffield Hallam in September 2011 as a lecturer, from the government forensic service in Wellington, New Zealand, where I was a senior scientist in Forensic Toxicology. A major attraction of academia was a desire to communicate science, sharing my knowledge and experience with students. I completed my PhD at the UK's World Anti Doping Agency accredited laboratory at King's College London, where I also gained an MSc in Forensic Science. I completed my undergraduate degree in Chemistry with European Studies at the University of Sussex. I teach analytical chemistry and forensic applications of this at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. I have been a course leader at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. I enjoy developing new engaging material and frequently use forensic science topics and my experiences as a forensic scientist as a hook to engage students in the material.
I have published a number of peer reviewed articles in the area of forensic science and doping control, also co-writing three book chapters. The work undertaken by my PhD student and the post doc on our PCC study have presented posters and orally at numerous conferences.
I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Teaching
I teach forensic and analytical science across our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
Courses taught
Undergraduate and Post graduate courses in the Department of Biosciences and Chemistry
Research
Sports drug testing
Using mass spectrometry to investigate metabolism and excretion of doping compounds. New compounds used to help aid performance (legally or illicitly) are emerging all of the time. These substances have often not been fully tested or evaluated either for their safety or how they are processed by the body. Studies can help to determine the pharmacokinetics of these drugs and provide the athletes with knowledge of their profiles.
A large and continuing problem is that of failed drugs tests due to either mislabelled or contaminated supplements. Supplements can be analysed using novel methods to determine the presence of contaminants or compounds which may lead to a failed doping control test.
Forensic toxicology and hair testing
Developing new methods for the detection of drugs and poisons in biological specimens. Alternative matrices such as hair samples are being used more routinely for drugs analysis over blood samples and these are of great interest due to their non-invasive nature. Hair can provide additional information also, such as the drug use history of an individual stretching back for months.
Forensic cases from children in houses being used as methamphetamine laboratories through to potential drink spiking 'date rape' or pre-work place drug screening scenarios use hair testing for court evidential purposes.
Publications
Journal articles
Bassindale, T., LeSuer, R., & Smith, D. (2021). Perceptions of a program approach to virtual laboratory provision for analytical and bioanalytical sciences. The Journal of Forensic Science Education, 3 (1). https://jfse-ojs-tamu.tdl.org/jfse/index.php/jfse/article/view/46
Hand, R.A., Bassindale, T., Turner, N., & Morgan, G. (2021). Application of Comprehensive 2D Chromatography in the Anti-Doping Field: Sample Identification and Quantification. Journal of Chromatography B, 122584. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jchromb.2021.122584
Hand, R.A., Piletska, E., Bassindale, T., Morgan, G., & Turner, N. (2020). Application of molecularly imprinted polymers in the anti-doping field: sample purification and compound analysis. Analyst, 145 (14), 4716-4736. http://doi.org/10.1039/d0an00682c
Flinders, B., Beasley, E., Verlaan, R.M., Cuypers, E., Francese, S., Bassindale, T., ... Heeren, R.M.A. (2017). Optimization of sample preparation and instrumental parameters for the rapid analysis of drugs of abuse in hair samples by MALDI-MS/MS imaging. Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry, 28 (11), 2462-2468. http://doi.org/10.1007/s13361-017-1766-0
Bucknell, A., & Bassindale, T. (2017). An investigation into the effect of surveillance drones on textile evidence at crime scenes. Science & justice, 57 (5), 373-375. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.scijus.2017.05.004
Beasley, E., Francese, S., & Bassindale, T. (2016). Detection and mapping of Cannabinoids in single hair samples through rapid derivatization- Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Mass Spectrometry. Analytical Chemistry, 88 (20), 10328-10334. http://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.6b03551
Bucknall, V., Rehman, H., Bassindale, T., & Clement, R.G. (2014). The athlete biological passport : ticket to a fair commonwealth games. Scottish Medical Journal, 59 (3), 143-148. http://doi.org/10.1177/0036933014542062
Bassindale, T. (2012). Quantitative analysis of methamphetamine in hair of children removed from clandestine laboratories - evidence of passive exposure? Forensic Science International, 219 (1-3), 179-182. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2012.01.003
Bassindale, T., & Berezowski, R. (2011). Quantitative analysis of hair samples for 1-benzylpiperazine (BZP) using high-performance liquid chromatography triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) detection. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 401 (6), 2013-2017. http://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-011-5235-5
Bassindale, T. (2011). Benzylpiperazine: the New Zealand legal perspective. Drug Testing and Analysis, 3 (7-8), 428-429. http://doi.org/10.1002/dta.314
Bassindale, T., & Hosking, M. (2011). Deaths in Rotorua's geothermal hot pools: hydrogen sulphide poisoning. Forensic Science International, 207 (1-3), e28-e29. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2010.11.025
Guthery, B., Bassindale, T., Bassindale, A., Pillinger, C.T., & Morgan, G.H. (2010). Qualitative drug analysis of hair extracts by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatographytime-of-flight mass spectrometry. Journal of Chromatography A, 1217 (26), 4402-4410. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.chroma.2010.04.020
Lucas, N., Fitzmaurice, P.S., & Bassindale, T. (2008). Letting your hair down with party pills. Chemistry in New Zealand, 72 (4), pp 144-145. http://nzic.org.nz/CiNZ/articles/Bassindale_Oct08.pdf
Bassindale, T., Cowan, D.A., Dale, S., Hutt, A.J., Leeds, A.R., Wheeler, M.J., & Kicman, A.T. (2004). Effects of oral administration of androstenedione on plasma androgens in young women using hormonal contraception. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 89 (12), 6030-6038. http://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2004-0790
Kicman, A.T., Bassindale, T., Cowan, D.A., Dale, S., Hutt, A.J., & Leeds, A.R. (2003). Effect of androstenedione ingestion on plasma testosterone in young women; a dietary supplement with potential health risks. Clinical chemistry, 49 (1), 167-169. http://doi.org/10.1373/49.1.167
Conference papers
Bassindale, T., Cowan, D.A., Dale, S., Hutt, A.J., & Kicman, A.T. (2002). Disposition of androstenedione and testosterone following oral administration of androstenedione to healthy female volunteers; influence on the urinary T/E ratio. In Schanzer, W., Geyer, H., Gotzmann, A., & Mareck, U. (Eds.) Manfred Donike Workshop - 20th Cologne Workshop on Dope Analysis 2002, Koln, (pp. 51-60). Sport und Buch Strauß - Köln: https://www.dshs-koeln.de/fileadmin/redaktion/Institute/Biochemie/PDF/Proceedings/Proceedings_10/10_51-60.pdf
Book chapters
Flinders, B., Bassindale, T., & Heeren, R.M.A. (2019). Recent Technological Developments in MALDI-MSI Based Hair Analysis. In Advanced Sciences and Technologies for Security Applications. (pp. 133-149). Springer International Publishing: http://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-20542-3_9
Morgan, G., Bassindale, T., & Pearse, M. (2015). Encouraging innovation. In Forensic science and beyond: authenticity, provenance and assurance - evidence and case studies. (pp. 174-178). Government Office for Science: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/506462/gs-15-37b-forensic-science-beyond-evidence.pdf
Bassindale, T., Coxon, A., & Russell, S. (2010). Chapter 70Illicit drugs and toxicology. In Expert Evidence Law, Practice, Procedure and Advocacy. (Volume 4). Thomson Reuters
Theses / Dissertations
Beasley, E. (2018). Detection and Mapping of Cannabis Use in Hair Samples Using Mass Spectrometry. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Bassindale, T. http://doi.org/10.7190/shu-thesis-00142
Presentations
Kates, L., Hand, R., Bassindale, T., Morgan, G., & Turner, N. (2022). THE PURSUIT OF CLEAN SPORT USING GCXGC-TOFMS TO DETECT ANABOLIC ANDROGENIC STEROIDS IN URINE. Presented at: 13th Multidimensional Chromatography Workshop, Virtual
Kates, L., Hand, R., Bassindale, T., Morgan, G., & Turner, N. (2022). THE PURSUIT OF CLEAN SPORT USING GCXGC-TOFMS TO DETECT ANABOLIC ANDROGENIC STEROIDS IN URINE. Presented at: 13th Multidimensional Chromatography Workshop, Virtual
Hand, R., Morgan, G., Bassindale, T., & Turner, N. (2021). Working Towards Comprehensive Steroid Detection in Urine via Targeted MIPs Clean-up and Fully Automated GCxGC-MS Analysis. Presented at: 1st European Sample Preparation e-Conference, Virtual
Hand, R., Morgan, G., Bassindale, T., & Turner, N. (2021). Working Towards Comprehensive Steroid Detection in Urine via Targeted MIPs Clean-up and Fully Automated GCxGC-MS Analysis. Presented at: 1st European Sample Preparation e-Conference, Virtual
Posters
Hand, R., Morgan, G., Bassindale, T., & Turner, N. (2020). Comprehensive Steroid Detection in Urine via Targeted MIPs Clean-up and Fully Automated GCxGC-MS Analysis. Presented at: RSC Twitter Poster, Virtual
Hand, R., Morgan, G., Bassindale, T., & Turner, N. (2020). Comprehensive Steroid Detection in Urine via Targeted MIPs Clean-up and Fully Automated GCxGC-MS Analysis. Presented at: RSC Twitter Poster, Virtual
Postgraduate supervision
Previous:
Emma Beasley - Imaging mass spectrometry and two dimensional chromatography of hair samples to detect drug use (2015-2018)