Personal profile

Contact Details

Email: t.d.grant@aston.ac.uk

Telephone: +44 (0) 121 204 3799

Qualifications

  • BA Philosophy 
  • MSc Cognitive Science 
  • PhD Linguistics - Authorship attribution in a forensic context

Research Interests

My main research interests are within the area of forensic linguistics. I have particular interest and expertise in forensic authorship analysis focusing on short form messages such as SMS text messages, Twitter posts and Internet Relay Chat.  Recent publications have focussed on online sexual abuse conversations.

I have also published broadly across forensic linguistics including work the linguistics of the police interview, the analysis of threatening communication and the pragmatics of non-verbal consent in rape cases.

I am one of the world’s most experienced forensic linguistic practitioners and my case work has involved the analysis of abusive and threatening communications in many different contexts including investigations into sexual assault, stalking, murder and terrorism. In 2019 I was award an NCA Commendation for my part in the investigation that led to the arrest and successful prosecution of Matthew Falder.  I have provided evidence for both prosecution and defence in criminal cases, in commercialarbitration disputes and in civil cases involving discipline and dismissal of staff and copyright infringement and plagiarism. I have assisted in designing and presenting police media appeals such as for the BBC Crimewatch programme.

I have significant experience of working with press, TV and radio and my work has appeared in newspaper and magazine feature articles, on the BBC 1 OneShow and on the BBC Radio 4 Programme Word of Mouth.  I regularly speak to wider adult and schools audiences at events such as Café Scientifique and the British Festival of Science. 

PhD Supervision

I have supervised a large number of PhDs to completion over a wide variety of topics including forensic authorship analysis, online sexual crime and the analysis of malicious communications.

I am always interested in hearing from prospective PhD students with interesting research plans in forensic linguistics.

Teaching Activity

My teaching responsibilities vary from year to year but recently I have taught on the following modules:

Undergraduate  
Psychology of language and communication

Postgraduate 
Language as evidence
Linguistics in legal contexts
Practical Applications in Forensic Linguistics 

Administrative Roles

Director of the Aston Institute for Forensic Linguistics

Director of Research Impact for the School of Langauges and Social Sciences

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