Prof van Asten joined the van ‘t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences (HIMS) in 2012 on a special chair in Forensic Analytical Chemistry while working for the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI, 2006-2018). In 2018, he transferred to the University of Amsterdam (UvA) on a full chair on Forensic Analytical Chemistry and On-Scene Chemical Analysis. His research interests include the chemical profiling of explosives and drugs of abuse, the analysis of (bio)markers of CWA (Chemical Warfare Agent) exposure, rapid chemical identification at the crime scene with portable instruments, the forensic use of comprehensive 2D chromatography, chemical imaging of forensic traces, and the use of data science and A.I. to create forensic chemical intelligence from large volume forensic case data.
He is co-director of the CLHC, the Netherlands Center for Forensic Science and Medicine. This network organization for academic forensic research and education was established in 2013 by the UvA, NFI, and the Police Academy. Additionally, he is the scientific program director of the Master Forensic Science since 2018. This program is unique in the Netherlands and offers a dedicated, interdisciplinary two year curriculum on forensic science within the Institute of Interdisciplinary Studies (IIS) of the University of Amsterdam. Prof van Asten is visiting scientist and scientific advisor to the board at the Netherlands Forensic Institute and he is member of the editorial board of the scientific journal Forensic Chemistry.
Additionally, he is advisory member of the scientific working group of NICAS (Netherlands Institute of Conservation+Art+Science, member of the certification commission of the advanced professional program Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage, and member of OPCW’s Temporary Working Group on Chemical Forensics. He has (co-)authored over 90 scientific publications on (forensic) analytical chemistry and wrote an educational book on the principles of forensic analytical chemistry, Chemical Analysis for Forensic Evidence, that was published in 2022. He has also coordinated a popular book on the work and life of the first dedicated forensic scientist of the Netherlands, Co van Ledden Hulsebosch, titled The Dutch Sherlock.
