Professor Mike Cole

Mike graduated from the University of Cambridge in 1986 having read Natural Sciences. He then became the first PhD bursary student supported by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, where he developed his interest in phytochemicals and natural products as potential agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals. Having worked with colleagues at both Birkbeck College and Imperial College, University of London, Mike obtained his PhD in Natural Product Chemistry in 1990.

Following a short spell in industry, Mike joined the Forensic Science Unit at the University of Strathclyde in 1991 as a short course tutor. He later became Director of the Forensic Science Unit in 2000.

In 2001, Mike joined Anglia Ruskin University as Professor of Forensic Science and Head of the Department of Forensic Science. Mike became Deputy Dean for Research and External Income in the Faculty of Science and Engineering in 2014 and was interim Pro Vice Chancellor (Research) from March, 2019 until September, 2019 supporting the development of REF2021. Mike was Dean of ARU Doctoral School from March 2020 until May 2022. He returned to the Forensic Science teaching team in June 2022.

Mike joined the University of Winchester as a Senior Lecturer in Forensic Investigation in February 2026. During 35 years working on forensic science cases, education and research, in 36 countries around the world, Mike has supervised 27 research students to completion at Master’s and Doctoral level. Mike’s current teaching and research interests lie in research methods, drug chemistry, development of analytical techniques for novel psychoactive substances and fire and arson investigation.

Mike's research interests include the analysis, profiling and comparison of drugs, the analysis and comparison of glass, development of methods for arson investigation and the use of DNA in the identification drugs and of poisonous plants. A strong emphasis is placed  on numerical methods and AI for the interpretation of the data generated. Mike currently authoring a book, chielfy based on his research, entitled "Drug analysis, profiling and chemometrics" to be published by the RSC.

Selected recent publications

Research papers

Yankova, Y., Cirstea, S., Cole, M. and Warren, J., 2024. Identification and Discrimination of Petrol Sources by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Machine Learning in Fire Debris Analysis. Applied Sciences, 14(12), p.5177.

Yankova, Y., Cole, M.D., Cirstea, S. and Warren, J., 2024. Individualization of petrol sources by high field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy. Forensic Science International, p.112103.

Mthembi, P.M., Mwenesongole, E.M. and Cole, M.D., 2024. Chemical profiling of the street drug Nyaope in South Africa using GC–MS. Emerging Trends in Drugs, Addictions, and Health, 4, p.100142.

Morrissey, J., Stodter, A., Sherratt, F. and Cole, M.D., 2023. Partnership between academics and practitioners–addressing the challenges in forensic science. Science & Justice, 63(1), pp.74-82.

Mthembi, P. M., Mwenesongole, E. M., Cole, M. D., 2021. A validated method for the analysis and profiling of 'nyaope' using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. South African Journal of Science, 117(11-12), pp. 1-9.

Jurowski, K., Krośniak, M., Fołta, M., Cole, M., Piekoszewski, W., 2019. Toxicological analysis of Pb and Cd by ET AAS in local anaesthetics for teething (teething gels) based on herbs available in Polish pharmacies. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology, 52, pp. 18-21. doi: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2018.11.005

Jurowski, K., Krośniak, M., Fołta, M., Tatar, B., Cole, M., Piekoszewski, W., 2019. The Toxicological Analysis of Ni and Cr in Prescription Food for Special Medical Purposes and Modified Milk Products for Babies in Infancy Available in Pharmacies in Poland. Biological Trace Element Research, pp. 1-7. doi: 10.1007/s12011-019-01667-w

Mthembi, P. M., Mwenesongole, E. M., Cole, M. D., 2019. Chemical profiling of the street cocktail drug ‘nyaope’ in South Africa using GC–MS II: Stability studies of the cannabinoid, opiate and antiretroviral components during sample storage. Forensic Science International, 300, pp. 187-192.

Mthembi, P. M., Mwenesongole, E. M., Cole, M. D., 2018. Chemical profiling of the street cocktail drug ‘nyaope’in South Africa using GC–MS I: Stability studies of components of ‘nyaope’ in organic solvents. Forensic Science International, 292, pp. 115-124.

Grela, A., Gautam, L., Cole, M. D., 2018. A multifactorial critical appraisal of substances found in drug facilitated sexual assault cases. Forensic Science International. 292, pp. 50-60.

Kuleya, C., Cole, M. D., 2018. Forensic Analysis of Piperazines. In Kowalska, T., Sajewicz, M., Sherma, J. (Eds.), 2018. Chromatographic Techniques in the Forensic Analysis of Designer Drugs (Florida: CRC Press), pp. 329-340.

Aldmour, R., Yousef, S., Yaghi, M., Tapaswi, S., Pattanaik, K. K., Cole, M., 2016. New cloud offloading algorithm for better energy consumption and process time. International Journal of System Assurance Engineering and Management, pp. 1-4.

Fakrudeen, M., Yousef, S., Tapaswi, S., Patnaik, K. K., Cole, M., 2016. Voice performance analysis using voice codec by packet fragmentation and contention free periods in wireless networks. International Journal of System Assurance Engineering and Management, pp. 1-7.

Kushwah, R., Tapaswi, S., Kumar, A., Pattanaik, K. K., Yousef, S., Cole, M., 2016. Gateway load balancing using multiple QoS parameters in a hybrid MANET. Wireless Networks, pp. 1-12.

Book

Cole, M.D., Gautam, L. and Grela, A., 2025. Controlled Drug Analysis. Royal Society of Chemistry.

Book chapters

M. Cole and M. Baron 2024 “Drugs of abuse” in 'Crime Scene to Court: The Essentials of Forensic Science, 5th Edition'. Royal Society of Chemistry. pp448 – 493. ISBN 9781839168000.

Book chapters

M. Cole and M. Baron 2024 “Drugs of abuse” in 'Crime Scene to Court: The Essentials of Forensic Science, 5th Edition'. Royal Society of Chemistry. pp448 – 493. ISBN 9781839168000.

Recent presentations and conferences

Keynote addresses at international conferences by invitation

 Cole, M.D. (2023) Reflections on the future of drug chemistry”. Opening plenary lecture at the "Conference of Young Forensic Chemists" (Konferencja Młodych Chemików Sądowych) held at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland, on May 25-26, 2023.

Cole, M.D. (2023) “Drug trends in Africa” Current Trends in Seized Drug Analysis. Plenary Lecture. Online conference. Jan 23rd – 27th 2023.

Cole, M.D. (2022) “A critical evaluation of the chemometrics used in heroin profiling”. Plenary presentation. African Association of Physiological Sciences 2nd online webinar. 9 November, 2022.

Cole, M. D., Mthembi, P. M., Mwenesongole, E., 2022. Profiling of the South African Street drug “nyaope” using GC – MS. 9th European Academy of Forensic Science, Stockholm, Sweden. Oral presentation.

Ratshonka, S., Cole, M. D, Gautam, L., Ferguson, L., 2022. A critical evaluation of the statistical methods used in heroin profiling. 9th European Academy of Forensic Science, Stockholm, Sweden. Poster presentation.

Mthembi, P. M., Mwenesongole, E. M., Cole, M. D., 2019. Chemical Profiling of Nyaope. European Network of Forensic Science Institutes Working Group Drugs, Cyprus.

Cole, M. D., Mwenesongole, E., Mthembi, M., 2017. Factors affecting methodologies for the analysis and profiling of drugs of abuse – “Nyaope”. South African Police Service Conference. Pretoria, South Africa.

Media experience

Mike has contributed widely to the media including television, radio and the printed press. Recent published articles include:

Articles written for The Conversation

Cole, M. 2024 Spice: the 'zombie drug' being found in some vape liquids. 15 February, 2024.

Cole, M. 2024 Kush: what is this dangerous new west African drug that supposedly contains human bones? 15 January, 2024.

Cole, M. 2020 Do drugs go off? What happens to medicines after their use-by dates. 7 February, 2020.

Grela, A., Gautam, L. & Cole, M. Xanax: how does it work and what are the side effects? 11 April 2018.

Cole, M. Monkey Dust, Krokodil, Nyaope: why new drug concoctions keep appearing. 24 August 2018.

Media interviews with Deutsche Welle (TV interview), Business Insider (Internet media interview) and Craving Clarity (podcast).