Research Group Digital Forensics & E-Discovery
The amount of digital information involved in investigations continues to grow exponentially. Finding the "needle in the digital haystack" is becoming increasingly complex. In our practice-oriented research, we explore how forensic investigators and corporate fraud investigators can process large data collections faster, more reliably, and more cost-effectively.
The Digital Forensics & E-Discovery research group is led by Professor (Lector) Dr. Hans Henseler and is closely connected to the HBO-ICT degree programme (Forensic ICT specialisation) at University of Applied Sciences Leiden (Hogeschool Leiden).
Working method & focus
Digital forensics and e-discovery (electronic discovery) focus on securing, searching, and analysing digital data as evidence in criminal, civil, or internal corporate investigations. Because manual assessment of vast datasets is no longer feasible, modern data science methods are essential.
Our research group focuses on:
- Artificial intelligence & text mining in forensics
Developing and testing machine learning models and Natural Language Processing (NLP) to quickly classify relevant text documents, emails, and chat messages. - Open source investigative tools
Creating and validating transparent, reproducible, and open-source software tools that forensic examiners can integrate directly into their day-to-day workflow. - Validation & reliability
Ensuring that digital investigative methods meet the highest legal standards and produce verifiable, court-admissible evidence.
Education & practice
Practice and education are inextricably linked within our research group:
- Curriculum integration
Insights from our research projects are directly incorporated into the Forensic ICT track of the HBO-ICT programme. - Student research
Students actively contribute to research questions from external partners through internships, minor projects, and graduation theses. - Professional field collaboration
We work in close partnership with organisations such as the Dutch Police (Politie), the Fiscal Intelligence and Investigation Service (FIOD), the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI), and specialised e-discovery consulting firms.
About the Professor (Lector)
Dr. Hans Henseler
Professor of Digital Forensics & E-Discovery
Contact & Information
Are you interested in collaborating with the research group, offering an internship or graduation project, or learning more about our research projects?
E-mail: [email protected]