Academic interests
Vestad researches trace collection at crime scenes and technological changes to forensic practice. She also works with rural criminology, pandemic management and crisis communication.
1. DNA as evidence
There are differences in how "technological" the methods for collecting and interpreting forensic evidence is. While some methods are mostly algorithmic and require little human influence, others are almost entirely manual.
Vestad's PhD project “Forensic DNA Evidence Technologies and Criminological Horizons" investigates how crime scene technicians and forensic analysts in Norwegian and European law enforcement navigate the landscape of evidence production technologies. The project is part of Digital DNA, and brings empirical knowledge of 'high' and 'low tech' in policing to a discussion of how technological developments inform crime scene investigations.
2. The Cabin Ban and the Swedish border
Vestad has researched the Norwegian COVID-19 cabin ban of March and April 2020, and has since followed the cabin owners' class action lawsuit against the State throughout the Oslo District Court, Borgarting Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. The cabin studies are part of Vestad's contribution to Corona and the Rule of Law.
3. The 22 July terror attack
Vestad is part of LAW22JULY: RIPPLES - the main component in the Faculty of Law, University of Oslo's initiative to commemorate 22 July, investigating temporal 'micro-memorialisation' after the attack.
Teaching
- Introduction to Criminology (KRIM1100)
- Surveillance: Data, technologies, practices (KRIM2957/KRIM4957)
- Sociology of Law I (JUS4122)
Coordinating roles
- The research initiative Corona and the Rule of Law
- The research project LAW22JULY: RIPPLES
Background
Vestad has previously held research assistant positions at the Department of Criminology and Sociology of Law and the Department of Public and International Law, University of Oslo. Vestad holds a Master’s degree in Criminology from the University of Oslo, and undergraduate degrees in Crime, Justice and Legal Studies, and Anthropology, from La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia.