His current research interests include rapid, mobile and on-scene chemical analysis in forensic science and other fields, chemical profiling and forensic intelligence of explosives, chemical warfare agents, drugs of abuse and ignitable liquids, forensic toxicological analysis of alternative matrices, chemical imaging in forensic science and forensic applications of comprehensive gas and liquid chromatography. He has (co)authored over 50 peer reviewed scientific papers on analytical chemistry, polymer characterization and forensic science (h-index 22 – Google Scholar – 2021). Van Asten is/has been involved in several successful forensic science and analytical chemistry funding applications in the Netherlands and Europe. He is currently the PI of the NWO funded ENW PPS project PARADISE (Propelling Analysts by Removing Analytical-, Data-, Instrument-, and Sample-related Encumbrances) and WP leader in the EU H2020 project INHERIT (INHibitors, Explosives and pRecursors InvesTigation). Van Asten collaborates with TNO in the FACING (Forensic Attribution for CWA INtelliGence) project funded by the Ministry of Defense and supervises two external PhD students from the Amsterdam Police and the Virginia Department of Forensic Science, USA in projects on novel analysis strategies for NPS (New Psychoactive Substance) and other drugs of abuse in high volume case work.