While at the University Children's Hospital Heidelberg he designed and developed the first GC(/MS)-C-IRMS instrument for simultaneous compound identification and compound specific isotope analysis of the various constituents of a complex sample. Building this hyphenated MS/IRMS hybrid was supported by Finnigan MAT (as then was) and Dr Willie Brand (Finnigan MAT) who designed and built the interface for splitting the flow from the gas chromatograph in the ratio needed to meet specifications and requirement of both the ion trap mass spectrometer and the Delta S isotope ratio mass spectrometer.
Most recently Meier-Augenstein was involved with the investigation of the death of Lamduan Armitage dubbed "The Lady of the Hills" and the "Thai Bride". His interpretation of stable isotopic signatures obtained from remains of the murder victim corroborated one line of investigation that the victim might have grown up in Thailand.[7] A subsequently launched public appeal received a response from a Thai family who believed the victim could be their daughter.[8]DNA tests finally confirmed the identity of the victim as Lamduan Armitage, née Seekanya, originally from Thailand who had moved to the UK in 1991.[9]
He is the author of the 2010 book Stable Isotope Forensics, the first textbook dedicated to principles and forensic applications of stable isotope analytical techniques,[10] which since has been extensively up-dated. The second edition, Stable Isotope Forensics - Methods and Forensic Applications of Stable Isotope Analysis, was published in 2018.[11]
W. Meier-Augenstein, W. Brand, G.F. Hoffmann, D. Rating (1994). “Bridging the Information Gap between Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry and Conventional Mass Spectrometry”. Biol. Mass Spectrom.23, 376-378.[14]
W. Meier-Augenstein (1995). “On-line Recording of 13C/12C Ratios and Mass Spectra in one Gas Chromatographic Analysis”. J. High Resolut. Chromatogr.18, 28-32.[15]
Meier-Augenstein, W. (2002). "Stable Isotopic Analysis of Fatty Acids by Gas Chromatography - Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry". Anal. Chim. Acta. 465 (1–2): 63–79. doi:10.1016/s0003-2670(02)00194-0.
W. Meier-Augenstein and R. H. Liu: "Forensic Applications of Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry", in Advances in Forensic Application of Mass Spectrometry by Jehuda Yinon [ed.], CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida (USA), (2003), chapter 4, 149 - 180, ISBN0-8493-15220.
W. Meier-Augenstein: "Stable Isotope Fingerprinting", in Forensic Human Identification: An Introduction by S. M. Black & T.J.U. Thomson [eds.], CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida (USA), (2006), chapter 2, 29-53, ISBN0-8493-39545.
Fraser, I.; Meier-Augenstein, W.; Kalin, R.M. (2006). "The Role of Stable Isotopes in Human Identification: A longitudinal study into the variability of isotope signals in human hair and nails". Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom. 20 (7): 1109–1116. Bibcode:2006RCMS...20.1109F. doi:10.1002/rcm.2424. PMID16521167.
Fraser, I.; Meier-Augenstein, W. (2007). "Stable 2H isotope analysis of human hair and nails can aid forensic human identification". Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom. 21 (20): 3279–3285. doi:10.1002/rcm.3209. PMID17879389.
Meier-Augenstein, W.; Fraser, I. (2008). "Forensic stable isotope analysis leads to identification of a mutilated murder victim". Science & Justice. 48 (3): 153–159. doi:10.1016/j.scijus.2007.10.010. PMID18953804.
Lock, Claire M.; Meier-Augenstein, Wolfram (2008). "Investigation of isotopic linkage between precursor and product in the synthesis of a high explosive". Forensic Science International. 179 (2–3): 157–162. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2008.05.015. PMID18632231.
Farmer, N.; Meier-Augenstein, W.; Lucy, D. (2009). "Isotope Analysis of White Paints and Likelihood Ratios". Science & Justice. 49 (2): 114–119. doi:10.1016/j.scijus.2009.02.003. PMID19606590.
NicDaéid, N.; Meier-Augenstein, W.; Kemp, H.F. (2011). "Investigating the provenance of un-dyed spun cotton fibre using multi-isotope profiles and chemometric analysis". Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom. 25 (13): 1812–1816. doi:10.1002/rcm.5046. PMID21638356.
Meier-Augenstein, W.; Kemp, H.F.; Hardy, S. (2012). "Detection of Counterfeit Scotch Whisky by Bulk 2H and 18O Stable Isotope Analysis". Food Chemistry. 133: 1070–1074. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2012.01.084.