Funding Opportunities
Forensic science is the application of sciences such as physics, chemistry, biology, computer science and engineering to matters of law.
NIJ’s forensic science research and development program focuses on basic and applied scientific research with the intent to:
- Direct the findings of basic scientific research in broader scientific fields applicable to forensic science.
- Apply forensic science research to the development of highly discriminating, accurate, reliable, cost-effective, rapid methods for the identification, analysis and interpretation of physical evidence.
- Expand the scientific basis of forensic methods.
- Produce useful materials, devices, systems or methods that have the potential for forensic application.
- Increase the body of knowledge to guide and inform forensic science policy and practice.
On this page, find links to articles, awards, events, publications, and multimedia related to forensic sciences.
Just Research of Dating Apps and Violent Sexual Assault Cases
In episode two of our 2022 Sexual Assault Awareness Month mini season, Just Science sat down with Dr. Julie Valentine, a researcher, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, and Associate Dean of Brigham Young University's College of Nursing, to discuss sexual assault cases involving strangulation and dating apps. While working as a sexual assault nurse examiner, Dr. Valentine and colleagues noticed an increase in survivors reporting violent sexual assaults that occurred after meeting someone through a dating app.
Sexual Assault Kit Evidence Tracking: The Idaho State Police Forensic
This webinar will review the features and advantages of the Idaho State Police Forensic Services’ freely available sexual assault kit evidence tracking system.
This webinar was hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on April 7, 2022.
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Legalization of Marijuana: The Journey of Marijuana Laws in Colorado and Ohio
This webinar will focus on the journey through medical marijuana and the decriminalization of hemp with legalization on the horizon in the state of Ohio. We will also focus on the impact that legalization has made in the state of Colorado over the past 10 years. The journey between these two states will demonstrate the challenges and needs for a shift in the analytical approach.
This webinar was hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on April 5, 2022, as part of the ASCLD Train the Director Webinar Series.
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Just Sexual Assault Response and Supporting Vulnerable Populations
In episode one of our 2022 Sexual Assault Awareness Month mini season, Just Science sat down with Mary Weston, the Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Supervisor of the Cold Case Unit, and Project Manager of the Sexual Assault Kit Task Force at Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office to discuss sexual assault response with vulnerable populations. Different challenges may arise when prosecuting sexual assault cases involving vulnerable populations, including cases with male victims.
Application of the OSAC Registry of Standards to Forensic Science Service Providers’ Quality Systems
The NIST Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science advances the mission of strengthening forensic practice by facilitating the development of technically sound, science-based standards through a formal standard developing organization (SDO) process. Although, there are numerous challenges facing laboratory managers in implementing standards, OSAC has observed scores of forensic science service providers implement standards listed on the OSAC Registry and has gathered helpful guidance from the experiences of those laboratories.
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Forensic Anthropology, Pathology, Entomology, & Microbial Forensics; NIJ 2022 Forensic R&D Symposium
The NIJ Forensic Science Research and Development Symposium is an open meeting where attendees can learn about NIJ-funded research across a variety of forensic science areas. This is one of four videos from the 2022 symposium, which was held March 1-2, 2022.
Presentations include -
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Seized Drugs and Toxicology Research and Development; 2022 NIJ Forensic R&D Symposium
The NIJ Forensic Science Research and Development Symposium is an open meeting where attendees can learn about NIJ-funded research across a variety of forensic science areas. This is one of four videos from the 2022 symposium, which was held March 1-2, 2022.
Presentations include -
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Forensic Biology and DNA Research and Development; 2022 NIJ Forensic R&D Symposium
The NIJ Forensic Science Research and Development Symposium is an open meeting where attendees can learn about NIJ-funded research across a variety of forensic science areas. This is one of four videos from the 2022 symposium, which was held March 1-2, 2022.
Presentations include -
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Impression, Pattern & Trace Evidence Research and Development: 2022 NIJ Forensic R&D Symposium
The NIJ Forensic Science Research and Development Symposium is an open meeting where attendees can learn about NIJ-funded research across a variety of forensic science areas. This is one of four videos from the 2022 symposium, which was held March 1-2, 2022.
Presentations include -
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Protecting the Evidence & the Trauma Response; Discussing Response to Sexual Assault
This is one of 16 videos related to the Virtual Workshop: A Discussion on Research and a Multidisciplinary Response to Sexual Assault, which was hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence January 26-27, 2022.
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Research Forensic Library
We invite you to also search the Research Forensic Library, a curated collection of publicly-accessible material relating to every discipline of the forensic sciences.
