Research and Development in Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes, Fiscal Year 2020

With this solicitation, NIJ seeks proposals for basic or applied research and development projects. An NIJ forensic science research and development grant supports a discrete, specified, circumscribed project that will: (1) increase the body of knowledge to guide and inform forensic science policy and practice, or (2) lead to the production of useful material(s), device(s), system(s), or method(s) that have the potential for forensic application.

The intent of this program is to direct the findings of basic scientific research; foster research and development in broader scientific fields applicable to forensic science; and support ongoing forensic science research toward the development of highly-discriminating, accurate, reliable, cost-effective, and rapid methods for the identification, analysis, and interpretation of forensic evidence for criminal justice purposes.

Projects should address the challenges and needs of the forensic science community, including, but not limited to, the operational needs discussed at NIJ’s FY 2020 Forensic Science Research and Development Technology Working Group meeting, which may be found on NIJ.ojp.gov. Additional research needs of the forensic science community can be found at the Organization of Scientific Area Committees website. While the goals and deliverables of proposed projects are not required to result in immediate solutions to the posted challenges and needs, proposals should at a minimum address the foundational work that will lead to eventual solutions.