Graduate Research Fellows | Session 5 from the 2026 NIJ Forensic Science Research and Development Webinar Series
Session Overview: This closing session spotlight outstanding research by NIJ Graduate Research Fellows, representing the next generation of forensic scientists.
Goals:
- Highlight exceptional graduate student research across all forensic disciplines
- Promote career development and mentorship opportunities in forensic science
Expected Outcomes:
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Forensic Biology and DNA | Session 4 from the 2026 NIJ Forensic Science Research and Development Webinar Series
Session Overview: This session highlights transformative research in forensic DNA analysis and biological evidence examination. Presentations will feature advances in DNA technologies, mixture interpretation, non-traditional biological evidence, genealogy applications, and emerging molecular methods that expand investigative capabilities.
Goals:
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Seized Drugs & Forensic Toxicology | Session 3 from the 2026 NIJ Forensic Science Research and Development Webinar Series
Session Overview: This session addresses the rapidly evolving landscape of controlled substances and toxic substances. Presentations will focus on emerging synthetic drugs, novel psychoactive substances, analytical challenges in toxicology, and innovative detection methods responding to the changing drug threat landscape.
Goals:
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Forensic Anthropology & Forensic Pathology | Session 2 from the 2026 NIJ Forensic Science Research and Development Webinar Series
Session Overview: This session explores research advancing human identification, skeletal trauma analysis, and death investigation. Presentations will feature innovations in skeletal analysis, decomposition studies, time since death estimation, and multidisciplinary approaches to complex medicolegal investigations.
Goals:
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Trace Evidence, Physics and Pattern Interpretation, and Fire Investigation | Session 1 from the 2026 NIJ Forensic Science Research and Development Webinar Series
Session Overview: This opening session showcases scientific research in trace evidence analysis, pattern interpretation, and fire investigation. Presentations will highlight innovative analytical techniques, statistical approaches to pattern evidence, and emerging technologies that enhance the scientific rigor of these forensic disciplines.
Goals:
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NIJ FY25 Research and Evaluation on Forensic Science Systems NOFO
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NIJ FY25 Research and Evaluation of Emerging Technology Implementation and Impact for Law Enforcement Purposes and Research and Evaluation of Artificial Intelligence for Criminal Justice Purposes NOFOs
The Office of Justice Programs' National Institute of Justice (NIJ) held a webinar on May 26, 2026, to provide an overview of two Notice of Funding Opportunities that seek to support research and evaluation of emerging technology implementation and impact for law enforcement purposes and that advance the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the criminal justice system.
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NIJ FY25 Graduate Research Fellowship Program Webinar
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Identification and Quantification of New Psychoactive Substances Without Authentic Reference Standards
This recording one of a group of presentations on The Synthetic Drug Crisis – Identifying NPS in Forensic Casework, which is session I in Best Practices Guidance for Advancing Research Initiatives and Combatting the Synthetic Drug Epidemic Online Workshop Series.
The workshop was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on July 25, 2018.
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Electronic Cigarettes: A Tangle of Regulation, Public Health, and Public Safety Issues
While modern electronic cigarettes (ECIG) were invented as an effective alternate method for nicotine delivery, the unregulated cannabis industry and recreational drug consumers adopted them for their culture acceptability and concealability. Absent strong, clear federal regulations, the ECIG industry rapidly expanded product types and e-liquid formulations. E-liquids contain chemicals considered safe for oral consumption, creating an aura of safety for consumers.
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Just Improving Sexual Assault Kit Testing Workflows
In episode one of our Sexual Assault Awareness Month season, Just Science sat down with Jody West, the forensic science manager for the forensic biology section at the North Carolina State Crime Laboratory, and Dr. Patricia Melton, a senior research Forensic Social Scientist at RTI International. Discuss resources aimed to help Forensic Science Service Providers increase the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of sexual assault kit testing. Among Forensics Science Service providers, there's a variability in how they approach testing sexual assault kits.
Driving Success: Leadership Principles for Building the Right Team
Successful leadership is more than just managing people—it’s about assembling the right team, placing individuals in roles where they thrive, and fostering a culture of accountability and collaboration. This session explores key leadership principles based on the concept of "getting the right people on the bus" and ensuring they are in the right seats. Strategies for identifying talent, aligning team strengths with organizational goals, and creating an environment where individuals feel empowered to contribute their best are discussed.
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Improving Teamwork, Communication, and Productivity in the Workplace
This webinar provides a high-level overview of the Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness (DiSC) Personality Assessment tool and its application in workplace settings. Attendees learn how DiSC helps identify individual behavioral styles—Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness—and fosters better communication, teamwork, and productivity. The presentation explores practical insights into understanding colleagues' unique preferences and adapting your communication strategies for a more effective workplace.
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Just Advancements in Death Investigation Practices
In this special release episode, Just Science sat down with Chuck Heurich, senior physical scientist with the National Institute of Justice, and Dr. Jennifer Snippen, experienced medicolegal death investigator and consultant, to discuss recent updates to NIJ's guide for the Death Scene investigator. 25 years ago NIJ released a guide to help medicolegal death investigators navigate complex scenes and cases, a document that has since evolved with the development of best practices and technological advancements.
2025 NIJ Forensic Research and Development Symposium: Welcome
The Forensic Technology Center of Excellence assisted the National Institute of Justice in hosting the annual NIJ Forensic Science Research and Development Symposium on Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at the 77th Annual American Academy of Forensic Sciences meeting in Baltimore, Maryland. This video is one of five recorded sessions from the event.
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Impression, Pattern, & Trace, 2025 NIJ Forensic Research and Development Symposium
The Forensic Technology Center of Excellence assisted the National Institute of Justice in hosting the annual NIJ Forensic Science Research and Development Symposium on Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at the 77th Annual American Academy of Forensic Sciences meeting in Baltimore, Maryland. This video is one of five recorded sessions from the event.
Presentations include -
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Seized Drugs & Toxicology, 2025 NIJ Forensic Research and Development Symposium
The Forensic Technology Center of Excellence assisted the National Institute of Justice in hosting the annual NIJ Forensic Science Research and Development Symposium on Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at the 77th Annual American Academy of Forensic Sciences meeting in Baltimore, Maryland. This video is one of five recorded sessions from the event.
Presentations include -
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Forensic Biology and DNA, 2025 NIJ Forensic Research and Development Symposium
The Forensic Technology Center of Excellence assisted the National Institute of Justice in hosting the annual NIJ Forensic Science Research and Development Symposium on Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at the 77th Annual American Academy of Forensic Sciences meeting in Baltimore, Maryland. This video is one of five recorded sessions from the event.
Presentations include -
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Anthropology, 2025 NIJ Forensic Research and Development Symposium
The Forensic Technology Center of Excellence assisted the National Institute of Justice in hosting the annual NIJ Forensic Science Research and Development Symposium on Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at the 77th Annual American Academy of Forensic Sciences meeting in Baltimore, Maryland. This video is one of five recorded sessions from the event.
Presentations include -
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We’re Ready for a Change: Preparing for New Technology
Adopting new technology, particularly new software, can often present unforeseen challenges to business owners who have limited experience with this process. In a laboratory setting, leaders not only need to prepare staff for change, but they need to strategically plan for product implementation up to two years before release.
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Roundtable Discussion on Day 1 of A Virtual Workshop Discussing Response to Sexual Assault
This is one of 16 videos related to the workshop, which was hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology 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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Impact of Advances in Computer Science, Statistics & Engineering on Firearms & Toolmarks Examination
This video is one of 12 from the recorded at the Firearm and Toolmarks Policy and Practice Forum hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence January 11–14, 2022. This video includes a brief introduction and the keynote from day 2, which focused on emerging technologies.
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Behind the Evidence: Supporting Mental Health and Morale
This webinar covers ideas and strategies to enhance morale among staff in forensic laboratory units. Positive mental health among team members not only fosters a supportive and productive work environment but also increases the overall quality and efficiency of operations. Participants learn practical approaches to address common workplace stressors, improve communication, and promote resilience within their teams. By prioritizing mental health, laboratories can achieve better outcomes while ensuring the well-being of their dedicated professionals.
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Just Resolving A Capital Murder Case In Denton Texas
In the final episode of our case study season Just Science sat down with Ashleigh Berg, senior forensic investigator for the Denton County Sheriff's Office, to discuss a capital murder case where a combination of a variety of forensic evidence types aided the resolution of the case. When a homicide occurs in a dynamic environment, like inside a moving vehicle that was involved in two car crashes, it can pose challenges for reconstructing the timeline of events and differentiating incident related evidence from post-incident artifacts.
Improving Consistency in Forensic Reporting Through DEA’s GUARDS Comprehensive Methodology
This workshop explores the impact inconsistent drug analysis reporting has on public health and public trust. The value and implementation of the Global Uniform Analysis and Reporting of Drug-Related Substances (GUARDS) innovative methodology in over 200 instruments across United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) laboratories are presented, as well as the efforts of other labs of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Illinois State Police.
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