Research and development

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: 

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:

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:

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:

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.

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