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Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects

Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects from the Department of Forensic Science, Virginia Commonwealth University.

Submissions from 2025 2025

The Development of a Colorimetric Rapid Test for Cannabinoid Detection via 3D Printing Techniques, Savanah Allinson

Qualitative Analysis of Commercial Nitrous Oxide Canisters for Residual Solvent and Petroleum Contaminants, Imani S. Buford

Continued Optimization of a High Resolution Melt-Based Mixture Screening Tool & Evaluation as a Contributor Identification Tool, Kiersten A. Fultz

Impact of substrates and deposition time on bacteria associated with saliva samples and its implication on a bacterial signature-based body fluid identification method, Olisdey Galano Cruz

Presumptive Identification of Psilocybin and Psilocyn in Neat Standards using Matrix Assisted Ionization in Vacuum (MAIV) and Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (TOF-MS), Maci Koester

Differentiating Touch Epidermal Cells from Blood Cells in Single Source and Mixture Samples using Flow Cytometry, Emmanuel M. LesPere

Accurate Body Weight Class Prediction from miRNA and Gene Expression in Blood and Saliva Samples, Kimberly Lettner

Development of Novel Signatures for Determination of Cell Types in Blood and Saliva Mixtures, Caitlin Lydon

The Development of a Fast and Reliable UV-Visible Spectrophotometric Method for the Quantification of Δ-9-THC and CBD in Plant Material, Kaija Martin

Qualitative Method Validation of Acid/Neutral Drugs Carisoprodol, Meprobamate, and Naproxen Using Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry, Kate O. Martin

Determination of the Aerosolization Efficiency of Nicotine in Solvent E-Liquid Mixtures, Jessemia Meekins

Analysis of FDA-Authorized and Unregulated E-Liquids, Bayli F. Morton

Biodistribution and Method Validation of Xylazine in a Mouse Model Using Liquid-Chromatography-Quadrupole-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry, Julia E. Perschbacher

Advancing Forensic Firearm Analysis: Quantitative Measurement of Pellet Patterns Using Open Source Software, Inez Staples

Novel Time-Since-Deposition Signatures for Canine Blood; Implications for Animal Cruelty Investigations, Alysia M. Townsley

Cross-Reactivity in Urine of 53 Cannabinoid Analogs and Metabolites Using a Carboxylic Acid Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and Homogenous Enzyme Immunoassay (HEIA) Kit and Immunalysis Synthetic Cannabinoid HEIA Kits, Taylor L. Yates

Submissions from 2024 2024

Biological Survey of Nucleated and Non-nucleated Epithelial Cells Within Touch DNA Samples Using Autofluorescence Profiling, Wanyan Cai

Biological signatures for differentiating epidermal cell populations from the hand from epidermal cell populations from the neck in assault cases involving strangulation, Thilini Chandrasekara

Quantitative determination of muzzle-to-target distance in shooting cases, Taqiyah Chernesky

Fat and water content effects of three food substrates (ground veal, ground beef, and beef liver) on Lucilia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae) development and mortality, Nicole Dailey

Further optimization of a simplified protocol for tooth sample preparation for analysis using the Applied Biosystems™ RapidHIT™ ID instrument, Yen H. Dang

Overcoming the effects of oily contaminants on DNA extraction efficiency using DNA IQ™ system, Elizabeth G. Gillece

Evaluation of the Toxicity and Accumulation Process of Synthetic Opioids in Rabbit Bones Before and After Decomposition – Studying the Use of Bones as Reliable Forensic Samples for Opioid Overdose Cases, Michaela L. Gysbers

Discrimination of Blue Denim Fibers Utilizing Physical Characteristics, Optical Properties, Fluorescence Microscopy, Ultraviolet-Visible Microspectrophotometry, and Microchemical Testing, Elkin Howard

A Novel Dual Configuration DART/UHPLC-MS/MS System for the Rapid Analysis of Psilocybin-Containing Mushrooms and Other Seized-Drug Submissions, Aron R. Jaffe

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