Forensic Science Seminar

The Department of Forensic Science hosts a weekly seminar series open to the public each semester featuring presentations by faculty, crime laboratory staff, students, and visiting lecturers.

Forensic science students can enroll in one credit of FRSC 570: Forensic Science Seminar to attend the entire series and receive academic credit.

When

Thursdays
12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET

Link

Zoom link to join the seminar series

Spring 2026 Presentations
Date	Speaker	Topic
Jan. 22	Christopher Ehrhardt, PhD VCU Department of Forensic Science - Associate Professor, Forensic Chemistry In-person in Academic Learning Commons, Room 2100	“My Love/Hate Relationship with AI: An Outsider's Guide to its Applications in Forensic Science and Your Career“
Jan. 29	Nicole Palmer Forensic Scientist - Virginia Department of Forensic Science In-person in Academic Learning Commons, Room 2100	“Primer Residue Analysis Overview and New Combination-Type Particles”
Feb. 5	Kate James Virginia Commonwealth University Graduate Student - M.S.F.S. Candidate In-person in Academic Learning Commons, Room 2100	“Δ9-THCP and Δ9-THCH Biomarkers Formed by Human Liver Microsomes”
Feb. 19	Maggi Spratlin Virginia Commonwealth University Graduate Student - M.S.F.S. Candidate In-person in Academic Learning Commons, Room 2100	“Comparison of Traditional Chemical Gunshot Residue (GSR) Detection and Visual Methods for the Determination of Muzzle-to-Target Distance in Shooting Cases”
Feb. 26	Ankita Gola Virginia Commonwealth University Graduate Student - M.S.F.S. Candidate In-person in Academic Learning Commons, Room 2100	“The Analysis of Microbial Contamination in E-Cigarette Liquids and Generated Aerosols”
Mar. 5	Trevor Peck Forensic Document Examiner - United States Postal Inspection Service In-person in Academic Learning Commons, Room 2100	“Ink, Impressions, and Investigations: The Hidden Science of Documents”
Mar. 19	Lauren Watts Virginia Commonwealth University Graduate Student - M.S.F.S. In-person in Academic Learning Commons, Room 2100	“Evaluating the Influence of Direct DNA Deposition on Passive Transfer in Forensic Casework Environments“
Mar. 26	Tracey L. Johnson, MSFS Supervisory Physical Scientist - National Institute of Justice In-person in Academic Learning Commons, Room 2100	“Forensic Science Research: a presentation on federal programs, open access policies and public datasets”
Apr. 2	Kara Fairfax Virginia Commonwealth University Graduate Student - M.S.F.S. Candidate In-person in Academic Learning Commons, Room 2100	“The Differentiation of Cell Populations in Saliva-Skin Mixture Samples Using Cellular Autofluorescence Profiling”
Apr. 9	Jess Lucia Virginia Commonwealth University Graduate Student - M.S.F.S. Candidate In-person in Academic Learning Commons, Room 2100	“Evaluation of the use of alternate light sources in the search for burned skeletal remains”
Apr. 16	Jaelyn Jenifer Virginia Commonwealth University Graduate Student - M.S.F.S. Candidate In-person in Academic Learning Commons, Room 2100	“The Development of a High-Throughput Enzymatic Method for the Evaluation of CYP3A4 Drug-Drug Interactions using Fluorescence-Based Assays”
Apr. 23	Ben Suter Computer Scientist - Federal Bureau of Investigation In-person in Academic Learning Commons, Room 2100	“Linux: What is it, and Why Not to be Afraid”