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Research

GRANT FUNDED RESEARCH:

CURRENT PROJECTS

  • DUID Survey

    • The Center for Forensic Science Research and Education has been awarded a grant to provide coordination and support to allow the (COAD) to conduct a survey of practices in forensic toxicology testing for impaired driving cases. The goal of the project is to help provide better standardization in DUID/DRE drug testing, identify the most appropriate scope and sensitivity for laboratories to use, and identify needs for training and research for scientists, law enforcement and prosecutors. Follow the link to learn more.

STUDENT RESEARCH:

Under the (FEPAC), the students in the Master of Science Forensic Science program at Arcadia University are required to complete an independent research project. The Center provides both the guidance involved in conducting the research projects along with the state-of-the art analytical instrumentation.

Students participate in a Research Methods in Forensic Science course which helps guide them into the creation of a viable research project. Students perform background literature research before constructing an experimental design. The background research ensures the projects are novel and valuable to the forensic science community.

Once assigned research projects at the end of their first year of the Masters program, the students return in the fall to begin their projects. Some students are able to initiate their research earlier by participation in the G. John DiGregorio Summer Science Program. These research projects involve a partnership between the graduate student and two high school students. Read the Abstracts and see the Final Posters from the 2011 G. John DiGregorio Summer Science Program. The research is continued by the graduate student in the fall to complete their FEPAC requirement.

In the past, research projects have included the following:

  • Projects that have been presented at the annual meeting of the Northeastern Association of Forensic Scientists:
    • GHB Prevalence in Driving Under the Influence of Drugs Cases   Poster   PowerPoint
    • Identification of Synthetic Cannabinoids in the Herbal Incenses K2 and Spike   Poster   PowerPoint
    • Methylation Artifacts in Serum Extracts   Poster  
    • Postmortem Redistribution of Marijuana Metabolites   Poster
    • Drug to Iron Ratios in Bloodstains   Poster   PowerPoint
    • The Stability of Salvinorin-A in Urine   Poster
    • Investigating the Interference Between Amitriptyline and Propoxyphene by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry
    • The Determination of Bisphenol-A Concentrations in Bottled Water  
    • The Detection of Ethanol in Solid and Homogenized Tissue
    • In Vitro Stability of Salvinorin-A in Human Blood at Various Temperatures and Time
    • Evaluation of the Inhomogeneity of Synthetic Cannabinoids in Products Sold Over the Internet   PowerPoint
    • Characterization of Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) and Mephedrone in “Legal High” Products by Chemical Color Tests, Microcrystalline Tests, with Confirmation by LC/MS    PowerPoint
    • Method Validation for the Extraction of Novel Antiepileptic Drugs from Biological Matrices Using Direct Solid Phase Micro-Extraction (SPME) and Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectromertry (GC/MS) Chemical Characterization of Kratom and Associated Alkaloids   PowerPoint
    • Method Development and Validation for the Analysis of 2,5-dimethoxy-4-ethylphenethylamine (2C-E) in Saliva by Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS)   PowerPoint
    • Investigation of the Conversion of Codeine to Dihydrocodeine in Toxicological Analysis   PowerPoint
  • Projects that have been presented at the annual meeting of the Mid-Atlantic Association of Forensic Scientists:
    • Methylation Artifacts in Serum Extracts   Poster  
    • Postmortem Redistribution of Marijuana Metabolites   Poster
    • Drug to Iron Ratios in Bloodstains   Poster   PowerPoint
    • The Stability of Salvinorin-A in Urine   Poster
  • Projects that have been presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Forensic Toxicologists:
    • In Vitro Stability of Salvinorin-A in Human Blood at Various Temperatures and Time
  • Projects that have been presented at the annual Pennsylvania Research Exchange Forum:
    • GHB Prevalence in Driving Under the Influence of Drugs Cases   Poster   PowerPoint
    • Optimizing a Human Liver Microsome Incubation System for Drug Metabolism Studies of Drugs of Abuse
    • Comparison of Various Solvent Systems Utilizing Liquid/Liquid Extraction for Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry Analysis
    • Validation of a Urine Drug Screen for Basic Drugs by Solid Phase Extraction and Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry Analysis
    • Assessments of methods for the identification of the sedative herb Channa/Kanna (Sceletium tortuosum)
    • Identification of Synthetic Cannabinoids in the Herbal Incenses K2 and Spike   Poster   PowerPoint
    • Evaluation of Inhomogeneity of K2 and Synthetic Cannabinoid products sold over the Internet
    • Development of a Method for the Analysis of Modafinil and Modafinilic Acid on the Liquid Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer   Poster   PowerPoint
    • Methylation Artifacts in Serum Extracts   Poster  
    • Comparison of Different Sampling Locations on a White Cotton T-shirt for Touch DNA

Currently, we are looking to expand our research program to include external research projects that fully exploit the capabilities of our both our facilities and staff.