The mission of the ASCLD Forensic Research Committee (FRC) is to advance the core science of forensics by closing technology gaps and enabling future forensic technologies through the following strategic goals:
- Identifying the Research, Development, Technology, and Evaluation (RDT&E) needs and priorities for the forensic community
- Developing recommendations and courses of action
- Advising the ASCLD Board of Directors on RDT&E related issues, projects, and processes in order to support the development of enduring future forensic capabilities
FRC Collaboration Hub
The FRC collaboration hub hosts the Researcher-Practitioner Collaboration Directory. If you are a researcher looking for practitioners to participate in your study, or if you are a practitioner looking to become involved in research opportunities, this is the place for you. View the directory or submit your project for inclusion in the directory below.
RESEARCHERS
Complete the project form to advertise your project to practitioners looking for research opportunities.
PRACTITIONERS
Search the Researcher/Practitioner Collaboration Directory for projects in need of participants.
FRC Lightning Talks
The ASCLD Forensic Research Committee is proud to announce the next episode of a virtual “Lightning Talks” series to highlight new and emerging research in all areas of forensic science. Each episode will feature three short talks given by practitioners, researchers, and/or students.
The next episode will be held live on Thursday, September 16th at 1:00pm EST and will focus on Algorithms and AI in Forensics.
It will feature talks by Dr. Rolf Ypma from the Netherlands Forensics Institute on using AI in forensics, Dr. Karen McGregor Richmond from Kobenhavns University on algorithmic opacity from a legal perspective, and Henry Swofford from the HJS Consulting on a practical approach for implementation of algorithms.
Please note - the live event is limited to 100 people.
You can view the archive of previous Lightning Talks HERE
ASCLD Research Priorities (2019)
In May of 2017, at the American Society of Crime Laboratory Director's Meeting in Dallas Texas, the Forensic Research Committee (FRC) gathered to discuss forensic science research opportunities. From this discussion, the FRC created a list of high-impact research opportunities which was submitted to and prioritized by the ASCLD Board of Directors.
This list (updated in 2019) serves as a guiding light to researchers who are interested in conducting forensic science research and helps identify key areas where impactful research would support the forensic science community and enhance laboratory operations. You can find the updated 2019-2021 list below.
First Annual Innovation Award
The Forensic Research Committee of the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors is happy to announce that Amber K. Burns is the recipient of the First Annual Innovation Award. This award recognizes activities highlighting new technologies, protocols, or tools that impact the operational forensic science laboratory.
Amber K. Burns is the Chemistry Section Manager for the Maryland State Police – Forensic Sciences Division. She has been instrumental in establishing a new workflow for safely and efficiently testing fentanyl and other novel psychoactive substances by testing swipes of the outside of drug packaging using TD-DART-MS technology. Her work is an important contribution to the practice of forensic science and we are proud to recognize her as the recipient of the inaugural Innovation Award.
Innovation
Award
LEAP
Award
Evaluation
Validation
Award
LABORATORIES AND EDUCATORS ALLIANCE PROGRAM
What is LEAP?
The goal of the Laboratories and Educators Alliance Program (LEAP) is to facilitate collaborative research between academia and forensic science laboratories. This joint effort between the American Society of Crime Lab Directors (ASCLD) and the Council of Forensic Science Educators (COFSE) identifies forensic science needs and provides a platform for laboratories, researchers, and students to seek projects aligning with their mutual research capabilities.
A Picture of Success
Watch below to see how the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and Washburn University have established a successful and mutually beneficial research partnership.
LEAP PARTNERS
Approximately 100 LEAP Participating Labs and Universities!
Click on the Map above to find potential forensic research partners near you
LEAP SIGN-UP
Interested in a research partnership with a University? Want to host an intern? Sign up for the LEAP program today by clicking the appropriate button below, completing the form, and returning it to the ASCLD FRC.
Validation & Evaluation Repository
The ASCLD Forensic Research Committee is proud to announce the launch of the Validation and Evaluation Repository. The goal of this activity is share information about important Validations and Evaluations.
Future Forensics:
Research Executive Summaries
The Future Forensics Subcommittee of the ASCLD Forensic Research Committee (FRC) has initiated the publication of brief executive summaries of the recent literature within the forensic sciences. The initial source of the executive summaries is the proceedings of the triannual 19th INTERPOL International Forensic Science Manager’s Symposium literature reviews, originally published by INTERPOL here. These reviews are also now published as open access manuscripts in FSI:Synergy.
The following links to the executive summaries (usually 3-5 pages in length) are written by ASCLD members and are meant to provide a brief overview of the most noteworthy publications and trends in the literature within the last 3 years (2016-2019), including references. A link to each of the original INTERPOL review article is also found within the executive summary.
The current list of eight (8) executive summaries include reviews in the areas of fingermarks, controlled substances, paint and glass evidence, forensic toxicology, forensic biology, gunshot residue analysis, and firearms and toolmarks.
Additional INTERPOL reviews can be found on the FSI:Synergy website here.
If any ASCLD member would like to volunteer to author an executive summary of any of the other areas within the list of INTERPOL reviews, please contact Jose Almirall, Chair of the Future Forensics Subcommittee at: almirall@nullfiu.edu.
Forensic Biology
Forensic Biology
Gunshot Residue
Gunshot Residue
Firearms
Firearms
Friction Ridge
Friction Ridge
Paint & Glass
Paint & Glass
Seized Drugs
Seized Drugs
Toxicology
Toxicology
DART-MS
DART-MS
RESEARCH RESOURCES
Forensic Research Committee Bulletins
- FRC Bulletin 1 - December 2019
- FRC Bulletin 2 - February 2020
- FRC Bulletin 3 - July 2020
- FRC Bulletin 4 - September 2020
- FRC Bulletin 5 - December 2020
- FRC Bulletin 6 - April 2021
- FRC Bulletin 7 - August 2021
Previous Webinars
- Opioid Crisis – A Public Health Enemy Webinar Series: Identify Synthetic Opioids using Ambient Ionization TOF-MSM
- Developing Probe Capture NGS Systems for Forensics
- Stable Isotope Forensics & Unknown Persons Investigations
- Error & Uncertainty in Bloodstain Pattern Analysis
- Utilization of Organic Constituents into GSR Analysis
- The Critical Role of SNPs in the Future of Forensics
- Sure Footing: Fundamental Forensic Science Research – Part I
- Sure Footing: Fundamental Forensic Science Research-Part II
- Regioisomer Differentiation for Substances Using GC-IR
- Proteomics – Multiplex Assay to Identify Biological Stains
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