B.S. in Forensic Science

1 Internships: Students were able to secure Internships with various agencies such as the Virginia Department of Forensic Science in the Eastern [Trace Unit, Norfolk, VA] and Central [Toxicology Unit, Roanoke, VA] Laboratories, the Chesterfield Police Department [Chesterfield County, VA], Marshall University in Huntington, WV, and the U.S. Secret Service.

During the Internships, students worked on various research projects that lead to conference presentations and potential publications. The following is a list of projects and/or presentations:

• Validation of Phencyclidine, Ketamine, and Dextromethorphan using Miscellaneous Basic Drugs Quantitation and Confirmation by Liquid-Liquid Extraction using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. Kate Ferro, Trista Wright, Chad Harris, and J. Thomas McClintock. Liberty University Research Week, Lynchburg, VA. April, 2024.

• Touch DNA – The goal of this project is to evaluate the amount of touch DNA and number of contributors accumulated on dedicated doorknobs over specific lengths of time.

2 Independent Studies: Students that registered for Independent Studies {BIOL/CHEM 497) worked on various research projects that lead to conference presentations or manuscripts. The following is a list of the project outcomes:

• Civil War Field Hospital: STR Analysis of Samples Collected from a Bloody Surgical Table by Natalie J. Spencer, Alyssa M. Spillar, J. Thomas McClintock, and Kristin N. Mossé. ASSURE Program, 2024. Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA.

• A Continuation of Latent Blood Detection and STR Analysis of Samples Collected from an American Civil War Field Hospital; The Authenticated Surgical Table Used for Surgery by Natalie J. Spencer, Alyssa M. Spillar, J. Thomas McClintock, and Kristin N. Mossé. Virginia Academy of Science, 2024, University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, VA.

• Developing a Database through the Analyzation and Comparison of Cartridge Casings Fired from Unknown and Known Firearms by Anna K. Sommerville and Kristin N. Mossé. ASSURE Program, 2024, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA.

• GSR Analysis: The Importance of Viable Swab Kits by Abbye Morgan, Bethany Heinz, and Chad A. Snyder. Research Week, 2024, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA.

• Identification and Composition Analysis of Various Animal Hairs Using SEM Microscopy by Rachel Bryum, Noelle Murray, and Chad A. Snyder. Research Week, 2024, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA.

• Identification and Composition Analysis of Various Animal Hairs Using SEM Microscopy by Kate Ferro, Abigail Kimmey, Andrew Albus and Chad A. Snyder, PhD. Research Week, 2024, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA.

• Altering the Composition of Lanconide Fingerprint Powder by Lydia Buxa and Chad A. Snyder. Research Week, 2024, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA. (Manuscript accepted by the Journal of Forensic Identification).

• Analysis of Fingerprinting Techniques and Comparing the Fingerprints of Twins by Wilmar Janusz, Chloe Vernon, Abbye Morgan, Nathan C. Tice, PhD, and Chad A. Snyder. Research Week, 2023, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA.

• Analysis of Fingerprinting Techniques and Comparing the Fingerprints of Twins by Elijah De Young, Allie Stacks, and Lydia Buxa. Research Week, 2023, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA.

• “HPLC Analysis of Some Common Adulterants.” Jedidiah Black, Lynza Osorio, Madison Landreth, Chad Snyder. 2022, Research Week, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA.

• The Effect of Coca-Cola on the Detection of Fresh and Latent Blood Stains. Johnson, B. N., K. T. Steigerwald, R. L. Eberle, B. R. Smith, and J. T. McClintock. Received 2nd Place Award in Basic Research. Liberty University Research Week, 2022, Lynchburg, VA. (Manuscript in preparation)

A Capstone experience is a project or a series of activities that students complete at the end of their senior year. The Capstone experience integrates coursework, knowledge, skills, and experimental learning to enable the student to demonstrate a broad mastery of learning across the curriculum.

• At Liberty University, the Forensic Science Program distributes the Capstone experience over several core courses. This approach allows the student to utilize their newly acquired skills in the laboratory or in the field. The table below lists the courses that fulfill the Capstone experience (i.e. the course itself is not the capstone but rather a project or activity within the course).

Course ID	Course	Number of Semester Hours	Laboratory Required
BIOL/CHEM 495	Independent Research	1-4	YES
BIOL/CHEM 497	Special Topics in Biology/Chemistry	1-4	YES/NO
BIOL 499	Internship	1-6	YES/NO
BIOL 421	Forensic Entomology	3	YES
BIOL 462	Forensic DNA Analysis Laboratory	2	YES
BIOL 465	Trace Evidence	2	YES

The Forensic Science Program was started in the Fall of 2015 offering specialty areas in forensic biology or forensic chemistry. The Forensic Science Program has graduated nine (9) classes; May 2016, May 2017, May 2018, May 2019, and May 2020, May 2021 (15 graduates), May 2022 (15 graduates), May 2023 (9 graduates), and May 2024 (9 graduates). Undergraduates majoring in forensic science graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science. To monitor student success, surveys were taken 6 – 12 months after graduation, as well as, personal communications with graduates to determine employment status or placement into graduate school or professional school.

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Student Success Story: Kate Ferro ’24

Following graduation from Liberty University in 2024, Kate Ferro is continuing her education by pursuing a Masters in Forensic Science with a concentration in Toxicology and Drug Chemistry at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia.

Ms. Ferro’s undergraduate research included “Identification and Compositional Analysis of Various Animal Hairs Using SEM Microscopy” done at Liberty University and “Validation of Phencyclidine, Ketamine, and Dextromethorphan using Miscellaneous Basic Drugs Quantitation and Confirmation by Liquid-Liquid Extraction using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry” which was performed at the Department of Forensic Science Western Laboratory.

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Student Success Story: Emily Green ’23

After completing her undergraduate Forensic Science degree with honors in May 2023, Ms. Emily Green accepted a position at the North Carolina State Crime Laboratory. Her position in the drug chemistry unit helps to investigate non-biological trace evidence found at crime scenes and to analyze materials related to controlled substances.

During her time at Liberty University, Ms. Green was a part of several academic clubs, led the university’s Forensic Science club, and worked as a teaching assistant for both microbiology and DNA analysis laboratories. Ms. Green plans to continue her education in the future with graduate school.

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Student Success Story: Jessica Thornton ’21

Upon completion of her undergraduate degree in Forensic Science in May 2021, Ms. Jessica Thornton is continuing her education by pursuing a Doctorate of Philosophy in Forensic Science at West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia.

While attending graduate school as a full-time student, Ms. Thornton works as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, teaching undergraduate biology labs. In addition, her graduate research is concentrated in forensic genetics, specifically regarding the isolation and subsequent use of indels for the purposes of DNA identification of degraded samples.

Ms. Thornton’s undergraduate research on “Changes in the Microbiome at the Onset and End of Decomposition” was recently published in the Journal of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics Research.

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Student Success Story: Brittany Johnson ’21

In the spring of 2021, Ms. Johnson completed her undergraduate degrees in
Forensic Science and Criminal Justice: Crime Scene Investigations.

Ms. Johnson continued her education by pursuing a Masters of Science degree in
Biomedical Sciences at Liberty University. Ms. Johnson was involved in numerous
academic clubs, including the Forensic Science Club, and research during her time
as an undergraduate student. Throughout her time as a graduate student, Ms. Johnson plans on continuing research under the supervision of Dr. J. Thomas McClintock as well as providing assistance in various Forensic Science courses.

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Student Success Story:  Michael Erquiaga ’20

Following graduation from Liberty University in 2020, Michael Erquiaga secured a job with Bode Technology, a nationally recognized forensic lab in Lorton, Virginia. He currently holds the position of Laboratory Assistant and is responsible for servicing vital lab equipment.

Most recently, Michael has been added to the extract return team where he ensures the safe return of DNA samples to police departments across the nation. In the future, he looks to be hired to Bode’s Applied Science research team. Mr. Erquiaga’s undergraduate research on the “Changes in the Microbiome at the Onset and End of Decomposition” was recently published in the Journal of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics Research.

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Student Success Story:  Mia Fabbri ’20

After obtaining her undergraduate degree in Forensic Science in May 2020, Ms. Mia Fabbri continued to pursue a Master’s of Science degree in Forensic Science from Cedar Crest College in Allentown, PA.

While attending Liberty, Ms. Fabbri worked as a Graduate Assistant performing weekly quality control/quality assurance procedures on various instruments including NMR, UV-Vis, and Fluorescent Spectrophotometers. This work ensures that the instruments are accurate and reliable for research and study purposes.

Ms. Fabbri’s undergraduate research on the “Changes in the Microbiome at the Onset and End of Decomposition” was recently published in the Journal of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics Research.