Selected List of Media and Press Releases:

2024 Northeastern Association of Forensic Science (NEAFS) 50th Annual Meeting - Atlantic City, NJ (October 22-25, 2024)

Leah Thomas and Kourtney Dalzell, both graduate students researching the innovations in gunshot residue analysis, presented their work at the 2024 Northeastern Association of Forensic Science (NEAFS)-American Society of Trace Evidence Examiners (ASTEE) joint meeting in Atlantic City, NJ. Leah Thomas (left) displayed her research in an oral presentation titled "Enhancements in mobile technology and strategies to triage firearm-related evidence at the scene for more efficient investigations". Kourtney Dalzell co-presented with our collaborator, Christopher George from the New jersey State Police Office of Forensic Science (NJSP OFS), in a talk titled "A Pilot Study for the Adoption of GSR Screening Techniques into Forensic Laboratories" (middle). Additionally, Kourtney presented our work in a poster (right) titled "Evaluation of GSR preservation via confirmatory analysis workflows to facilitate the adoption of OGSR analysis". Well done, Leah and Kourtney!

A female presenter with long brown hair standing behind a podium with a microphone and in front of a presentation title slide

A female presenter with long brown hair behind a podium in front of a title slide screen. A male presenter with short black hair in a blue suit is standing to the side.

A female student with long brown hair wearing a professional blouse and blazer standing in front of her research poster.

2024 SciX Scientific Meeting - Raleigh, NC (October 20-24, 2024)

A male presenter with short brown hair and a full beard in a suit standing behind a podium and in front of the presentation screen.

Thomas Ledergerber shared his research at the 2024 Annual SciX Scientific Meeting in Raleigh, NC on October 23, 2024 in an oral presentation titled "Unmasking Gunshot Residue Deposition Transference Mechanisms using Laser Sheet Scattering, High-speed Videography, Atmospheric Particle Analysis, and Spectrometric Analytical Techniques". Awesome job, Thomas!

2024 National Institute of Justice (NIJ) National Research Conference - Pittsburgh, PA (September 16-17, 2024)

Dr. Tatiana Trejos, Kourtney Dalzell, and Thomas Lederberger presented their research at the 2024 National Research Conference held by the National Institute of Justice in Pittsburgh, PA. Dr. Trejos (left) presented research findings in a scientific session titled "How Research Improves Public Crime Lab Efficiency and Accuracy: NIJ-Sponsored Outcomes". Thomas Lederberger (center) held a poster presentation titled, "An Investigation into Best Practices for the Storage and Analysis of IGSR and OGSR". Kourtney Dalzell (right) also presented her research findings in a poster titled, "A feasibility study of electrochemical sensors, chromatographic methods, and mass spectrometry technology for laboratory adoption of organic gunshot residue analysis." Congratulations to all our presenters!

53rd Annual Midwestern Association of Forensic Science (MAFS) Fall Meeting - Kansas City, MO (September 8-13, 2024)

A room of audience members looking at a presentation with a male presenter to the left side of the image.

Zachary Andrews, a PhD candidate in the Trejos research group, presented his research at the 5 3rd Annual Midwestern Association of Forensic Science Fall Meeting in Kansas City, MO. Alongside Troy Ernst, a forensic scientist at the Michigan State Police Forensic Science Division, Zach conducted a workshop titled, "X-Ray Fluorescence - Glass and Other Trace Applications". Additionally, Zach disseminated his research through an oral presentation titled, "Recommendations for the Forensic Analysis of Contemporary Portable Electronic Device Glass Samples". Awesome job, Zach!

West Virginia University's 17th Annual Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium - Morgantown, WV (July 25, 2024)

An undergraduate female student with long brown hair, wearing a brown professional top and black pants in front of her research poster.

Isabel Talley, an undergraduate researcher and SURE student, presented her summer research at the WVU Undergraduate Research Symposium. Her poster, titled "Expanding the Range of Trace Evidence Identification Through Mobile LIBS Analysis for Crime Scene Reconstruction", highlighted the innovations in technology by our research group and how they will impact the forensic science community. Great job, Isabel!

West Virginia University's 8th Annual Spring Undergraduate Research Symposium - Morgantown, WV (April 20, 2024)

Five undergraduate researchers from the Trejos group presented their projects at the WVU Spring Undergraduate Research Symposium (WVU URS) held on April 20, 2024, in the WVU MountainLair. Presented topics include innovative methods to analyze gunshot residue, the development of an extensive database for glass evidence interpretation, and new techniques to process tape evidence. Liliana Barbosa was awarded Runner-Up, and Claire Dolton was awarded Winner of the poster presentations in the category of Physical Sciences, Engineering & Technology. Congratulations to all participants on your hard work!

A undergraduate female student with long brown hair and glasses wearing a white blouse and black jacket with a name tag on the right side standing in front of her poster presentation.

A undergraduate female student with long brown hair wearing a yellow shirt and black blazer standing in from of her poster presentation.

Claire Dolton (left) presenting her research poster titled "Evaluating evidence integrity in the analysis of tape evidence when using latent print development and µXRF analysis". Liliana Barbosa (right) presenting her research poster titled "Characterization of Ammunition via LC-MS/MS Analysis of Smokeless Powders, Spent Cartridges, and Hand Residues".

A male undergraduate student with short brown hair and glass wearing a suit and tie with a nametag on the right side in front of his poster presentation. Two female undergraduate research students in front of their poster presentation: on the left has long brown hair and glasses and is wearing a green blouse and black pants; on the right has short brown hair is wearing a black blouse and a pink sweater.

Addio Fiordigigli (left) presenting his research poster titled "Gas Chromatography Solutions for Monitoring Organic Gunshot Residues at Trace Levels". Allison Carranza and Brooke Weiss (right) presenting their research poster titled **"Development of an Extensive Database for the Forensic Examination of Glass by µXRF Fluorescence".**

American Academy of Forensic Science (AAFS) 76th Annual Scientific Conference - Denver, CO (February 19-22, 2024)

The Trejos research group, including graduate students and faculty, participated in the 76th Annual Scientific Conference held by the American Academy of Forensic Science in Denver, Colorado. This conference is one of the leading events in forensic science, holding presentations from researchers, practitioners, and other experts in the field. Dr. Trejos presented her work on the physical fit examination of tapes and textiles, and Dr. Arroyo presented the innovations of our research in the gunshot residue field at the NIJ Research & Development Symposium. Kourtney Dalzell, Lacey Leatherland, and Zachary Andrews presented posters on their respective research projects.

Our research was highlighted at the conference through a research-focused video that was viewed by over 3,000 conference attendees from over 100 countries. The video, titled West Virginia University FIS: Innovations in Trace Evidence Forensics, highlights the intricacies of gunshot residue, glass evidence, and physical fit examination research and the importance of trace evidence in criminal investigations. Collaborations with professionals like professors Luis Arroyo, Casper Venter, Aldo Romero, researchers, statisticians, and practitioners are shown to underscore the multidisciplinary approach shaping advancements in forensic science.

West Virginia University FIS: Innovations in Trace Evidence Forensics, featured at AAFS 2024 Scientific Conference.

The research team, of 6 graduate students and two professors standing behind large letters that say #AAFS2024

From left to right: Dr. Luis Arroyo, Dr. Tatiana Trejos, Zachary Andrews, Lacey Leatherland, Madison Lindung, Leah Thomas, Thomas Ledergerber, and Kourtney Dalzell.

From left to right: Troy Ernst, a forensic analyst from the Michigan State Police, and Zachary Andrews, "Assessing the Reliability of Modern µXRF Technology for Expanded Impact on the Forensic Examination and Interpretation of Trace materials: Glass Evidence", Kourtney Dalzell "Evaluation of Mobile Technology for Detection of Inorganic and Organic Gunshot Residues in Firearm-Related Investigations", and Lacey Leatherland "Assessing the Reliability of Modern µXRF Technology for Expanded Impact on the Forensic Examination and Interpretation of Trace Materials: Tape Evidence".

Pittcon Scientific 75th Annual Conference and Exposition - San Diego, CA (February 26-27, 2024)

Thomas Lederberger, in a suit, standing at a podium giving a presentation to a crowd of people.

Thomas Ledergerber gave his oral presentation titled "Building Foundations for a More Comprehensive Interpretation of IGSR and OGSR Evidence".

A woman with long brown hair wearing a pink blouse and black jacket on the left and a man with short brown hair and glass wearing a professional suit on the right standing in front of poster presentations.

Kourtney Dalzell (left) and Zachary Andrews (right) with their poster presentations: "Can the incorporation of screening methods in gunshot residue workflows lead to more effective management of firearm-related cases?" and "Assessing Spectral Comparison Metrics for the Forensic Analysis of Glass and Electrical Tape", respectively.

Eureka STEM Camp - Jackson's Mill, WVU (March 16, 2024)

WVU graduate students and faculty had the opportunity to travel to Jackson's Mill, a WVU satellite location in Lewis County, WV, to teach young women about the various aspects of forensic science and examination. The middle-school-aged girls were demonstrated seized drug analysis via Raman spectroscopy, microscopic and physical fit examination of duct tape, and the development and characteristics of fingerprints.