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Department of Forensics and Investigative Sciences Tatiana Trejos Associate Professor
Eberly College of Arts and Science

Team Members

Current Graduate Students

Ph.D. Students:

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Madison Lindung, M.S.

Madison is a Ph.D. student who joined the Trejos research group in Spring 2022 as an undergraduate research assistant. Since then, she has worked on the GSR and polymer teams. Her master’s project focused on the characterization and comparison of modern nail polish products as they relate to forensic evidence and its analysis. Madison graduated from WVU in May 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in forensic chemistry and minors in statistics and criminology. She graduated with her Master's degree in Forensic Science in Summer 2025. She will continue on with her research into the forensic analysis of nail polish products as she pursues her Ph.D.  Madison's LinkedIn

Master’s Students:

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Addio Fiordigigli, B.S.

Addio is a graduate researcher in the Trejos group, and since joining in January 2023, Addio has worked in both the polymers and GSR research groups. His current research focuses on instrumental analysis of organic gunshot residue using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, flame ionization, and electron capture detectors. Addio graduated from WVU in May 2024 and continued his education in the master's program shortly after.

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Liliana Barbosa, B.S.

Liliana is a graduate researcher in the Trejos GSR group. Her research focuses on the characterization of gunshot residue by ammunition and firearm types through the analysis of organic and inorganic components via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, and laser induced breakdown spectroscopy. Liliana graduated from WVU in May of 2024 with a degree in Forensic Chemistry and a minor in Law and Legal Studies.

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Zachary Rieches, B.S.

Zach is a graduate researcher in the Trejos GSR research group after graduating from WVU in Forensic Chemistry with a minor in Psychology in December 2025. His research focuses on organic gunshot residue analysis by LC-MS/MS and GC/MS and microparticle manipulation.

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Emily Watson, B.S.

Emily is a graduate researcher in the Trejos GSR research group after graduating from WVU in Forensic Chemistry with a minor in Women's and Gender Studies in December 2025. Her research focuses on 3D printed firearms as well as GSR visualization using fluorescent imaging techniques.

Current Undergraduate Students

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Isabel Talley

Isabel is a senior in the forensic chemistry major and has been working as an undergraduate research assistant since the summer of 2024. Her research has centered around GSR detection using LIBS and nail polish as trace evidence.

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Alaina Hewett

Alaina is a Junior with a major in forensic chemistry and a minor in psychology. She joined our research group in Spring 2025 and works on organic gunshot residue sample preparation methods and analysis via LC-MS/MS.

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Madelyn Tymitz

Madelyn is a Junior with a major in Forensic Chemistry who is a joint member of Dr. Trejos' and Dr. Arroyo's research groups. She began research in Summer 2024 and has contributed work in inorganic gunshot residue detection, primarily using SEM-EDS.

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Scarlet Balogh

Scarlet is a Junior with a major in Forensic Chemistry who joined our group in January 2026. She works with sample preparation and imaging for the nail polish research group.

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Selene Piquette

Selene is a Junior with a double major in Forensic Examination and Chemistry, who joined our group in January 2026. She does research investigating the stability of partially burnt propellant using  chromatographic methods, as well as the manipulation of OGSR microparticles.

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Logan Spivey

Logan is a Junior in Forensic Chemistry who joined our group in January 2026. She contributes research to the visualization of GSR microparticles using fluorescent imaging techniques.

Former Graduate Students:

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Evie Brooks , M.S.

2020. WVU Department of Forensic and Investigative Science, Statistical assessment of the significance of fracture fits in trace evidence" (2020). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 7704.  https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/7704

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Korina Menking Hoggatt, Ph.D. 

Spring 2021. WVU Department of Forensic and Investigative Science, Characterization of modern ammunition and background profiles: A novel approach and probabilistic interpretation of inorganic gunshot residue. Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 8336. https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/8336

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William (Bill) Feeney, Ph.D.

Fall 2021. WVU Department of Chemistry, Modified firearm discharge residue analysis utilizing advanced analytical techniques, complexing agents, and molecular dynamics. "Modified Firearm Discharge Residue Analysis utilizing Advanced Analytical Techniques, Complexing Agents, and Quantum Chemical Calculations" (2021). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 10302. https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/10302

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Oriana Ovide , M.S. 

Summer 2022. WVU Department of Forensic and Investigative Science, "Identifying and Minimizing Sources of Variability Within Modern Spectroscopic Techniques for the Forensic Analysis of Glass" (2022). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 11413. https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/11413

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Courtney Vander Pyl, Ph.D.

Fall 2022. WVU Department of Forensic and Investigative Science, Expanding the capabilities of firearm investigations: Novel sampling and analytical methods for gunshot residue detection.  https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/11509

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Meghan Prusinowski, Ph.D. 

Spring 2023. WVU Department of Forensic and Investigative Science, Enhancing the forensic comparison process of common trace materials through the development of practical and systematic methods. 11644. https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/11644

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Lauryn Alexander , Ph.D. 

May 2023. WVU Department of Forensic and Investigative Science, Strengthening the interpretation of glass and paint evidence through the study of random frequency of occurrence and analytical information. https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/11683

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Lacey Leatherland, M.S.

May 2024. WVU Department of Forensic and Investigative Science, Use of Interlaboratory Studies for the Development of Consensus-Based Criteria for the Elemental Analysis of Electrical Tapes.  https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/12485/

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Thomas Ledergerber, Ph.D. 

May 2025. Development of Fast and Comprehensive Approaches for Gunshot Residue Interpretation using Ambient Ionization, Mass Spectrometry, and Microparticle Sampling Studies.

https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/12901/

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Leah Thomas, M.S.

May 2025. Assessment of analytical workflows of gunshot residue evidence and strategies for implementation of advanced technology in crime laboratories.

https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/12745/


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Zachary Andrews, Ph.D.

June 2025. Developing Consensus-based Methods for the Examination and Interpretation of Contemporary Vehicle, Architectural, and Portable Electronic Device Glasses by micro-X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry

https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/12947/

Former Undergraduate Students:

  • Katrina Rupert (2016 to 2019), FIS undergraduate student  and NIST-SURF internship A group photo of four female coworkers in front of the Woodburn building.
  • Mandy Ho (2016 to 2018), FIS undergraduate student
  • Aaron Brake (Summer 2017), SURE undergraduate program
  • Brittany Merrell (Fall 2016) FIS undergraduate student
  • Reem Karimi (2017, capstone)
  • Mindy Hills (2017, capstone)
  • Becca Walls (2017, capstone)
  • Chelsea Thomson (2017 to 2018), FIS undergraduate student
  • Mollie Fisher (2017 to 2018), FIS undergraduate student
  • Nathan Carey (2017 to 2018), FIS undergraduate student 
  • Paige Schmitt (2018 to 2021), Honors EXCEL and RAP undergraduate program) A group photo of 16 students in front of the Woodburn building
  • Emily Halpern (Fall 2019), Chemistry undergraduate student
  • Megan Bradley (2019 to 2020), FIS, RAP undergraduate program
  • Emily Heller (2019 to 2020), FIS undergraduate student 
  • Jessica Guerrette (2020) WVU Chemistry undergraduate student
  • Hannah Simmerly (Fall 2020) FIS undergraduate intern
  • Elizabeth Hanley (Spring 2021) FIS undergraduate student
  • Jessica Friedel (Spring 2021 to Spring 2022), RAP undergraduate program
  • Colton Diges (Spring 2021 to Fall 2022), FIS undergraduate student, Summer 2021 SURE program
  • Declan Revenew (Spring 2021) FIS undergraduate student, Summer 2021 FIS internship
  • Olivia Duffet (Spring 2021 to Spring 20222) FIS undergraduate student, Summer 2021 FIS internship
  • Hannah Good (Fall 2021 to Spring 2022), RAP undergraduate program
  • Divanjali Pulivendhan (Spring 2022 to Spring 2023), FIS undergraduate student, Summer 2022 FIS internship
  • Emily Conn (Fall 2022 to Spring 2023), FIS undergraduate student  A group of 12 female coworkers wearing white lab coats sitting on a staircase.
  • Charlotte Vogler (Summer 2022 to Fall 2023), FIS undergraduate student
  • Allyson Niemeyer (Spring 2023 to Fall 2023), FIS undergraduate student
  • Claire Dolton (Fall 2022 to Spring 2024), FIS undergraduate student
  • Katelin Radonovich (Summer 2022 to Spring 2024), FIS Undergraduate student.
  • Brooke Weiss (Spring 2024 to Fall 2024), FIS Undergraduate student
  • Jenna Goldberg (Spring 2024 to Fall 2024), FIS Undergraduate student
  • Allison Carranza (Spring 2024 to Spring 2025), FIS Undergraduate student
  • Mallory Higgins (Spring 2025 to Fall 2025), FIS Undergraduate Student
  • Sydney Frymyer (Spring 2025 to Fall 2025), FIS Undergraduate Student

Former Post-Doctoral Students:

  • Bayram Yuksel (Visiting Scholar, October 2017-October 2018, fellowship from the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey, Development of visualization methods for shooting distance estimations)
  • Claudia Martínez-Lopez (Post-doctoral Associate, August 2019-August 2020. Spectrochemical Analysis of Gunshot Residues)
  • Korina Menking-Hoggatt (Post-doctoral Associate, May 2021 to November 2022 Analysis and Interpretation of Gunshot Residues)
  • Pedram Tavazohi (Post-doctoral Associate, May 2022 to May 2023, Analysis and Interpretation of Physical Fit using Computational Algorithms and Deep Learning)