Institute for
Forensic Science
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Institute for Forensic Science (IFS) spotlighted globally on the importance of developing new absorbent for regulated substances like fentanyl
Prof. Seshadri Ramkumar, a colleague in our institute wrote in a column about new developments in FiberTect decontamination wipe, where, views of Dr. Jan Halameck, Director of IFS has appeared. The article also has the views of Dr. Vaclav Trojan, International Clinical Research Center at Brno-based Masaryk University, Czech Republic. Dr. Trojan is a collaborator in projects with IFS.
IFS is involved in the evaluation of advanced materials that find applications in Forensics, National Defense and Homeland Security, in collaboration with Dr. Ramkumar.
Links with media attention can be found below:
https://ff.textiletoday.com.bd/nonwoven-wipe-innovation-global-security/
https://indiantextilejournal.com/nonwoven-wipe-innovation-for-global-security/
https://ff.textiletoday.com.bd/nonwoven-wipe-innovation-global-security/
https://tok-bg.org/2022/11/22/nonwoven-wipe-innovation-for-global-security/
2 Forensic Lab students presented and Won at the 2021 Virtual Poster Competition hosted by the Graduate School.
They students won first and third place under the category of SCIENCES as follows:
1st place – Samuel Seay
Title of poster: “Flatland Forensics: Analyzing Insect Succession on Decomposing Remains in a High Plains Agricultural Environment”
3rd place- Kirsten Nettles
Title of poster: “Development of Odor Profiling Methods for the Detection of Contraband Firearms”
CrimeSceneInvestigatorEDU.org Names the Texas Tech University MS in Forensic Science Among the Most Affordable Forensics Master’s Programs of 2020-21
Dr. Paola A. Prada-Tiedemann
Research Associate Professor, Analytical Chemistry & Canine Chemical Odor Profiling
Postdoctoral Appointment, Office of the Director of National Intelligence US Government Fellowship, 2010-2012
Ph.D., Florida International University, 2010
Research Interests:
Analytical chemistry, animal behavior and national security to provide research that fosters innovation and drives strategy
Chemical odor profiling via gas chromatographic techniques
Volatolomic analysis from forensic specimens: human scent, human remains, pathogens and biological specimens
Law enforcement canine odor detection and training for forensic applications
Bio
Dr. Paola A Prada-Tiedemann received her Ph.D. in Chemistry with a forensic science concentration from Florida International University in 2010. She was awarded the 2010 Intelligence Community (IC) Postdoctoral Research Fellowship funded by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Her postdoctoral studies have united interdisciplinary areas such as chemistry, animal behavior and national security to address issues critical to effective intelligence and defense capabilities. She has worked extensively on developing instrumental methods for human odor identification for criminal investigations. She has also worked with canine scent detection in the context of optimizing odor collection techniques for scent training purposes. Her research interests include the evaluation of human odor volatiles as a forensic discriminatory tool as well as the testing of target odor analytes from various specimens of forensic importance for optimal performance of biological detector systems (i.e. canines). She has worked with both national and international police/government agencies to help develop better instrumental and training techniques in various areas of odor detection. She is the author or co-author of numerous journal publications, book chapters, and one book dedicated entirely on human scent evidence. She has presented her research at various national and international forums. She is a member of the criminalistics section of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS), American Academy of Forensic Sciences Standards Board Dogs and Sensors Consensus Body, Council of Forensic Educators (COFSE), and is the Chair of the NIST OSAC subcommittee on Dogs and Sensors (Dogs & Sensors Subcommittee | NIST)
Dr. Jan Halámek
Dr. Halámek completed both his Bachelor’s and Masters of Science at Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia where he also received his PhD in Biochemistry in 2003. He went on to work as a postdoctoral fellow at Potsdam University in Germany, where he earned the Marie Curie Individual Fellowship. In 2006, he joined the Department of Biophysical Engineering at Twente University in The Netherlands for a second postdoctoral fellowship. In 2008, he traveled to the United States to join the Department of Chemistry at Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY as a Research Associate. Three years later, he became a Research Assistant Professor. He, then, became an Associate Professor of Chemistry at University at Albany, SUNY. Finally, Dr. Halámek arrived at Texas Tech University in August 2020 in his current position.
A stronghold if the forensic science community, Dr. Halámek currently consults with several scientific journals. He currently serves as a reviewer for Analytical Chemistry, Langmuir, Journal of Physical Chemistry, Journal of Forensic Science, Analytica Chimica Acta, Biosensors & Bioelectronics, IEEE Sensors, Microfluidics & Nanofluidics, and Engineering in Life Sciences. He also sits on the editorial panel of the National Science Foundation (Nanobiosensing Program).
Bio
In both his teaching and his research, Dr. Halámek focuses on the development of non-traditional sensing concepts for forensic, biometric and security applications. The ultimate objective of his work is to evaluate and characterize various metabolite panels (including analytes from illicit drugs to endogenous compounds) in human body fluids. Additional supporting experiments involve development of novel concepts for detection of illicit drugs, harmful pesticides and, warfare agents on surfaces or in solution.
Dr. Halámek received his Ph.D. from the Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia in 2003 under the direction of Petr Skladal. He, then, received Marie Curie Individual Fellowship and traveled to Potsdam University in Germany to conduct postdoctoral research in pesticide toxicology and sensing under Frieder W. Scheller. In 2008, he came to the United States, where he became a postdoctoral fellow under the direction of Evgeny Katz at Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY. He became an Associate Professor of Chemistry at the University at Albany, SUNY. He held this position until his arrival at Texas Tech University in August 2020.
A stronghold if the forensic science community, Dr. Halámek currently consults with several scientific journals. He currently serves as a reviewer for Analytical Chemistry, Langmuir, Journal of Physical Chemistry, Journal of Forensic Science, Analytica Chimica Acta, Biosensors & Bioelectronics, IEEE Sensors, Microfluidics & Nanofluidics, and Engineering in Life Sciences. He also sits on the editorial panel of the National Science Foundation (Nanobiosensing Program).
Dr. Halámek is well known in the forensic science community. He has published more than 80 peer-reviewed papers, having an h–index of 33 (Web of Science, 2020/08). His work has been cited over 3000 times (excluding self-citations).
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Dr. Paola A. Prada-Tiedemann
Graduate Program & Undergraduate Minor Director,
Forensic Science
Research Associate Professor
Dr. Jan Halámek
Director, Institute for Forensic Sciences
Mission StatementThe Institute for Forensic Science at Texas Tech University is committed to conducting research in interdisciplinary forensic science and dissemination of results. This unique multidisciplinary program provides outstanding education, research, and professional training opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students at TTU, as well as local and regional law enforcement. The Institute is a comprehensive teaching, training, and research entity in all aspects of forensic science. The Institute is committed to providing quality contributions to the university, profession, and community. Through the sharing of ideas and methodologies, the institute is committed to supporting local law enforcement and criminal justice agencies to promote prosocial values and contribute to safer communities.
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FORENSIC CHEMISTRY CONCENTRATION
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FSCI 5252
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