The ASCLD Forensic Research Committee
Advancing the Core Science of Forensics through Collaboration
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The goal of the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD) Forensic Research Committee (FRC) is to advance the core science of forensics by closing technology gaps and enabling future forensic technologies through various strategic goals: a) identifying the research, development, technology, and evaluation (RDT&E) needs and priorities for the forensic community, b) advancing forensic science research, c) cultivating collaborative research partnerships, d) promoting information sharing throughout the forensic science community, e) supporting the development of future forensic science capabilities, and f) advising the ASCLD Board of Directors on RDT&E related issues, projects, and processes. The FRC provides a number of online tools, designed to promote greater collaboration in forensic science, to help achieve these goals.
Scan the QR code to view the online tools mentioned.
Looking to begin a collaborative partnership?
Research in forensic science is critical in advancing the field, and the best results arise from joint efforts between academic forensic labs, crime labs and industry. The Laboratories and Educators Alliance Program (LEAP) is a joint effort between the American Society of Crime Lab Directors (ASCLD) and the Council of Forensic Science Educators (COFSE) that identifies forensic science needs and provides a platform for crime laboratories, researchers, and industry partners to seek partnerships and projects that align with their mutual research capabilities. LEAP enables partnership opportunities through subject matter expert information exchanges, support for research, testing, evaluation & validations, statistical support and consulting, curriculum assistance and seminar series speaking opportunities, sharing and use of advanced instrumentation, joint presentations and publications, and internship opportunities.
At the time of this publication, there were over 150 LEAP collaborating partners from crime labs, academia and industry. The partnerships span ten countries - USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Brazil, Italy, Spain, Belize, Armenia, and Saudi Arabia. You can explore LEAP partners by discipline and geography in a newly launched interactive map on the webpage. A second interactive map (page 2) allows you to view internships by category, geography and provides contact information from the offering organization.
Looking to support, or do you need help with a research project?
The FRC Collaboration Hub is a “one-stop-shop” for researchers to solicit participation in specific projects and for practitioners to contribute their knowledge and experience to support research projects. Through the FRC Collaboration Hub, forensic science practitioners can quickly and easily identify research projects related to their field of expertise and connect with researchers to contribute to the success of the research while also advancing their field. Researchers looking for practitioner support as a subject matter expert, collaborator, beta-tester, a participant in a study, etc. can submit project information to the Hub. Practitioners looking to contribute to research projects or who are interested in providing forensic support can review the directory and select projects. Practitioners gain additional professional development opportunities while supporting and engaging in research projects, while academic researchers can broaden their outreach and gain access to a large network of forensic science laboratories and practitioners. The online Hub is searchable by title, organization, principal investigator, discipline or instrumentation.
Scan the QR code to be taken to the FRC Collaboration Hub.
Looking for or wish to contribute an evaluation or validation?
The FRC Evaluation/Validation Repository promotes transparency, information sharing, and synergy between forensic science laboratories, researchers, and other stakeholders within the criminal justice system. The Evaluation/Validation Repository is a centralized location for evaluation and validation plans, methods, results, reports and data to be stored. It provides accessibility for forensic science laboratories and stakeholders to coordinate, collaborate, and build upon existing efforts to break down operational silos and strengthen forensic science practices as an entire community. The Hub aims to maximize laboratory resources by reducing duplication of validation efforts. This is supported by the May 2024 Heads Up Communication in which ANAB addressed validation sharing across labs: “When another agency has performed a validation and shares the validation information, other agencies can use the validation data to verify the method at their agency”. The user-friendly Evaluation/Validation Repository allows users to submit data or to search for data from other labs. By working together, the community can better characterize the performance and increase the robustness of studies assessing the validity and reliability of technologies or analytical methods used in practice.
Looking to learn more about emerging topics in forensic science research?
The FRC Lightning Talks series highlights new and emerging research in all areas of forensic science. Each thirty-minute episode features two or three short talks given by practitioners, researchers or students, followed by a short Q&A session. The “lightning” speed of the talks allow interested, but busy, listeners to gain valuable knowledge in emerging areas of forensic science research in a brief series of talks given by leading experts. The talks are presented live, and later made publicly available as YouTube videos.
Scan the QR code to be taken to the FRC Lightening Talks Webpage.
Scan the QR code to be taken to the FRC Lightening Talks YouTube Channel.
Looking to learn about ASCLD’s Research Priorities?
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 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 2022-2024 list at: https://www.ascld.org/forensic-research-committee/ascld-research-priorities/. A new list of research priorities is currently under development by the FRC and ASCLD and will be made public in the near future.
Scan the QR code to view the list of ASCLD research priorities.
Looking for recognition for your collaborative work?
The FRC offers three awards annually, each presented during the annual ASCLD Symposium. The FRC Innovation Award recognizes innovative research studies that have been submitted to the FRC Collaboration Hub within the last two years that have or will result in new technologies, protocols, or tools that impact the forensic science laboratory. The LEAP Partnership Award recognizes an outstanding partnership between collaborating LEAP partners (Crime Laboratories, Academia, and Industry Partners) within the last two years. The Outstanding Evaluation/Validation Award recognizes an outstanding evaluation/validation study that has been submitted to the FRC Evaluation/Validation Repository within the last two years.
Scan the QR code to be taken to the LEAP Partner sign-up form.
The ASCLD FRC seeks to advance the core science of forensics by providing these open-access tools to the forensic science community at no cost. The goal is to facilitate greater collaboration between academic and operational forensic scientists and promote transparency in research, evaluation and validation. Research and Innovation are Essential to Advancing Forensic Science.