C.A. Pound Human Identification Lab

06/19/2025

05/27/2025

Alumni get dibs, of course. I should have ordered more.

07/08/2024

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/06/us/tulsa-race-massacre-graves-dna.html

After more than a century, researchers hope to finally identify the victims of one of the worst racial attacks in American history.

05/20/2024

https://www.forensicmag.com/613150-Remains-of-1975-Munsingwear-Doe-Identified/

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with Intermountain Forensics, the FBI’s Latent Print Unit, and the Coconino County Office of the Medical Examiner has successfully identified remains found 49 years ago as Gerald Francis Long, a Vietnam veteran originally from Minnesota.

03/18/2024

https://www.forensicmag.com/611978-New-Simpler-Cost-effective-Test-Helps-Identify-Touch-DNA/

This research has important implications for forensic investigations and being able to identify DNA from a primary contact—someone who may have committed the crime—as well as secondary DNA that was inadvertently and indirectly transferred through touch.

02/15/2024

Spread the love for Anthropology today, Happy Anthro Day!
See the fun events below!

uFASA Events - Follow them on social media: https://linktr.ee/ufasa_anthro
February 15: World Anthro Day - Casual Krishna/Plaza Social (11am-1pm)
February 16: Potluck with Emic (5pm): off campus
February 23: Clay Jewelry Making - Archaeology (midday): on campus
February 29: Apocalypse and Culture - Cultural Anthropology (6:30pm): on campus

Stay up to date with all club related information and events here!

11/27/2023

What counts as abuse of controlled substances? If you use illegal drugs, such as ma*****na, he**in, co***ne, ecstasy, inhalants, etc., you will not qualify for a career in a crime lab. This rule is so strict that even a single use may exclude you from a position in a crime lab—if a comparable applicant has never used an illegal drug, his or her application will have priority. Law enforcement agencies (police, sheriff, etc.) may allow single/reformed users to qualify if sufficient time has passed since that use. Habitual users should not apply.

I have a juvenile record. Won’t it stay sealed? It might stay sealed against a background check, but that may depend on the laws and practices of individual states. However, your juvenile activities may be exposed in a polygraph exam (although testers caution the subject to stick to adult history). If you are interested in crime lab work inquire early about the nature of the background check to see if you qualify for employment.

11/27/2023

Who should be an undergraduate forensic science major? A forensic science major is for anyone who 1) has an interest in science applied to legal processes; 2) would like a science background to supplement their interest in criminal justice; and/or 3) likes science but cannot yet identify a specific scientific field of interest. Students should be able to maintain a C average or better. Although programs vary in conducting background checks on undergraduate students, applicants should have no criminal record or history of controlled substance abuse.

What do you mean by “have no criminal history”? Criminal records and histories are verified by a background check. Even when charges are not filed there is still a history, and that must be declared. Crime lab employees frequently must also undergo a polygraph test to verify the criminal history.

04/26/2023

https://twitter.com/The_AAFS/status/1651259987375853568?s=20

“Did you know your DNA could be found on a murder weapon you've never touched? We detected in 3/8 trials using our transfer DNA experimental design. What does this mean for court cases? Findings published in article: https://t.co/bL4dqa9Smg”

07/05/2022

Congratulations to CAPHIL analyst Samantha McCrane, and colleagues.

Click on the article title to read more.