Arcadia University Forensic Science Program

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Arcadia University Forensic Science Program One of the most renowned FEPAC accredited master programs in forensic science in the country

On Monday, our first-year students welcomed Dr. Kari Midthun from NMS Labs to speak about forensic toxicology, with a sp...
10/08/2026

On Monday, our first-year students welcomed Dr. Kari Midthun from NMS Labs to speak about forensic toxicology, with a special focus on pediatric toxicology.

Dr. Midthun, a board-certified forensic toxicologist and expert in pediatric toxicology, discussed the major differences between adult and pediatric toxicology, including how age and body size can influence an individual’s response to drugs and other substances. She also shared real world case examples from her work, giving the students a valuable insight into the medico-legal death investigation process from the perspective of a practicing forensic toxicologist.

We are grateful to Dr. Midthun for her time, and sharing her expertise and experiences with our students. Thank you for such an insightful and engaging presentation!

Over the past few weeks, our second-year students have been working through the quantitation and amplification steps of ...
10/07/2026

Over the past few weeks, our second-year students have been working through the quantitation and amplification steps of a forensic biology casework workflow in their Advanced Forensic Biology course.

Crime scene evidence often contains only small amounts of DNA, which may be damaged or mixed with DNA from more than one person. Using the Quantifiler™ Trio kit on the QuantStudio™ 5 Real-Time PCR instrument, our students measured how much human DNA each sample contained and checked its quality, including degradation and inhibitors, and how much of the DNA is male versus female. This matters because too little or too much DNA can lead to an incomplete or unclear profile.

Students then used these results to calculate how much DNA to amplify with the GlobalFiler™ PCR Amplification Kit on the ProFlex thermal cycler. Amplification makes many copies of DNA regions that vary from person to person in order to produce enough material for STR (short tandem repeat) analysis to produce a DNA profile. Wonderful work from our students so far!

Last Monday, our first-year students welcomed their first guest speakers as part of their Professional Seminar course. J...
10/01/2026

Last Monday, our first-year students welcomed their first guest speakers as part of their Professional Seminar course. Julianna Firek and Theresa Pennington from the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate’s Chemical Security Analysis Center (CSAC) spoke with students about their work, the mission of the center, and some of the current research projects their team is pursuing.

The CSAC plays an important role in supporting national security. Its research provides chemical data and risk models that help inform decision-making across multiple levels of government. This work can also contribute to the development of policies and countermeasures addressing chemical threats.

During the presentation, Julianna and Theresa highlighted several research projects that employees and interns have worked on in recent years, as well as projects that are still in development. One of their newest projects explores how different chemical agents may affect the flavor profiles of certain foods and beverages, giving students a unique look at the wide range of applications within chemical security research.

To close the presentation, the speakers answered questions about available internship opportunities and discussed the variety of career paths and positions that students may pursue after completing their studies. We are grateful to Julianna Firek and Theresa Pennington for taking the time to speak with our students and provide insight into the exciting research and career opportunities within the Department of Homeland Security!

Beyond the laboratory bench, being an effective forensic scientist means understanding the legal, societal, and global i...
09/29/2026

Beyond the laboratory bench, being an effective forensic scientist means understanding the legal, societal, and global impact of the substances we analyze. Last week, our second-year students in Advanced Forensic Chemistry stepped outside standard instrumentation workflows to tackle one of the most complex intersections of science and public policy: the War on Drugs.

To prepare for a rigorous discussion, students conducted independent literature reviews across 20 distinct academic sources to examine the issue from every angle. On the demand side, they evaluated the shift from punitive enforcement toward decriminalization and public health models, balancing economic costs and institutional accountability against individual rights. Looking at supply, they investigated international trafficking networks—from historical o***m routes to modern co***ne supply chains—while assessing the ethical and cross-border impacts of foreign drug policies on communities worldwide.

Critical thinking and interdisciplinary perspectives are essential to shaping the future of the field, and we love seeing our second-year students bring such thoughtful, thorough analysis to these vital global questions!

This week, our first-year students had their first of three Bloodstain Pattern Analysis (BPA) labs for their Crime Scene...
09/24/2026

This week, our first-year students had their first of three Bloodstain Pattern Analysis (BPA) labs for their Crime Scene Analysis lab. Students got hands-on experience creating bloodstain patterns and examining how factors such as angle and height can affect their appearance and measurements. Over the coming weeks, they will continue their analyses using a variety of surfaces, such as tile, wood, cardboard, and more, gaining valuable experience with techniques used in forensic investigations. Good work, everyone! 🔬🩸

Happy National Forensic Science Week from the Arcadia University Forensic Science Program! This week, we celebrate the d...
09/22/2026

Happy National Forensic Science Week from the Arcadia University Forensic Science Program! This week, we celebrate the dedication to science that drives our forensic community. Our program is honored to play a role in shaping the next generation of professionals who will strive to serve the community across the country.

At Arcadia, our Forensic Science students study the core disciplines of Forensic Biology, Forensic Chemistry, and Forensic Toxicology. Whether they are analyzing biological evidence, studying chemical traces, or investigating toxicological patterns, we teach our students to approach every situation with scientific integrity.

Every day we see them mastering complex techniques, collaborating in the lab, and building the skills that will carry them into successful careers in CSI units, forensic laboratories, medical examiner offices, research institutions, and countless other departments.

We are incredibly proud of all that they continue to accomplish. Here’s to our students, our faculty, and the entire forensic science community!

Over the past three weeks, our first-year students have been gaining valuable hands-on experience in the Instrumental An...
09/17/2026

Over the past three weeks, our first-year students have been gaining valuable hands-on experience in the Instrumental Analysis Lab at the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education (CFSRE). Through these laboratory experiences, students are developing foundational skills in forensic analytical techniques while learning how these methods are applied to real-world forensic investigations.

Throughout these first three weeks, students have worked with industry-standard instrumentation and analytical tools, building an understanding of key laboratory concepts such as precision, accuracy, calibration, and data analysis.

One of the laboratory activities focused on the preparation and analysis of Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) samples using headspace dual-column Gas Chromatography (GC). This is an important analytical technique in forensic toxicology and provides students with practical experience applying chromatography to forensic analysis.

Students also prepared and analyzed samples using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with UV Detection (HPLC-UV). Across these laboratory exercises, students were responsible for preparing samples, developing calibration curves, collecting and analyzing data, and interpreting their results.

These first three weeks have been instrumental in establishing a strong foundation in essential forensic analytical techniques. Our students have made an outstanding start to the academic year and continue to demonstrate their curiosity, dedication, and ability to develop new skills. We’re excited to see how they continue to grow and what they accomplish next!

Our second-year students were back in the lab on campus this week for Forensic Biology, tackling one of the most excitin...
09/15/2026

Our second-year students were back in the lab on campus this week for Forensic Biology, tackling one of the most exciting first steps in evidence processing: DNA extraction!

Before testing can begin, students have to isolate and clean the DNA, separating it from cell debris and contaminants that can get in the way. Because biological samples come in all shapes and sizes, our second-year students got hands-on experience using two different extraction techniques:

Chelex Extraction (for Reference Swabs): Working with standard cheek swabs, students used a fast, heat-based method to break open cells and quickly prep clean DNA for downstream testing.

QIAamp DNA Investigator Kits (for Trace Samples): Working with challenging touch samples where only tiny amounts of DNA are present, students used specialized micro-filters to capture, wash, and purify microscopic traces of genetic material.

Our students did an incredible job mastering both workflows, carefully pipetting and managing their samples from start to finish. We love seeing our second-years in action and making great progress in the lab!

Get to know some of our first-year students! Meet Ian! He is apart of the 3+2 Forensic Science Program at Arcadia Univer...
09/11/2026

Get to know some of our first-year students!

Meet Ian! He is apart of the 3+2 Forensic Science Program at Arcadia University. He is from the Jersey shore and went to Arcadia for his undergraduate in chemistry. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, friends, and girlfriend watching movies, playing games, or going on walks. He is interested in Forensic Chemistry and the study of trace evidence. One day, he hopes to be apart of a crime scene lab analyzing evidence and potentially being a Crime Scene Investigator.

Meet Aksh*tha! She is from India and completed her undergraduate degree in forensic science, chemistry and biotechnology at RBVRR women’s college, Hyderabad. During her undergraduate studies, she had the opportunity to gain practical exposure with the Telangana Police CLUES Team, where she observed diverse crime scene investigations and learned about crime scene documentation, evidence collection, and forensic procedures. Other than academics, she enjoys painting, dance, and editing videos.

Meet Katrina! Katrina graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a bachelor’s in chemistry and minor in biology. She is currently interested in forensic chemistry but is excited to learn more about forensic biology and toxicology. In her free time she enjoys completing escape rooms, puzzles, learning languages, and playing video games.

Meet Isabell! She is originally from Wilmington, DE. She graduated from Elizabethtown College this past May with a bachelor’s in chemistry. She also competed in cross country and track while she was there. She likes to keep up with running in her free time, as well as spend time with friends/family, hike, read, watch tv/movies, and cook. Her GA position on campus is administrative assistant for the forensic science department.

Our second-year students were back in the lab this week at the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education for th...
09/08/2026

Our second-year students were back in the lab this week at the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education for their Forensic Toxicology course! Their first laboratory exercise focused on preparing Neat Calibration Curves and Controls for Co***ne and Fentanyl.

A calibration curve is built from a series of samples with known amounts of the analyte being tested. Once the curve is established, its accuracy is checked using controls, which are separate samples with known analyte concentrations that are run and quantified as if they were unknowns. If the calculated concentration falls within the acceptable range of the method, the curve is considered valid for the quantification of analyte concentrations from unknown biological matrix samples.

Our students calculated the target concentrations for these controls before their preparation. Students then spiked the standard at varying concentrations, added internal standard, dried down, and reconstituted them before the samples were ultimately run on GC/MS and tandem LC/MS instruments.

We love seeing our students back in the lab, happy first week of fall semester classes!

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450 S Easton Road
Glenside, PA
19038

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Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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