UND Forensic Science

☀️ As summer gets underway, we'd like to thank all of our students for a fantastic year in the UND Forensic Science Program.

We hope you're enjoying a well-deserved break and finding time to relax and recharge. We look forward to seeing everyone back in the fall! 🧪🔍

Huge congratulations to our Forensic Science graduates! 🎓🧪

We are incredibly proud of all your hard work, dedication, and accomplishments throughout your time in the program. Thank you for allowing us to be part of your journey. We cannot wait to see where your future takes you! 👏✨

✨Forensic Photography Student Spotlight: Sydney Zahler! ✨

Check out this excellent example of student coursework from our Forensic Photography course. Sydney demonstrates key techniques including focus, exposure, and fluorescence photography. 📸🔬

The image on the left is documentation of a black tile fingerprint dusted with green fluorescent magnetic powder. The image on the right is a close-up photograph of one of the fingerprints visible in the image on the left. Job well done! 👏

🎉 Meet the Leaders of Tomorrow! 🎉
We are proud to recognize the 2026 Lillian Elsinga Outstanding Student Leader Award recipients:

✨ Caroline Gravel , ✨ Kristie Jo Larson, ✨Thomas Sikorski, ✨ Dessirae Romesha, ✨ Ranna Dawlaty, and ✨ Madison Angeles

These exceptional undergraduate and graduate students exemplify the mission of our Forensic Science Program, demonstrating not only strong scientific skills, but also teamwork, critical thinking, problem-solving, time management, adaptability, ethical practice, responsibility, and leadership.

Their dedication, integrity, and commitment to excellence make this a truly proud moment for our program, students, and faculty alike. Congratulations on this well‑deserved recognition - you are shaping the future of forensic science.

Ad astra!

5️⃣ years of collaboration with the North Dakota Office of Attorney General, Crime Laboratory Division! 🤝🧬🔍

On Friday, our students had the opportunity to visit the State Crime Lab, an experience that continues to be incredibly valuable to their education and professional growth. We’re so grateful for the time, insight, and engagement the lab staff continues to provide.

It was also great connecting with our recent UND alum Jordan, now working at the State Lab. It is so exciting to see our graduates thriving in the field! 👏

Did you know you can be involved with forensic science research as an undergraduate?! 🥼🧪

Forensic Science students presented their findings at today’s ✨ URSA Grand Journey ✨—a campus wide event showcasing undergraduate research at all stages, from early exploration to completed projects. 

Thomas Sikorski:
Winter Taphonomy and Vertebrate Scavengers in the Northern Plains. (As part of an expanded Undergraduate Research Award: Forensic Linkages - Comparative Microbiome Analysis of Coyote F***s and Pig Carcasses, Dr. L. Iancu, Piper O’Dell, Forensic Science alumna).

Hoffman Braedyn:
Analysis of the Effects that Multiple Elemental Combinations Have on Likelihood Ratios: An Application in Forensic Glass Analysis

➡️Learn more about undergraduate research in forensic science:
https://arts-sciences.und.edu/academics/forensic-science/research.html

✨ The power of oblique lighting ✨

Students in FS 450 captured this before and after while practicing footwear evidence searches. This is a great example of how proper lighting techniques can help reveal details that may otherwise go unnoticed.

Our Forensic Science Program is having an amazing time at the HOSA State Leadership Conference! We love engaging with students and sparking interest in forensic science careers 🔍🧬 Good luck to all participants 🍀

Our forensic science students take their learning beyond the classroom! In February, FS 346 students investigated a mock outdoor crime scene and applied everything from large-scale scene search techniques to proper documentation and evidence packaging 📦.

Did you catch the Valentine’s Day theme woven into the scene? 💘

The University of North Dakota’s Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science has earned FULL accreditation from the Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC) for 2026–2031.

This national accreditation confirms that UND’s Forensic Science Program meets rigorous standards for curriculum, faculty expertise, laboratory facilities, and student outcomes across Forensic Biology, Forensic Chemistry, and Criminal Investigation.

FEPAC accreditation is held by only a select number of programs nationwide and signals to employers, graduate programs, and forensic laboratories that UND graduates are trained to nationally recognized standards.

🔗 Learn more about the program: https://und.edu/programs/forensic-science-bs/index.html

🔗 Learn more about FEPAC: https://www.aafs.org/FEPAC

University of North Dakota UND Arts & Sciences