Forensic science support section.(Federal Bureau of Investigation )

Counterterrorism and Forensic Science Research Unit

The Counterterrorism and Forensic Science Research Unit researches, develops, and delivers new technologies and methodologies to advance forensic science and fight terrorism. The Unit also manages the Research Partner Program, Visiting Scientist Program, and Specialized Forensic Science Training Program, which are described in the Laboratory Outreach Programs section.

Unit scientists are responsible for research and development, validation studies, and transferring new forensic procedures and protocols to Laboratory caseworking units. They also publish results of completed research projects in peer-reviewed scientific journals, present findings at scientific meetings, and provide advanced technical training in formal classes and training symposia. Unit scientists provide expert advice and guidance to state and local law enforcement agencies.

Through outsourced and internal research and development, Unit personnel executed more than 100 projects in 2003, including 51 in biological sciences, 22 in chemical sciences, and 36 in physical sciences. The Unit is divided into three areas:

* Biology--Unit scientists initiated a major project to automate forensic DNA analysis. This research will help eliminate the backlog of convicted offender samples to be added to CODIS and will benefit the Laboratory's caseworking units as well as forensic laboratories across the country. Although each step in the process will be addressed separately, the outcome of this project will be an integrated system for "hands-off" analysis. Efforts also continue to streamline mtDNA analysis, including evaluating and validating a faster method for postamplification DNA quantitation.

* Chemistry--The chemical sciences group has expertise in separations, mass spectrometry, and portable instrumentation for field use. An isotope ratio monitoring mass spectrometry program was introduced in 2003 to compare otherwise indistinguishable forensic samples. Other efforts of this group range from the development of a new explosives analyzer that combines screening and confirmation in a single analysis to the implementation of a new protocol to colorimetrically determine the presence of invisible pepper spray residue on clothing.

* Physical Sciences--Materials analysis, molecular spectroscopy, imaging, and latent fingerprint and document examinations are specialties in physical sciences. A major effort of this group is the hyperspectral imaging of questioned documents and obliterated handwriting in order to provide spectrochemical analysis. In addition, a precise aiming mechanism was developed for an explosive device disrupter, and statistical analysis of fingerprint uniqueness is nearing completion this year.