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The FSF Announces the 2026–27 Lucas Research Grant Recipients

Each year, the Forensic Sciences Foundation (FSF) awards monies in the form of grants to members of the forensic science communities to help the investigator/researcher initiate original in-depth, problem-oriented research throughout the year. These grants are open to members and affiliates (at any level) of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. This year, the FSF Research Committee has awarded seven Lucas Grants totaling $40,000.

Congratulations to all recipients!  And a big thank you to the FSF Research Committee: William Johnson, BA (Chair); Marissa Finkelstein, MS; Demi Garvin, PharmD; Gulnaz Javan, PhD; and Tiffany Rodriguez, MS. 

Lucas Grant Recipients

Daniel Arend, BS (Student Affiliate, Criminalistics Section)

$5994.88
Development of Novel Methods for Interpreting High Order DNA Mixtures of First-Degree Relatives
DArend

Thilini Chandrasekara, MSFS (Student Affiliate, Criminalistics Section)

$5722.00
How Stable is Stable? Evaluating Long-Term DNA Preservation in FTA Cards for Direct Forensic STR Sequencing
TChandrasekara

Rushali Dargan, PhD (Trainee Affiliate, Criminalistics Section)

$6000.00
Chemical Characterization of Commercially Available Human Remains Detection (HRD) Canine Training Aids Using Headspace GC-MS Analysis
RDargan

Amanda Hale, PhD (Member, Anthropology Section)

$5906.00
Towards Standardization in Projectile Trauma Research: Testing Synthetic Human Cranial Bone Proxies for Firearms and Skeletal Trauma Research
AHale

Krystal VanHorn, BS (Student Affiliate, Criminalistics Section)

$4674.83
Effect of Thermal Degradation and Fire Extinguishing Agents on the Detection of TNT Residues from Witness Materials Found in Vehicle Bombing Incidents Using GC-MS
KVanHorn

Janette Wilson (Student Affiliate, Criminalistics Section)

$5702.29
The Impact of Storage Temperature and Duration on DNA Recovery and STR Profile Completeness for Cellular Material Stored on Simulated Sexual Assault Kit Swabs
JWilson

Sara Zapico, PhD (Associate Member, Anthropology Section)

$6000.00
Evaluation of MicroCT-Based Dental Metrics for Adult Age-at-Death Estimation
SZapico
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