Whether they’re examining a DNA sample, creating a toxicology report or testifying in court, forensic scientists rely on science-based techniques to evaluate evidence and help determine whodunit—or who didn’t.
Through the Forensic and National Security Sciences Institute (Forensics) at Syracuse University’s College of Arts and Sciences, undergraduates pursue forensic science as an integrated learning major (ILM) paired with a base major. As an applied and interdisciplinary field, forensic science draws from natural sciences such as biology, chemistry and physics—essential for laboratory work—as well as social sciences like psychology, sociology and anthropology, which can be used in investigations and victim advocacy work, says Kathleen Corrado, executive director of Forensics.
“Pairing the forensic science major with another major provides students with a strong foundation in the underlying science that then allows them to apply it in a forensic context,” Corrado says. “It also allows for more career flexibility as students have multiple experiences and strengths to draw from when deciding what field to pursue after graduation.”
Combining a Strength and a Passion
Matilda Nichols ’27 appreciates how her chemistry and forensic science studies complement one another and inspire her research.
Matilda Nichols ’27 found the right match in forensic chemistry, bringing together her love for chemistry and true crime shows. “I realized that chemistry was my strength, and forensics was my passion—so combining the two was the perfect path for me,” says Nichols, a forensic science and chemistry major. “That’s why I was so excited to find a school like Syracuse University, where I could study both and have them complement each other.”
Nichols is gaining hands-on experience in the lab of Professor Michael Marciano G’18, director of forensic research who specializes in DNA analysis—a strength of the institute. “Initially, I was set on pursuing forensic toxicology, since that was the only area I really knew about at the time,” says Nichols, who joined the lab as a first-year student. “But working with Professor Marciano opened my eyes to the fascinating world of DNA analysis and I’ve been hooked ever since.”
Nichols credits Professor Michael Marciano G’18 (right) with introducing her to research on DNA analysis and mentoring her in his lab.
In her research, Nichols is examining the quality of genetic profiles produced by single cells to enhance the accuracy of identifying individuals in low quantity or mixed samples. “This research is critical because in real crime scenes, samples are not pristine and only a few cells may be left behind,” she says. “The goal is to find the most efficient and cost-effective way to obtain high-quality DNA profiles from extremely limited samples.”
Nichols believes her chemistry studies give her a solid foundation for forensic science, especially lab work. Likewise, her forensic science studies motivate her in chemistry courses. “Thinking about real-world forensic applications helps prevent burnout and keeps me curious,” she says.
Looking to the future, she’s considering graduate studies in forensic science or pharmacy school, with a focus on new medication development. “One of the best things about Syracuse University is the flexibility of the ILM program and how it allows me to pursue multiple interests and build a strong foundation for whichever path I choose,” she says.
Captivated by Forensic Lab Work
Professor James Crill ’07 (left) confers with Cody Wade ’26, a forensic science and biology major who works in Crill’s lab. “Lab work can be exciting and looking into the cutting-edge research done on this campus ignites a fire in me,” Wade says.
Cody Wade ’26 took an introductory forensic science course as a high school student through Syracuse University Project Advance and was hooked. Initially interested in field work like crime scene investigations, he says taking different forensic courses turned his focus toward lab work. “This diversified view on the discipline has given me a better sense of it as a whole and has honed my skills on a variety of topics,” says Wade, a forensic science and biology major. “Lab work can be exciting and looking into the cutting-edge research done on this campus ignites a fire in me.”
One of the best things about Syracuse University is the flexibility of the ILM program and how it allows me to pursue multiple interests and build a strong foundation for whichever path I choose.
Matilda Nichols '27
Wade’s biology studies have given him a solid foundation to build his knowledge of forensic science.
Wade does research in the lab of forensic science professor James Crill ’07, who specializes in the detection and characterization of biological weapons of mass destructions, and he cites Crill’s course Microbial Forensics as a favorite. “I love when my majors overlap because it engages me even more and helps build a meshwork of information in my mind,” he says.
Wade—who credits study abroad courses and internship experiences in Denmark and Spain with helping him develop skills and understand connections to research—looks to work in a lab, and graduate school is also on his radar. “Biology has given me an incredible foundation for studying forensics,” he says. “Biology seems like the perfect match for my interests and hopefully will prepare me to succeed postgrad.”
Drawn to Investigations and Mental Health Support
Emily Schroeder ’25 believes her education in psychology and forensic science will be beneficial in pursuing a career as a crime investigator.
Emily Schroeder ’25 enjoys the challenge of scavenger hunts and piecing together puzzles. Combine those solution-oriented pursuits with an interest in the news and true crime, and it’s no surprise she’s attracted to work as an investigator. “I’ve wanted to go into law enforcement and forensics since middle school,” says the forensic science and psychology major. “Because no crime is the same.”
Schroeder appreciates how psychology provides insights on criminal behavior while forensics presents evidence. “You can’t have the full spectrum of what is going on in someone’s brain without knowing the forensics of a case,” she says.
As part of her capstone projects, Schroeder is creating a comprehensive database on school shootings and examining the media attention each incident received.
For her Renée Crown University Honors program and forensic science capstone projects, Schroeder is creating a comprehensive database on school shootings (with an estimated 700 events from 1999 to 2018). She’s examining the circumstances and people involved in each shooting and the amount of media attention it received. From a social psychology perspective, she’s interested in how media coverage—or the lack of it—influences public opinion on gun control, school safety and other related issues.
“I’m basically seeing what affects that attention,” she says. “Are there other factors to consider like demographics, who the victims were, who the shooter was, was it gang related or young children in an upper-class school?”
Schroeder, who plans to pursue graduate studies in forensics after a December graduation, gravitates toward crime scene and medico-legal death investigations and wants to advocate for mental health support. “You can’t investigate death without recognizing the psychological impact it has not just on the victim’s family and relatives, but also on the forensic scientists and investigators,” she says. “In the worst moment of people’s lives, I want to be the person who can guide them to know that life can go on.”
Connecting Medicine and Forensics
Sarah Vella ’26 (left) does research in the lab of chemistry professor Robert Doyle. “I love the connection between medicine and forensics,” says Vella, who aspires to be a forensic pathologist.
When Sarah Vella ’26 was a high school sophomore, she read The Poisoner’s Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York (Penguin Press, 2010), and it sparked her interest in forensic toxicology.
While forensic toxicology introduced Vella to the field, a favorite course in forensic pathology steered her in that direction. “I love the connection between medicine and forensics,” says the forensic science and medicinal chemistry major, “and I deeply value the meaningful role that forensic pathologists play in helping families at their most difficult times.”
Forensic classes have introduced Vella to lab techniques and tools that she can apply to her medicinal chemistry research.
Vella’s chemistry studies have helped her understand the theory behind forensic techniques and different analytical methods, while her forensic classes have introduced her to lab techniques and tools that she uses in her medicinal chemistry research. She has also benefited from her work as a research assistant in chemistry professor Robert Doyle’s lab, developing antinausea therapeutics for chemotherapy patients. In Doyle’s lab, Vella has also begun researching new potential analogs of naloxone that may prevent drug-seeking behavior.
The combination of both majors has inspired her to raise questions about “out of the box” applications from one discipline to the other. “The overlap in some of these courses has helped me consolidate everything I’ve learned, improving my understanding of both fields and how I can contribute to them in the future,” says Vella, who plans to work as an emergency medical technician while applying to medical schools. “I feel very prepared for a career within forensic medicine.”
