Strengthening Forensic Fire Debris Analysis
This grant seeks to improve forensic fire debris analysis by funding projects that enhance sample preparation, develop new analytical methods, or create objective data interpretation.
This grant is no longer accepting proposals
NRC Research Associateship Programs has archived this opportunity.
Funder: NRC Research Associateship Programs
Due Dates: February 1, 2025 | May 1, 2025 | August 1, 2025 | November 1, 2025
Funding Amounts: $82,764 stipend plus $3,000 travel allowance; typical appointment duration 2 years.
Summary: Supports postdoctoral research to develop improved methods and protocols for forensic fire debris analysis, including sample preparation, analytical techniques, and data interpretation.
Key Information: Open to U.S. citizens with a doctoral degree; requires contacting a NIST research adviser prior to application; applications reviewed in February and August cycles at NIST.
Description
This fellowship opportunity, offered through the NRC Research Associateship Programs at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), focuses on advancing forensic fire debris analysis. Fire debris analysis is a critical forensic tool used to determine arson by detecting ignitable liquids in fire residues. The standard approach involves extracting evidence followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis and interpreting chromatographic patterns against known ignitable liquids.
The program seeks innovative projects that strengthen one or more aspects of this process, including:
- Development of new sample preparation or extraction methods.
- Exploration of novel analytical techniques such as ambient ionization mass spectrometry.
- Creation of objective protocols or methodologies for data interpretation.
- Establishment of standards, reference data, error rates, or uncertainty quantification relevant to the forensic community.
Collaborations with other NIST laboratories and local, state, and federal forensic laboratories are encouraged. The program targets independent, motivated researchers with backgrounds in analytical chemistry, engineering, statistics, or mathematics to contribute to interdisciplinary projects.
