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Forensic Biology

At a Glance

  • College

    College of Life Sciences

  • Degree

    Master of Science

  • Campus

    Center City

  • Format

    On Campus

  • Credits

    40

  • Duration

    2 Years

Leadership

Coral Smith, MSFS
Program Director
Sara Bodnar, MS
Assistant Program Director

For Program Information

Alexandra Whitman
Program Coordinator
Judith Rodriguez Salas
Program Coordinator, Forensic Toxicology/Biology Program

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Our Team

Coral Smith, MSFS

Program Director, MS Forensic Biology
Coral.Smith@jefferson.edu
Coral.Smith@cfsre.org

Coral Smith earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Forensic Science Technology from Alfred State College where she received the Orvis Award for Excellence. She continued her education at West Virginia University, completing her Master of Science in Forensic and Investigative Science with a focus on DNA analysis. During her time at WVU, she instructed laboratory courses, earned her Certificate in University Teaching, and researched innovative techniques for DNA and RNA recovery from low-template evidence samples.

Coral’s research interests include maximizing DNA recovery from challenging samples and developing novel techniques for multianalyte recovery from casework-type samples. With eight years of teaching and research experience, she is passionate about inspiring the next generation of scientists, encouraging them to become innovative thinkers and well-rounded researchers.

Sara Bodnar, MS

Assistant Program Director, MS Forensic Biology
Sara.Bodnar@cfsre.org

Sara graduated from Bowling Green State University with a BS in Biology where she conducted research investigating the potential use of IR imaging for identification of shallow graves. From there, she earned her MS in Forensic and Investigative Science from West Virginia University with a focus in forensic biology research. Sara's research at WVU encompassed sequencing mitochondrial DNA from hair shafts and improvement of DNA typing success from trace DNA samples. While studying at WVU, she gained experience leading Forensic Biology and Genetic labs where her love for educating began to rival her passion for research.

Sara’s research interests include the optimization of methods for trace DNA typing and the application of Next Generation Sequencing to forensically challenging samples. She strives to prepare the next generation of forensic biologists through hands-on experiential learning on current and emerging DNA typing methods.

Judith Rodriguez Salas

Program Coodinator, Forensic Biology & Toxicology Program
Judith.Rodriguez-Salas@cfsre.org

Judith Rodriguez serves as laboratory support assistant and STEM coordinator at CFSRE assisting in all laboratory necessities, developing STEM classes and laboratory activities for surrounding schools in the Philadelphia area. She also serves as the ITAD program administrator and Instrumental Analysis lab teacher for Thomas Jefferson University and Arcadia University 1st year students.

Judith Rodriguez graduated from the University of Maine at Augusta in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology. In 2018, she obtained her Master of Science in Forensic Science from Arcadia University, focusing on forensic biology through her research in a Method Development of Direct Quantification for Sexual Assault Samples to be Incorporated in the Direct PCR Workflow. She also focused on forensic toxicology through her internship at the CFSRE. After the completion of her degree, she worked as the forensic toxicology mentor for the Forensic Science Mentoring Institute class of Summer 2018, in which she is reprising her role for the Summer 2023.

She has been working as the International Toxic Adulterant Database (ITAD) program administrator as a liaison between laboratories around the world, collecting data and managing the ITAD.org website where all data about the toxic adulterants identified in seized drug material are displayed. Judith also worked on the African Wildlife Forensic program. She assists the lab manager in making sure the laboratory has everything that is needed to run and instruments are in good working condition. She also acts as the in-house Lab Safety Officer.

As the STEM coordinator, she is working on forensic science outreach, bringing forensic science to middle and high schools in the Philadelphia area. She also organizes field trips for students to come to CFSRE and perform laboratory experiments on the different forensic science fields.

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