Why did you choose graduate school at IUPUI?
I chose graduate school at IUPUI because it is one of few good graduate programs in forensic science, backed by the well-respected name of Purdue University, and I was offered an assistantship that waived my tuition and provided a stipend so that I would not have to take out loans to attend the program.
What has been your favorite academic accomplishment since you've been here?
My favorite academic accomplishment at IUPUI has been securing the Forensic Science Foundation Jan S. Bashinski Criminalistics Graduate Thesis Grant to help fund a portion of my research.
What do you enjoy most about life in Indianapolis?
My favorite thing about life in Indianapolis is that it is a big city with a small town feel. I also like that I can walk most anywhere I want since I live downtown, and this is a very pleasant city to walk around in.
Tell us about your work/research as a graduate student.
My research is focused on developing new techniques for analyzing controlled substances by gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Specifically, I am developing on-fiber derivatization methods using Total Vaporization Solid Phase Microextraction (TV-SPME) for the analysis of thermally unstable controlled substances that are not typically identified by GC-MS under normal conditions.