2024-25 FSF Jan S. Bashinski Grant Recipient Announced

The Forensic Sciences Foundation (FSF) is proud to announce that Jaycie O. Esteban, BS, was awarded the 2024-25 FSF Jan S. Bashinski Criminalistics Graduate Theses Assistant Grant for her submission, DNA in Drugs: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Identify Drugs and the DNA Within. The award consists of $1,850, a plaque presented at the Criminalistics Section Business Meeting, complimentary meeting registration at the future AAFS annual conference where her thesis has been accepted for presentation, and up to $1,400 for travel and per diem expenses toward the future conference attendance.

Jaycie is a master's student in the forensic science program at Arcadia University. She received a bachelor's degree in forensic science from Long Island University (LIU) Post. Her graduate research combines forensic biology and drug chemistry to optimize an organic extraction method that preserves both DNA and drug material for simultaneous DNA profiling and drug identification from a single extract. Analyzing the discarded portions of the DNA organic extraction process allows for the identification of drugs via Gas Chromatograohy/Gas Spectrometry (GC/MS). Bridging the gap between forensic biology and drug chemistry allows for the identification of DNA within drugs, creating a dual biological and chemical profile that can be used to link drug seizures based on the chemical properties and individuals identified via DNA. 

Congratulations, Jaycie!

The Bashinski Grant Committee consists of: Chair Tiffany Rodriguez, MS and Co-Chair Sandra Sachs, PhD.