U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Funding & Awards
 The Analysis of Trace Forensic Evidence Using Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry: Differentiating Fibers
Award Information
Awardee
              St. Olaf College
Award #
              2012-DN-BX-K020
Funding Category
              Competitive
Location
                    Northfield, MN
Congressional District
              2
Status
              Closed
Funding First Awarded
              2012
Total funding (to date)
              $113,858
Original Solicitation
              NIJ FY 12 Basic Scientific Research to Support Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2012, $113,858)
The majority of trace evidence cannot be conclusively linked to specific exemplars with a high degree of certainty. Chemical and physical properties of evidence can be shown to be consistent with exemplars, but often not linked to a specific exemplar. This limits the discriminatory power of trace forensic evidence for attributing crime scene evidence to a single suspect. Isotope ratio analysis, using isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS), holds promise for changing the current level of discriminatory power available for the analysis of trace evidence. Forensic isotope ratio mass spectrometry, a relatively small field of forensic analysis, may well be able to provide discriminatory power to trace evidence similar to that available for drug analysis by GCMS or biological sample analysis using nuclear DNA typing. This would allow trace evidence to be linked to a single suspect or source with a high degree of certainty, increasing the probative value of trace evidence. More research is needed in order to develop more forensic applications of isotope ratio mass spectrometry and allow the technique to mature so that it can fulfill this promise. This proposal aims to apply isotope ratio mass spectrometry to the analysis of fibers. Fiber evidence may be important in a variety of cases, including kidnapping, murder and assault cases. Development of an isotope ratio mass spectrometry technique for fibers will not only provide higher levels of discriminatory analysis for these samples, it will also expand the number of forensic applications where isotope ratio mass spectrometry can be of significant value. The overall goal of the proposed research is the creation of useful methods for the differentiation of fibers based on isotope ratio mass spectrometry for criminal justice purposes. We propose to use isotope ratio mass spectrometry to determine the isotope ratios, namely ä2H, ä13C, ä15N, and ä18O, for fibers that are otherwise chemically and physically identical. Isotope ratio analysis has previously been shown to be able to differentiate different samples of illicit drugs, explosives, and plastic bags that are otherwise indistinguishable. These differences may result from differences in the geographical origin of the samples or from different manufacturing batches created at the same site but at different times. We will create isotopic composition plots using combinations of isotopes (i.e. ä2H and ä13C, ä13C and ä15N, ä2H and ä15N, etc.) as well as plots that compare three isotopic compositions in order to determine the isotopic compositions with the most discriminatory power for our samples. Statistical analysis will be used to determine similarities or differences between fibers. We expect to present the results of our research at two national scientific meetings as well as submit three manuscripts detailing the results of the various fiber analysis for peer-review and publication. We will also produce interim reports and a final report for the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) detailing our results. Data sets will be made available upon request for archival in the NIJs Data Resource Program. ca/ncf



  
Grant-Funded Publications
        
                      The Analysis of Trace Forensic Evidence Using Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry: Differentiating Fibers

  
Date Created: August 22, 2012
    
          Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              Current Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Forthcoming Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Expired Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
    
      
            
            
            
      Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
    
      
            
            
            
      Fellowship & Student Programs
    
      
            
            
            
      Travel Scholarships
    
      
            
            
            
      NIJ Challenge ProgramSimilar Awards
        
                      Exploring Officer Patrol Behaviors Using Automated Vehicle Locator and Body-Worn Camera Data in Kansas City, Missouri
                  Recovery and Analysis of Less Volatile Components for the Identification of Ignitable Liquid Residues in Fire Debris - Continuation of current NIJ-funded project (2020-DQ-BX-0003)
                  Pivoting Headspace Ethanol Analysis to Accommodate Modern Day Scenarios
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov