Heather L. Harris

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PO Box 235

Glenside PA 19038

phone: 215-880-3943

e-mail: chemist@hlharris.com

EDUCATION

Juris Doctor, Temple University Beasley School of Law, Philadelphia, PA

• Evidence Tainted by Forensic Fraud, a major review article discussing the practice 

and implications of fraudulent forensic science, produced as independent research 

under Professor M. Libonati, 2004-2005

• Admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar, October 2006

Master of Forensic Science, The George Washington University, Washington D.C.

• Areas of Concentration: Chemistry and Toxicology

• Admitted to the American Board of Criminalistics as a Certificant in

Comprehensive Criminalistics and Drug Analysis, August 2008

Bachelor of Arts in General Studies, University of North Texas, Denton, TX

• Areas of Concentration: Anthropology, Biology and Chemistry

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Forensic Chemistry Consultant, October 2006-Present

• Review and evaluate available case information, including methods of analysis, 

quality control records, analyst qualifications, law enforcement incident reports, 

laboratory data and reports, pharmacy records, medical records, environmental 

monitoring records, laboratory operating procedures, etc.

• Produce expert reports on legal and scientific issues involving evidence in the areas 

of forensic chemistry and toxicology.

• Provide expert opinions in depositions and courtroom testimony.

• Develop and instruct forensic chemist training program for ANAB/ISO accredited 

crime laboratory.

• Provide technical advice and review for controlled substance casework and special 

project work.

• Develop and supervise validation projects for forensic chemistry methods.

• Develop and instruct forensic and toxicology classes for practicing attorneys.

• Produce independent research and studies for conference presentations or 

publications.

Assistant Professor, Arcadia University, Forensic Science Department, January 2017-

Present

Interim Program Director, August 2018-January 2019

Adjunct Professor, October 2006-December 2016

FEPAC Accredited

• Develop and instruct Forensic Chemistry, Advanced Forensic Chemistry, and 

Forensic Microscopy lecture and lab courses.

• Participate on faculty panel for student oral technical review boards and moot 

courts.

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• Direct and supervise research projects for selected students and prepare final results 

for publication and/or presentation.

• Manage day-to-day operations of the Forensic Science analytical instrumentation.

Forensic Chemist, NMS Labs, Criminalistics Section, July 2002-March 2006

Forensic Chemistry Consultant, April 2011-December 2018

ASCLD-LAB Accredited

• Identify and analyze controlled substances and pharmaceutical preparations using 

chemical, microscopic and instrumental methods of analysis.

• Produce reports and supporting documents concerning evidence analysis, findings 

and conclusions.

• Provide expert services, such as consultations and case reviews, through both 

reports and testimony.

• Testify to results of analyses and opinions in local, state and federal courts.

• Monitor quality assurance/quality control activities of section to ensure compliance 

with authorized policies, procedures and good laboratory practices.

• Develop and instruct forensic chemist training program in compliance with 

accreditation standards.

• Provide technical advice and review for controlled substance casework and special 

project work.

• Develop and supervise validation projects for forensic chemistry analytical 

methods.

Forensic Scientist, Bexar County Forensic Science Center, Criminal Investigation 

Laboratory, August 2000-May 2002

ASCLD-LAB Accredited 

• Identify and analyze controlled substances, pharmaceutical preparations, 

clandestine laboratory materials, and fire debris using chemical, microscopic and 

instrumental methods of analysis.

• Produce reports and supporting documents concerning evidence analysis, findings 

and conclusions.

• Testify to results of analyses in local, state and federal courts.

• Assist senior analysts in microscopic hair comparisons, gunshot residue analyses 

and shooting distance determinations.

Toxicology Research Assistant, Nichols T. Lappas, PhD., The George Washington 

University, Department of Forensic Sciences, April 1999-June 2000

• Conduct literature research in the areas of toxicology and pharmacology.

• Review case files and prepare reports of findings to assist expert witness in 

preparation for trial.

INTERNSHIP

Dallas Police Department, Physical Evidence Unit, Spring 1998

• Assist officers in collecting evidence at crime scenes.

• Prepare evidence for transfer to laboratory.

• Enter fingerprint profiles into the Automated Fingerprint Information System.

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PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Advisory Committee for the Evaluation of Controlled Substance Analogs, Founding 

Member, 2012-2014

• Structure Subcommittee Chair, 2012-2014

American Academy of Forensic Sciences, Member, 2003-present

• Emerging Forensic Scientist Award Reviewer, 2014-2020

• Criminalistics Abstract Review Committee, 2015-2020

American Board of Criminalistics, Certificant in Comprehensive Criminalistics and Drug 

Analysis, 2008-present

American Chemical Society, National Affiliate, 2001-2007, 2011-present

• Government Affairs Committee, 2006-2007

• Forensic Chromatography Instructor, 2012-present

o Solid Drug, Driving Under the Influence of Drugs, and Liquid 

Chromatography Courses

AOAC International (formerly the Association of Official Analytical Chemists), 

Member, 2010-present

• Cannabis Analytical Science Program, Cannabis Chemistry Working Group, 

2015-present

• Cannabis Expert Review Panel, 2018-present

Chemical Consultants Network, Member, 2006-present

Council of Forensic Science Educators, Member, 2018-present

Northeastern Association of Forensic Sciences, Member, 2005-present

SELECTED PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS

General Acceptance and Scientific Reliability: Does One Ensure the Other?, NIJ and 

RTI International Virtual Workshop, Qualifications of an Expert Witness for Legal 

Professionals, Part II: The Frye Standard, October 2023

What You Need to Know about Cannabis DUI?, Pinellas Co ACDL Webinar, May 2023

PA DUI Law: Recent Developments, Pennsylvania Bar Institute Webinar, December 

2021

Cocaine Salt v. Base Determinations: The Science You Should Be Using at

Sentencing, NACDL 13th Annual Forensic Science Seminar (Virtual), April 2021

Marijuana or Hemp? Legal and Lab Considerations, New Jersey Bar Association 

Webinar, February 2021

Drug Chemistry for the Defense, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, 

Defender Services Office Training Division, Multi-Track Federal Criminal 

Defense Seminar (Denver CO), August 2019

Field Tests: Controlled Substances and Driver Impairment, Administrative Office of 

the U.S. Courts, Defender Services Office Training Division, Winning Strategies

Seminar (San Antonio TX), August 2018

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Fundamentals of Forensic Toxicology, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, 

Defender Services Office Training Division, Winning Strategies Seminar (San 

Antonio TX), August 2018

Controlled Substance Analysis: Anatomy of a Drug Case, National Forensic College, 

Innocence Project at Cardozo Law School (New York NY), June 2016 and June 

2018

Examining the Drug Toxicology Report, PACDL 2018 Defending Drug Crimes Seminar 

(King of Prussia PA), May 2018

Ambiguous Field Test Results Lead to Wrongful Arrest, NEAFS Annual Meeting 

(Pocono Manor PA), November 2017

Terpene Identification in Cannabis by Headspace GC-MS, Perkin Elmer INTour 

(Chicago IL), September 2017

Synthetic Drugs and Analogues: Issues for the Defense, Texas Criminal Defense 

Lawyers Association, 30th Annual Rusty Duncan Advanced Criminal Law Course 

(San Antonio TX), June 2017

The Legal and Scientific Landscape of a Federal Analogue Prosecution postMcFadden, presented with T. Douglas Clifford, Esq. AAFS Annual Meeting (Las 

Vegas NV), February 2016

Error Analysis of a Forensic Controlled Substance Case, NIST International Symposium 

on Forensic Science Error Management (Crystal City VA), July 2015

Legal Issues and Analytical Challenges with Emerging Drug Analogs, presented with J. 

Graham Rankin, Ph.D., MAAFS Annual Meeting (Roanoke VA), May 2013

Designer Drugs: Legal and Analytical Challenges for Forensic Laboratories and the 

Courts, presented with Barry K. Logan, Ph.D., AAFS Annual Meeting 

(Washington D.C.), February 2013

Scientific Method for Controlled Substance Analog Determination, presented with the 

subcommittee chairs of the Advisory Committee for the Evaluation of Controlled 

Substance Analogs, AAFS Annual Meeting (Washington D.C.), February 2013

Synthetic Designer Drugs: Is It an Analog? How Do You Know?, NEAFS Annual 

Meeting (Saratoga Springs NY), November 2012

Structural Analogs, Novel Compounds and the Federal Analog Act: The Disconnect 

between Science and the Law, American Chemical Society Annual Meeting 

(Philadelphia PA), August 2012

K2 and Beyond: A Synthetic Cannabinoid Legal Primer, AAFS Annual Meeting 

(Chicago IL), February 2011

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Forensic Investigations: Problems with Contextual Bias, Villanova University 

School of Law, Matthew J. Ryan Law and Public Policy Forum, January 2011

Don’t Bomb in Court: How Arson and Bomb Scene Investigators and Laboratory 

Personnel can Survive a Frye or Daubert Hearing, AAFS Annual Meeting 

(Washington D.C.), February 2008

The Reliability of a Controlled Substance Field Test Kit as a Basis for Probable 

Cause (Poster), AAFS Annual Meeting (Seattle WA), February 2006

Proper Techniques for Collection and Submission of Physical Evidence, 

Montgomery County District Attorney’s Municipal Drug Task Force Training 

Seminar, March 2004 and April 2005

SELECTED TRAINING COURSES COMPLETED

Deciphering NPS Drugs in Medicolegal Death Investigations, NMS Labs Webinar, 

October 2023

Implementation Workshop: TOF/QTOF Mass Spectrometry for Identification,

Screening, and Confirmation in Forensic Toxicology and Chemistry, NIJ and 

RTI International Webinar, October 2023

So You Think You're Ethical? Ethics and Forensic Science, The Center for Forensic 

Science Research and Education Webinar Series, October 2023

Cannabinoid Pharmacology: Three Decades of Controlled Human Cannabinoid 

Administration Studies, NIJ and RTI International Webinar, August 2023

The Intersection of Forensic Toxicology and Forensic Pathology Relating to Emerging 

Topics in Drug Death Certification, The Center for Forensic Science Research and 

Education Webinar Series, April to June 2023

Clandestine Synthesis of Methamphetamine: An Overview, AAFS and Wiley Webinar, 

February 2023

Roadside and Laboratory Oral Fluid Drug Testing, SOFT Webinar, January 2023

NIST 2022 Forensic Cannabis Workshop, Forensics @ NIST Conference, November 

2022

Analytical, Interpretative and Legal Issues Surrounding THC Analogs in DUID 

Casework, SOFT Webinar, August 2022

Agilent 6400 Series QQQ LC/MS Techniques and Operation, Agilent University, June 

2022

Standard Guide for Sampling Seized Drugs for Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis, 

AAFS Webinar, May 2022

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An Introduction to Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Associated Energy 

Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy, Pittcon Conference and Expo Short Course, 

November 2021

Understanding Drug Sentencing Conference, The Ohio State University Moritz College 

of Law, Drug Enforcement and Policy Center, October 2021

Structural Characterization of Emerging Synthetic Drugs by Mass Spectrometry, NIJ 

and RTI International Webinar, March 2021

Criminal Justice Reform and Forensics: The Importance of Evidence, University of 

Pennsylvania Carey Law School, the Quattrone Center and the Houston Forensic 

Science Center, October 2020

Cannabis Impaired Driving, SOFT Annual Meeting (Virtual), September 2020

Marijuana or Hemp: From Farm Bill to Forensic Analysis, NIJ and RTI International

Webinar, January 2020, March 2020

SWGDRUG Supplemental Document 6 and Statistical Sampling Calculator Workshop, 

NEAFS Annual Meeting (Lancaster PA), November 2019

A Practical Guide to Analytical Method Development, LC/GC Magazine and Agilent 

Technologies Webinar, July 2019

How to Measure and Reduce Drug Background Levels in Forensic Laboratories and 

Their Implications on Safety and Data Integrity, AAFS Annual Meeting 

(Baltimore MD), February 2019

Identifying Seized Drugs using MS Library Searching, NIST Mass Spectrometry Data 

Center Webinar, August 2018

Residual Solvents and Terpenes by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry, Agilent

Technologies Webinar, August 2017

The Application of Spectral Accuracy to Mass Spectrometry for Enhanced Formula ID 

and Mixture Analysis, Don Kuehl, Cerno Bioscience and LC/GC Webinar, 

June 2017

NHTSA/IACP Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Practitioner (2015 Curriculum), 

Platt and Associates (Cherry Hill NJ), September 2016

How to Get More from Your Light and IR Microscopes, NIJ Impression, Pattern and 

Trace Evidence Symposium (San Antonio TX), August 2015

Using Statistics to Determine Sample Size, Steven Walfish, Statistical Outsourcing 

Services Webinar, July 2015

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Enhanced Detection and Confirmation in Forensic Toxicology Screening Using a 

UHPLC-QTOF System, LCGC/Bruker Webinar, June 2014

The Science of DUID, Axion Analytical Laboratories (Chicago IL), January 2014

Emerging Trends in Synthetic Drugs Workshop, NIST Law Enforcement Standards 

Office in collaboration with DEA (Rockville MD), April 30-May 1, 2013

Analysis and Interpretation of Chemical Unknowns, AAFS Annual Meeting (Washington 

D.C.), February 2013

Infrared and Raman Microanalysis of Forensic Evidence, American Chemical 

Society/Bruker Webinar, Nov 2012

Mass Measurement Uncertainty for Laboratories, Rod Gullberg at NMS Labs (Willow 

Grove PA), October 2012

Analysis and Interpretation of Mass Spectral Data, American Chemical Society at 

Chemspec USA (Philadelphia PA), May 2012

Synthesis and Chemistry of Synthetic Cannabinoid Compounds, Iteramed at NMS 

Labs (Willow Grove PA), November 2011

Dyes, Fibers and Recent Advances in Textile Chemistry, NIJ Trace Evidence 

Symposium (Kansas City MO), August 2011

Advanced Fire Debris Analysis Interpretation, NIJ Trace Evidence Symposium 

(Kansas City MO), August 2011

Chemical Aspects of Fire Debris, NEAFS Annual Meeting (Long Branch NJ), 

November 2009

Sixth Edition Sentencing Guidelines and Sentencing in Pennsylvania, 

Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing, October 2007

Clandestine Laboratories, Montgomery County District Attorney’s Municipal Drug

Task Force Training Seminar, April 2005

Agilent GC/MSD ChemStation Data Analysis and Reporting, Agilent Technologies

(Plano TX), September 2003

Rapid Screening of Drugs for Forensic Toxicology using Retention Time Locking 

with GC/MS, Agilent Technologies Webinar, August 2003

Analytical Tools for the Forensic Scientist, NEAFS Annual Meeting (Atlantic City NJ), 

November 2002

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Methamphetamine: Clandestine Laboratory Investigation and Analytical 

Approaches, SWAFS Annual Meeting (San Antonio TX), November 2001

Forensic Chemist Seminar, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Testing and 

Research Laboratory, June 2001

PROFESSIONAL MEETINGS ATTENDED

American Academy of Forensic Sciences Annual Meeting

• Atlanta 2002

• Chicago 2003

• Seattle 2006, Poster presentation to the Jurisprudence section

• Washington, D.C. 2008, Participated in Jurisprudence workshop

• Chicago 2011, Participated in Toxicology workshop

• Washington, D.C. 2013, Paper presentations to the Jurisprudence and Toxicology 

sections

• Seattle 2014, Paper presentation to the Jurisprudence section and moderated Drug

Chemistry technical paper session

• Las Vegas 2016, Paper presentation to the Jurisprudence section

• Seattle 2018

• Baltimore 2019

• Anaheim 2020

• Virtual Meeting 2021

• Virtual Meeting 2022

American Chemical Society National Meeting

• Philadelphia Fall 2008, Hosted booth for Chemical Consultants Network

• Philadelphia Summer 2012, Participated on Chemistry and the Law panel

discussion

• Philadelphia Summer 2016

Eastern Analytical Symposium and Exposition

• Plainsboro NJ 2021

• Plainsboro NJ 2023

Forensics @ NIST Conference

• Virtual Meeting 2020

• Virtual Meeting 2022

Mid-Atlantic Association of Forensic Scientists

• Ellicott City MD 2012

• Roanoke VA 2013, Participated in Drug Chemistry workshop

National Institute of Justice Biannual Trace Evidence Symposium

• Kansas City 2011

• San Antonio 2015, Poster presentation

• Arlington VA 2018

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NIST International Symposium on Forensic Science Error Management

• Crystal City VA 2015, Paper presentation on Criminalistics track

Northeastern Association of Forensic Scientists Annual Meeting

• Atlantic City 2002

• Long Branch NJ 2009

• Saratoga Springs NY 2012, Paper presentation in Drug Chemistry Session

• Pocono Manor PA 2017, Paper presentation in Drug Chemistry Session

• Lancaster PA 2019

• Virtual Meeting 2020

• Mystic CT 2023

Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy (Pittcon)

• Philadelphia 2019

• Philadelphia 2023

Society of Forensic Toxicologists Annual Meeting

• Virtual Meeting 2020

Southwestern Association of Forensic Scientists Annual Meeting

• San Antonio 2001, Moderated technical paper session

PUBLICATIONS

AOAC SMPRÒ 2023.001 Standard Method Performance Requirements (SMPRs) for 

Determination of Pesticides in Cannabis-Containing Beverages, In press, Journal 

of AOAC International.

AOAC SMPRÒ 2019.003 Standard Method Performance Requirements (SMPRs) for 

Quantitation of Cannabinoids in Plant Materials of Hemp (Low THC Varieties 

Cannabis sp.), In press, Journal of AOAC International.

AOAC SMPRÒ 2017.001 Standard Method Performance Requirements (SMPRs) for 

Quantitation of Cannabinoids in Cannabis Concentrates, Audino, et al: Journal 

of AOAC International, Vol. 100, No. 4, 2017

AOAC SMPRÒ 2017.002 Standard Method Performance Requirements (SMPRs) for 

Quantitation of Cannabinoids in Dried Plant Materials, Audino, et al: Journal 

of AOAC International, Vol. 100, No. 4, 2017

The Fundamentals of Uncertainty of Measurement, Understanding DUI Scientific 

Evidence, J. McShane and J. Lee, Eds., Thomson Reuters/Aspatore, 2015

The Fundamentals of Calibration, Understanding DUI Scientific Evidence, J. McShane 

and J. Lee, Eds., Thomson Reuters/Aspatore, 2014.

Brief of Expert Forensic Scientists as Amici Curiae in Support of Petitioner, Stephen 

Dominick McFadden v. United States of America, 576 U.S. 186 (2015).

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