PRADA-TIEDEMANN RESEARCH GROUP FOCUS AREAS

At the Forensic Analytical Chemistry and Odor Profiling Lab, we bridge the gap between cutting-edge chemical analysis and practical forensic applications. Our research focuses on unraveling the complex chemistry of odors to enhance canine detection capabilities, driving innovation in law enforcement, public safety, and forensic science. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, advancing analytical techniques, and training graduate & undergraduate students, we aim to contribute to transformative solutions to the challenges of odor-based detection and identification.

Important principles and research questions in my laboratory are centered in utilizing headspace odor sampling techniques to address odor concepts to include:

· Odor identification

· Odor movement

· Environmental effects on chemical odor profile

· Odor persistence and stability

· Odor signature availability

These key aspects of odor can then be linked and utilized by the canine detection community to better understand the odor picture presented to the canines in operational settings. We are also interested in validating canine detection standards and protocols to provide research foundations for canine training regimens.

Our studies encompass several specimens of forensic, diagnostic and conservation importance to include:

· Explosives

· Human scent

· Decomposition (animal models and human cadavers)

· Firearms and related accessories

· Agriculture and pest detection

· Entomology

· Diseases

Selected Recent Publications (2022-present)

SA Kane, GN Cupp, M Rangel, A Medrano, J Davis-Miller, C Collins-Pisano, B Rogers, D Copeland, L Lazarowski, P Waggoner, EO Aviles-Rosa, PA Prada-Tiedemann, NJ Hall. The effect of training paradigm on dogs’ (Canis familiaris) acquisition and generalization of Smokeless Powders, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106527

A Cantu, EO Aviles-Rosa, NJ Hall, PA Prada-Tiedemann. Evaluation of Volatile Organic Compounds from Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) Eggs Using Headspace Odor Sampling Methods, Insects, 2024, 15 (10), 739, https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15100739

LS Fernandez, SA Kane, MT DeChant, P.A. Prada-Tiedemann, NJ Hall Environmental effects on explosive detection threshold of domestic dogs Plos ONE, 2024, 19 (9), e0306817, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0306817

D.E. Huff, A. Cantu, S.A. Kane, L.S Fernandez, J.E Cañas-Carrell, N.J Hall, and Paola A Prada-Tiedemann. Odor Dilution Assessment for Explosive Detection, Analytica, 2024, 5(3): 402-413. https://doi.org/10.3390/analytica5030025

A.C. Medrano, A. Cantu, E. Aviles-Rosa, N.J. Hall, M.N. Maughan, J.D Gadberry, and P.A. Prada-Tiedemann. Chemical Characterization of Human Body Odor Headspace Components. Separations, 2024, 11(3): 85, https://doi.org/10.3390/separations11030085

E. Aviles-Rosa, A.C. Medrano, A. Cantu, P.A. Prada-Tiedemann, M.N. Maughan, J.D Gadberry, R.R. Greubel and N.J. Hall. Development of an automated human scent olfactometer and its use to evaluate detection dog perception of human scent. PLoS ONE, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0299148 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0299148

S.A. Kane, L. Fernandez, D. Huff, P.A. Prada-Tiedemann, and N.J. Hall. Canine detection of explosives under adverse environmental conditions with and without acclimation training. PLoS ONE, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0297538

S.F. Gallegos, E. Aviles-Rosa, M.T. Dechant, N.J. Hall and P.A. Prada-Tiedemann. Explosive Odor Signature Profiling: A Review of recent advances in technical analysis and detection. Forensic Science International, 2023,347: 11652. https:// https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2023.111652

M. Bruskern, R. Thompson, S. Lawhon, K. Good, P. Bunker, P.A. Prada-Tiedemann, N. J Hall. Effect of Rapid Changes in Environmental Conditions on Canine Detection of Methyl Benzoate. Applied Animal Behavior Science, 2023,264: 105924.

M.T. Dechant, E. Aviles-Rosa, P.A. Prada-Tiedemann and N.J. Hall A Laboratory Model of Canine Search Vigilance Decrement, III: Training with Progressively Leaner Schedules of Odor Prevalence. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 2023, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1002/jeab.841.

M.T. Dechant, E. Aviles-Rosa, P.A. Prada-Tiedemann and N.J. Hall. Part II: Non-contingent Reward and Pavlovian Appetitive Stimuli Do Not Improve Detection Dog Search Behavior and Performance Under Infrequent Target Odor. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 2023, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jeab.838

E. Aviles-Rosa, M.T. Dechant, P.A. Prada-Tiedemann and N.J. Hall. Leveraging Canine Cognition to Enhance Search Vigilance in Operational Scenarios Part I: A Laboratory Model of Canine Search Vigilance Decrement. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 2023, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jeab.832.

E.Aviles-Rosa, L.S. Fernandez, C. Collins-Pisano, P.A. Prada-Tiedemann and N.J. Hall. The use of an intermittent schedule of reinforcement to evaluate detection dogs’ generalization from smokeless‑powder. Animal Cognition, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-022-01648-y.

K. Titus, S. Gallegos, and P. A. Prada-Tiedemann. Forensic odor analysis: current application in postmortem examinations. Research and Reports in Forensic Medical Science, 2022, 12: 1-12. https://www.dovepress.com/getfile.php?fileID=80319 (50%)

S. Gallegos, E. Aviles-Rosa, N.J. Hall, P.A. Prada-Tiedemann. Headspace Sampling of Smokeless Powder Odor Stimuli in a Dynamic Airflow Context. Forensic Chemistry, 2022, 27:100402. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forc.2022.100402

K. Nettles, C. Ford and P.A. Prada-Tiedemann, Development of Profiling Methods for Contraband Firearm Volatile Odor Signatures. Frontiers in Analytical Science, 2022, 1:785271. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frans.2021.785271/full .

Dr. Paola A. Prada-Tiedemann's Research Group

The Team

PI: Dr. Paola Prada-Tiedemann

Dr. Paola A. Prada-Tiedemann is an Associate Professor & Academic program director for Forensic Science at TTU. Now, in her 10th year as faculty, she oversees all forensic science programs and mentors a diverse team of students, including one doctoral student, 9 master's students and one undergraduate student. Her research focuses on chemical odor analysis for canine detection applications, with multiple ongoing projects in this area. Dr. Prada-Tiedemann and her husband, a Sergeant with the Lubbock Airport Police Department, have two children: a 4-year-old son and a newborn daughter. Outside of spending time with her family, traveling the world is her passion!

Graduate Students

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