Led by: Paola Prada-Tiedemann

Research efforts in this area are centered in the main scope of "volatolomics", specifically in the analysis of volatile organic compounds from biological as well as other forensic specimens which could yield a chemical odor profile useful for discriminatory and identification purposes. To achieve these objectives, the analytical methods implemented in by our faculty include the use of instrumentation such as gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and solid phase microextraction that allow the efficient extraction and detection of target analytes with minor sample disturbance. Our particular interest is in understanding the complex odor picture available to the canine nose in the many military and law enforcement applications of working dog canine teams. Additionally, we are focusing our efforts on not only the analytical chemistry component, but also in monitoring canine response and threshold levels with concurrent canine field testing in collaborative efforts both locally and internationally.

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Led by: Jan Halámek

The Halámek Lab primarily focuses on non-traditional sensing concepts for on-site detection of illicit drugs and toxic substances. Dr. Halámek’s research involves noninvasive analytical technique development based on biochemical assays for confirmatory testing of narcotics, pesticides, and chemical warfare agents that can be detected from surfaces and human bodily fluids. The Halámek Lab strives to provide solutions for problem areas at the national and global levels with these novel noninvasive detection methods for forensics, toxicology, biometrics, and security applications.

Faculty Contacts:

Dr. Jan Halámek 

Dr. Paola A. Tiedemann