Careers at SPO: Potential Areas of Interest

The Special Programs Office's high-profile programs span the mission and expertise of multiple NIST laboratories: 

The Forensic Science Program is working to strengthen forensic practice through research and improved standards. The Forensic Science Program supports the Center for Statistics and Applications in Forensic Evidence (CSAFE), a NIST Center of Excellence in Forensic Science, which is working to develop new statistical methods for use in evidence examination. We also have partnerships with researchers from Iowa State, CMU, UC Irvine, UVA, Duke, and WVU. To facilitate the use of best practices, the Forensic Science Program partners with practitioners focusing on evidence management, human factors in forensic DNA interpretation, and process maps.

Overall, the Forensic Science Program focuses efforts around three key components:

1. Research – developing advanced methods for analyzing DNA, biometrics, and digital evidence, as well as conducting impactful, focused statistical reviews on firearms and toolmarks, drugs and toxins, and trace evidence, among others.
2. Standards - facilitating the development of technically sound standards and guidelines and encouraging their use throughout the forensic science community through the support and coordination of the Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science (OSAC).
3. Foundational Knowledge – evaluating the reliability of forensic methods through Scientific Foundation Reviews.