Watch the CINA Distinguished Speaker Series event featuring Lauryn DeGreeff, Associate Professor of Chemistry with the Global Forensic and Justice Center at Florida International University as she discusses “Emerging Threats – Characterization and Detection of Homemade Explosives and Synthetic Opioids by Instrument and Canines.”
Abstract
Explosive and drug detection canines are deployed to battle threats at home and abroad. They are utilized in the detection of explosive devices and dangerous drugs that threaten civilian and military personnel lives, as well as first responders and transportation security. The threats of the past, nitro-containing high explosives such as TNT and C4, or low explosives, such as smokeless and black powders, and heroin, cocaine, ecstasy etc. are still a danger to human life, but as the threat landscape changes, it is imperative that our scientific research and resulting field detectors focus on the most relevant threat materials, such as binary mixtures and peroxide-based homemade explosives (HMEs) and synthetic opioids. Explosives and drug detection capabilities have been slow to evolve with these changing threats. Considerations, including odor profiles, stability and degradation, and training aids related to canine detection of HMEs and fentanyl-related opioids will be discussed.
Speaker Biography
Lauryn DeGreeff is an Associate Professor of Chemistry with the Global Forensic and Justice Center at Florida International University since August 2021, where she conducts research on in the field of vapor analysis as it relates to detection by canine and instruments. Dr. DeGreeff graduated from FIU with a Ph.D. in Forensic Chemistry in 2010. Prior to returning to FIU, Dr. DeGreeff conducted a fellowship at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Counterterrorism and Forensic Science Research Unit. After, she spent ten years as a researcher and principal investigator with the Chemistry Division at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington DC. She takes a chemistry-based approach to studying olfaction for the purpose of informing field vapor sampling practices. Her research focuses on trace vapor sampling, characterization, and generation in support of canine and other field detection approaches. Dr. DeGreeff regularly lectures on the dynamics of odor for the operational community and at national and international scientific conferences. She has also authored many peer-reviewed manuscripts, holds four pending and completed patents, and is the editor of the book entitled Canines: The Original Biosensor, released in 2022.