Paola Duran

George Mason’s outdoor forensic research lab hosts guest researchers from Louisiana HBCU

Colleen Rich — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 17:23:31 +0000

George Mason’s outdoor forensic research lab hosts guest researchers from Louisiana HBCU Colleen Rich Wed, 11/13/2024 - 12:23

It wasn’t the glut of unsightly maggots blanketing every inch of the large pig’s carcass from head to toe, but the combination of that and the unforgiving smell amid the stifling heat that initially gave student Brittney Sylvester reason for pause.

SUNO students Brittney Sylvester and LaTavia Williams examine the burial site of the decomposing pig they buried earlier this summer. Photo by Eduardo Macedo/Office of University Branding

A senior forensic science and mathematics double major, Sylvester was part of a team from Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO), who came to Northern Virginia this past summer for a program that paired aspiring scientists from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other minority-serving institutions with George Mason experts in Criminal Investigations and Network Analysis (CINA) Center.

This 10-week program, DHS Summer Research Team Program for Minority Serving Institutions, ran from June through August and was funded by a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grant to meet critical research needs in the national security realm, while also diversifying the criminal justice system.

Sylvester, an aspiring pathologist, was eager to gain hands-on experience in forensic science and was drawn by the chance to engage in the kind of experiential learning that no textbook could provide. The experience included the opportunity to engage in research with some of the nation’s most renowned forensic scientists and work in George Mason’s five-acre Forensic Science Research and Training Laboratory on the Science and Technology Campus, one of just 10 locations in the world capable of performing transformative outdoor research in forensic science using human donors.

More popularly known as the “body farm,” and the only one of its kind in the Mid-Atlantic region, the lab opened its doors in Spring 2021 and received its first human donors this past May.

It was the kind of opportunity Sylvester had always dreamed of.

SUNO Associate Professor Meiko Thompson discusses the significance of the forensic research opportunities for HBCUs, while students LaTavia Williams and Brittney Sylvester listen in the background. Photo by Eduardo Macedo/Office of University Branding

“My work on George Mason’s body farm allowed me to see firsthand how a body decomposes based on the environment, as well as the effects of nudity, clothing, or other covering,” Sylvester said. “This unique research experience has given me the confidence to push past my comfort zone and fully immerse myself in forensics.”

LaTavia Williams, a SUNO senior double majoring in forensic science and biology, also came to George Mason to deepen her knowledge and hands-on experience in forensic science.

“We are actively learning to build skills and learn more—not only about forensics and decomposition, but the environmental, entomological, microbiological, and anthropological aspects, which are crucial to our research,” added Williams, who wants to become a forensic pathologist.

Joining Sylvester and Williams was SUNO Associate Professor of Forensic Science Meiko Thompson, who served as the principal investigator (PI) on the research assisted by George Mason’s Georgia Williams, an assistant professor in the Forensic Science Program who served as the project’s science mentor.

Thompson said SUNO is one of just seven HBCUs with forensic science programs. She finds collaborations with lab sites like the one at George Mason are valuable for HBCU students, not only for educational purposes, but also for networking, as they worked alongside George Mason students and faculty members who are highly regarded and experienced professionals in forensic science.

The SUNO contingent and George Mason's forensic science team—Georgia Williams, Mary Ellen O'Toole, Emily Rancourt, and Molly Kilcarr—stand in front of the Forensic Science Research Training Laboratory. Photo by Eduardo Macedo/Office of University Branding

“This was an incredible opportunity to be at the forefront of scientific research, especially for minority researchers,” Thompson said.

Throughout their weeks working on the body farm the SUNO students were assisted by George Mason Forensic Science Associate Professor Emily Rancourt and two of her students, Nickolyn Jackson and Molly Kilcarr, who were also conducting research on human and pig decomposition. While their projects were different, these students’ collaborative spirits and shared efforts enhanced both projects, providing them with an unforgettable, one-of-a-kind research experience.

During the program, the aspiring scientists took daily samples, measurements, and pictures. Each visit brought more anticipation than the last as they discovered new smells, new organisms, and new plant growth, all the collective result of the decomposing body becoming part of the soil. Each day’s data was recorded and samples immediately frozen to accurately record the decomposition.

Mary Ellen O’Toole, a former FBI agent profiler and director of the Forensic Science Program at George Mason, often visited the students onsite.

“[LaTavia and Brittney] had no idea they would be transformed after a few weeks at the body farm,” O’Toole said. “They seemed more confident, sure of themselves, and absolutely fearless of the work they were doing. As time passed, they showed no hesitation about being around the wild assortment of bugs they had to touch and move, or the pig they buried and had to swab every day. Their curiosity and excitement about everything they were doing was infectious.”

The SUNO students presented their research findings, and their collaboration with George Mason will continue. Thompson and Williams submitted a follow-on proposal to CINA to complete their analysis and submit their research findings, and they are hopeful the future of this research will assist DHS in its national and transnational work to combat crime and terrorism.

Led by George Mason, the CINA Center is funded by the DHS Science and Technology Directorate’s Office of University Programs to unite leading experts and researchers to pursue multidisciplinary approaches to disrupt criminal activities across both physical and cyber spaces. George Mason is one of nine within the DHS Centers of Excellence, making it a perfect fit for the SUNO contingent because of its commitment to the advancement of science with cutting-edge solutions.

“This experience has shown me that I’m capable and stronger than I believed before I arrived,” Sylvester said. “As Professor Rancourt told me, ‘As long as your curiosity outweighs your fears, you can accomplish anything.’ I will carry this wisdom with me from now on.”

Want to learn more about the "body farm" and crime scene research? Listen to Mary Ellen O'Toole on the Access to Excellence podcast.

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��AV ranks #1 in Virginia for best value, internships, and upward mobility

Melanie Balog — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 21:08:46 +0000

��AV ranks #1 in Virginia for best value, internships, and upward mobility Melanie Balog Mon, 09/23/2024 - 17:08

��AV is Virginia’s leading university for value and upward mobility, and ranked in the top 25 nationally for innovation according to U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges 2025 released today. George Mason also achieved a new distinction from U.S. News, as a top 20 school nationally and No. 1 in Virginia for internships, reflecting its commitment to developing the talent needed for today’s dynamic workforce demands.

Additionally, the university ranks as a top 50 public university nationally in the Wall Street Journal’s Best Colleges in the U.S..

“As Virginia’s largest and most diverse public university, George Mason is a leader in advancing Virginia as a top state in business and education,” said George Mason President Gregory Washington. “George Mason serves families by providing flexibility and affordability of educational excellence and serves the commonwealth by driving innovation for economic development. Most of our graduates stay in Virginia and around the Washington, D.C. region, building a strong career-ready pipeline critical to regional and state prosperity.”

Student success and college affordability

George Mason is ranked No. 1 in Virginia for upward mobility across all rankings that measure social mobility, and is No. 1 among public universities nationwide according to U.S. News, 30th with Washington Monthly University Rankings, and 58th with the Wall Street Journal.

George Mason is also ranked as the No. 1 best value school in Virginia by the Wall Street Journal (55th among public universities nationally) and 13th by Washington Monthly among public universities in the Southeast. Best value rankings highlight universities that offer a strong education at an affordable cost with low debt, factoring in financial aid and post-graduation success.

This year, George Mason debuted 20th in the U.S. News ranking for internships/co-ops, reflecting its strong business and government partnerships to prepare students for successful careers and enhance their college experience. These rankings showcase universities that enable students to apply classroom learning in professional environments, boosting their skills and career prospects.

“These strong rankings on student internships and co-ops underscore our commitment to be recognized as a top research university that also prioritizes students’ experiential learning," said Provost and Executive Vice President Jim Antony. “George Mason students consistently share that our faculty, who are leaders in their fields, offer substantive experiential learning opportunities, all of which translates into long-term positive outcomes and career success.”

In addition to internships, George Mason provides students with career resources, such as multiple career fairs, professional development opportunities, career preparation courses, and job placement support. With graduation rates above the national average, 88% of 2023 George Mason graduates report job success related to their career goals, earning a median salary of $74,000, and 83% remain in Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. Here is a list of companies that have hired George Mason graduates.

This fall, the university enrolled its largest and most academically talented freshmen class to date. About one in four students at George Mason is a first-generation college student, and a slightly higher percentage qualify for Federal Pell Grants. In the past decade, George Mason has granted over 90,000 degrees, more than any other public four-year university in the commonwealth.

Overall rankings

U.S. News ranks George Mason tied for 52nd among public universities nationwide. The Wall Street Journal puts George Mason as a top 50 public university, ranking it 30th (up from 33rd) and Washington Monthly ranks the university 57th among public universities (up from 60th).

Among all universities, both public and private, George Mason earns a tied ranking 109th from U.S. News, 76th with the Wall Street Journal (up from 95th), and 91st with Washington Monthly.

U.S. News also ranked several of George Mason’s undergraduate programs in the top 100 nationally, including business, economics, computer science, engineering, and psychology, and named George Mason as one of the best colleges for veterans.

Commitment to free speech

These high-profile rankings follow other recent accolades that highlight George Mason as one of America’s most inclusive and welcoming universities. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) ranked George Mason 16th for its commitment to freedom of speech. George Mason’s Patriot Plan for Community Safety and Well-Being includes guidelines for campus safety for maintaining the rights, privacy, and dignity of all in our community. Campus Pride also gave George Mason a 5-Star rating, the only public university in Virginia, for offering a safe and welcoming campus to the LGBTQ+ community.

Paola Duran

George Mason’s outdoor forensic research lab hosts guest researchers from Louisiana HBCU

Learn more about the lab

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Topics

��AV ranks #1 in Virginia for best value, internships, and upward mobility

Student success and college affordability

Overall rankings

Commitment to free speech

Check out all George Mason's Rankings

Related News

More from Mason Spirit Magazine

Paola Duran

George Mason’s outdoor forensic research lab hosts guest researchers from Louisiana HBCU

Learn more about the lab

Related News

Topics

����AV ranks #1 in Virginia for best value, internships, and upward mobility

Student success and college affordability

Overall rankings

Commitment to free speech

Check out all George Mason's Rankings

Related News

More from Mason Spirit Magazine

��AV ranks #1 in Virginia for best value, internships, and upward mobility