Forensics Students Earn National Honors
Four graduate students in the Forensic and National Security Sciences Institute (Forensics Institute) in Syracuse University’s College of Arts and Sciences have earned national recognition for their academic achievement and research. Sam Conn, Jilliyn Lundeen, Jordan Murch and Yasmin Paez have been awarded competitive scholarships and grant funding from the International Association of Identification (IAI) and the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS), supporting their continued education and research.
“This recognition speaks to the exceptional caliber of students in our program,” says Kathy Corrado, director of the Forensics Institute. “These awards are highly competitive and are conferred by leading organizations in the forensic sciences. Having four students recognized in the same year reflects their talent, dedication and research accomplishments, while also highlighting the rigorous training and mentorship that define our programs.”
Meet the students behind these achievements and learn more about their research below.
Sam Conn is pursuing an M.S. in Forensic Science with an Advanced Laboratory concentration. Conn received the IAI Johnson-Whyte Memorial Foundation Fund Academic Scholarship. In addition to the master's degree, Conn is completing a certificate of advanced study in Applied Science for National Security and Intelligence. Her laboratory research focuses on single-cell collection and the application of emerging technologies in the field. Conn’s career goal is to combine forensic science with intelligence and national security work.
Jilliyn Lundeen is pursuing an M.S. in Forensic Science with a Crime Scene Investigation concentration while completing certificates of advanced study in Firearm and Tool Mark Analysis and Medicolegal Death Investigation. She was awarded the IAI Johnson-Whyte Memorial Foundation Fund Academic Scholarship and plans to pursue a career as a crime scene investigator after graduation.
Jordan Murch is pursuing an M.S. in Forensic Science with an Advanced Laboratory concentration. She received the AAFS Jan S. Bashinski Graduate Thesis Grant. A second-year master's student studying biology and DNA, Murch's research examines DNA degradation during the single-cell collection phase and seeks to connect degradation levels to the quality of resulting DNA profiles, ultimately helping establish a cell-quality metric. Following graduation, she plans to pursue a career as a serologist and DNA analyst.
Yasmin Paez is pursuing an M.S. in Digital Forensics. She was awarded the George H. Robinson Memorial Scholarship from the Chesapeake Bay Division of IAI, which recognizes outstanding students in forensic science and criminal justice. Her research explores Internet of Things (IoT) device forensics and AI-assisted digital evidence processing. This work involves examining internet-connected devices to recover and analyze digital evidence that can support criminal and cybersecurity investigations. Next semester, she will complete an internship with digital forensics firm Hexordia, with plans to eventually earn a Ph.D. and build a career in digital forensics and incident response.
The Forensics Institute website lists a range of scholarship and grant resources to help students identify and apply for awards that support their education, research, conference attendance and career development.
Published: Oct. 20, 2026
Media Contact: asnews@syr.edu