VSC Podcast 35 - Forensics and Sexual Assault: The Lab - a podcast by Victim Service Center

On the 35th episode of the VSC Podcast, VSC Education Coordinator Emilie Mitchell sat down with two amazing researchers from UCF: Dr. Jack Ballantyne and Dr. Erin Hanson to talk about the science of forensics and Sexual Assault. Come learn about the process and strategies used to test DNA evidence, what it’s like to be a forensic scientist, and what Dr. Ballantyne’s and Dr. Hanson’s research developments could mean for the future of DNA evidence and Sexual Assault.

Dr. Erin Hanson uses she/her pronouns and is a UCF Research Associate Professor in the Biological Evidence Section of the National Center for Forensic Science at the University of Central Florida (UCF). She has volunteered with VSC since 2018.

Dr. Jack Ballantyne uses he/him pronouns and is a Professor of Chemistry at the University of Central Florida (UCF) and an Associate Director of the National Center for Forensic Science in Orlando, Florida. Prior to entering academia, he was a casework forensic scientist in Scotland, Hong Kong and New York. His current research projects include the use of Y chromosome markers for sexual assault investigations, RNA profiling for body fluid and tissue identification, trace DNA analysis including single-cell genomics, and mixture deconvolution.

You can also listen to this podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/t0lrjl8bY5w

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Trigger Warning: In this podcast we will be discussing sensitive topics such as Sexual Assault. It's important to take care of yourself while listening. Some suggestions are listening while you're in a healthy head space or knowing who you can reach out to if you become upset. Our 24/7 helpline for crisis calls based out of Central Florida is 407 500 HEAL. By contacting the National Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 you can get support and learn about your local resources. There is always someone ready to help.

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