Claire Glynn Talks About Challenges Forensic Scientists Face

The American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) Annual Scientific Meeting took place from February 17–22, 2025, in Baltimore, Maryland, where attendees gathered to explore the latest advancements in forensic science. After the conference, we spoke to Tom Metz, a Laboratory Fellow and Chief Science Officer of the Biological Sciences Division at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL); Heidi Eldridge, a Certified Latent Print Examiner and the Director of Crime Scene Investigations at George Washington University; and Claire Glynn a professor of forensic science and director of the Graduate Certificate in Forensic Genetic Genealogy (1). Because we were not at the conference in person, Metz, Eldridge, and Glynn were able to provide an idea as to what it was like to be at the conference, sharing insights on key discussions and topics covered during the event (1).

At the AAFS Conference, the theme was “Technology: A Tool for Transformation of Tyranny,” so a majority of the talks were dedicated to how advances in technology are both handicapping scientific inquiry while advancing the field forward (2).

In this video interview segment, we asked Glynn about the latest technological developments, and what type of challenges forensic scientists are currently facing.

Claire Glynn is a forensic scientist and educator specializing in forensic genetic genealogy (FGG). She has been at the University of New Haven since 2014 and previously worked at Eurofins Forensic Services in the UK, focusing on forensic biology in homicide and sexual assault cases (3). With a Ph.D. in breast cancer research, she applies molecular profiling to forensic science. Her research includes FGG applications, degraded samples, Rapid DNA, RNA analysis, and DNA methylation markers (3). Glynn also consults for law enforcement globally and has received multiple awards, including being the recipient of Connecticut Magazine’s “40 Under 40” in 2022 (3).

This interview segment with Glynn is part of our ongoing post-conference coverage of the AAFS Annual Scientific Meeting. To view all our recap coverage of AAFS, click here.

References

1. Wetzel, W. What You Missed at AAFS. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/what-you-missed-at-aafs-2025 (accessed 2025-03-18).
2. Wetzel, W. Previewing the American Academy of Forensic Sciences Conference. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/previewing-the-american-academy-of-forensic-science-conference (accessed 2025-03-18).
3. University of New Haven, Claire L. Glynn, Ph.D. University of New Haven. Available at: https://www.newhaven.edu/faculty-staff-profiles/claire-glynn.php (accessed 2025-03-18).