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NIJ Forensic Microscopy Training Programs I & II

NIJ Forensic Microscopy Training Programs I & II

McCrone Research Institute, a not-for-profit organization, has provided high-quality microscope education to the forensic science community for more than fifty years. Through cooperative agreements with the National Institute of Justice (award numbers 2007-DN-BX-K207 and 2009-DN-BX-K212), McCrone Research Institute successfully delivered two Forensic Microscopy Training Programs from 2008 to 2011.

The goal was to provide cost-effective training to forensic scientists in U.S. public crime laboratories in advanced and specialized microscope skills, thereby increasing their ability to analyze trace evidence for law enforcement. Through these two cooperative agreements, McCrone Research Institute taught 60 forensic microscopy courses from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2011. The courses taught foundational microscopy skills as well as advanced skills in identifying glass, hair, fiber, paint and polymers, and explosives. To qualify for enrollment, students were required to be employed as a microscopist, trace/physical evidence analyst, or directly related position is a United States state or local forensic crime laboratory.

Current and Future Educational Opportunities

Although the Forensic Microscopy Training Program II concluded in 2011, you can still take many equivalent courses through McCrone Research Institute. Please visit our courses page to learn more.

The NIJ funded courses were not open to the general public or crime lab employees outside of the United States. If McCrone Research Institute receives funding for another program through NIJ, enrollments will be similarly limited to U.S. crime lab employees. However, the courses listed on our Courses page are open to anyone; there are no requirements for enrollment.

In addition to courses in Chicago, McCrone also offer on-your-site courses