West Haven, Conn., Oct. 15, 2009—The University of New Haven (UNH) and the University of Verona (UNIVR), in Italy, have agreed to collaboratively offer a three-year international Ph.D. in forensic medicine and sciences. The partnership comes after several years of exchange visits between professors from the two institutions, and stems from the need for doctoral graduates to develop new tools to fight crime and direct forensic science laboratories and research. It is believed to be the first international program of its kind.
Professor Timothy Palmbach, director and chairman of the Forensic Science Department at the UNH Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences, notes that the University of Verona currently offers a doctorate program in forensic medicine and sciences, but that the array of forensic specialties offered by the two institutions are complementary. “UNH and UNIVR offer in-depth lecturing and research experience in different fields of forensic science,” Palmbach says. UNIVR is geared more toward forensic medicine and toxicology, while the main focus at UNH is forensic science. Palmbach explains, “Collectively, our areas of specialty range from forensic pathology to genetics, toxicology, chemistry (dyes, inks, explosives, etc.) and crime-scene investigation, so exchanging faculty members and students and developing a formal international doctorate program was the logical next step.”
Dr. Federica Bortolotti, a faculty member at UNIVR, cites the example of blood-pattern analysis as a frequent research topic at UNH, while UNIVR has yet to explore the topic. She adds, “Similarly, some common UNIVR research topics, such as the use of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin testing, to detect problem drinkers in DUI cases, have not been well researched in the United States.” She notes that combining the two different approaches to forensics will give students from UNH and UNIVR a distinct advantage in the field.
UNIVR Department Chair and Ph.D. Program Director Dr. Franco Tagliaro notes that the international Ph.D. program in forensic medicine and sciences will enable students from both UNH and UNIVR to gain international-study experience, learn hands-on applications and develop new approaches to research in specialty areas not covered by their home university. “Both universities will increase their scientific productivity through international collaboration and participation in more doctoral-level research,” says Tagliaro.
Students from UNH participating in the program will be required to spend a period of study and research of at least 7 months at UNIVR, and vice versa. In the development of their research and during the doctoral thesis preparation, students from both schools will be assisted by Ph.D.faculty advisors from both universities, ensuring a broad scope of experience and perspectives.
A leader in experiential education, the University of New Haven is experiencing a historic and nationally recognized surge in enrollment. Founded in 1920, the University provides its students with a unique combination of solid liberal arts and real-world, hands-on professional training. UNH is a private university with an 80-acre main campus. The University has an enrollment of more than 5,200; approximately 1,700 graduate students and more than 3,500 undergraduates, 70 percent of whom reside in University housing. The University offers more than 80 undergraduate degrees and more than 25 graduate degrees through its five colleges, in fields such as sports management, nutrition, forensic science, music and sound recording, engineering, computer science and criminal justice. University College at UNH develops programs and courses to meet the emerging educational and training needs of educators, businesses and public and social agencies, focusing on academic excellence, convenience and flexibility. University of New Haven students study abroad through a variety of distinctive programs.
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