Chemistry and Biochemistry News

Bisma Mahmood, Senior Biochemistry Major, worked as quality assurance intern at the Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Division (MSP-FSD) in Pikesville, MD. Under her mentor, Theresa DeAngelo the Quality Assurance/Safety Manager, she documented Reports of Non Conformances (RONs), Witness Evaluations, and Technician Evaluations. In addition, she aided in the preparation for FSD’s ANAB Surveillance Review and Intern Audit documentation. She completed a project focusing on researching and creating a presentation for Employee Wellness and QA Effectiveness for the laboratory.

While at MSP, Bisma was treated to a behind the scenes look of how case files and reports go through the process of identification and problem-solving. Also, she was able to observe all the different units and how they function: biology, controlled drugs and substances, toxicology among others. She was really suprised at the amount of hard work that goes into ensuring information is correct, instruments are functioning properly, and how everything must abide to the Quality Assurance manual.

Several of our Adjunct Faculty were recognized at a honorary luncheon this week for their long standing service to Stevenson:

20 Years: Howard Schindler- Chemistry/FSCI

15 Years: Damon Burman, J.D. – FSCI

10 Years: Dr. Jason Kolowski- FSCI, Dr. Barry Levine- FSCI

Biochemistry Senior Andrew Powell worked at Green Analytics, an independent medical cannabis testing laboratory in Columbia, Maryland, where he conducted different biological and chemical tests on medical marijuana to ensure its safety. Drew was suprised at how easygoing the lab was and he enjoyed running the different lab tests, such as streaking plates for the isolation and testing of various bacterial contaminants. Drew is interested in a career in forensics, and is currently enrolled in the BS to MFS program.

Senior Biochemistry major Brianna Slattery plans to be a physician. Her internship at 4 Oaks Physical Therapy helped her to understand better the aftercare for surgical procedures and injuries. She worked as a PT tech, and assisted patients with their exercises. During these interactions, she heard feedback from the PT patients about the way their doctors treated them, the sorts of things they did not like, or ways that their recovery has been more difficult. This showed her the ways in she can strive for improvement in patient care, and what a patient is looking for in their doctor. She was surprised to learn that PT is more than just exercises and stretching, but has an important pain management approach with its administered therapies. Brianna is graduating from Stevenson in December 2022.

Erika Harden is a CSI with Baltimore Police, but she’s also an alumnae from Chemistry ’14 and Forensic Science ’15. She also teaches as an adjunct instructor of Forensic Science in SUO. Erika, and her director, Rana DellaRocco, also an adjunct FSCI instructor, were featured in a recent publication “Becoming a Crime Scene Investigator” by Jacqueline Detwiler George. The author shadowed Erika on her shift as a Crime Scene Technician at BPD and described in the book what a day in the life on a crime scene team really looks like.