Our forensics science master’s degree program gives you a high-touch, hand’s on and personalized academic experience. Administration and faculty are extremely accessible, helping you develop meaningful relationships that last throughout your career.
Cecilia Giulivi, Ph.D.
Program Chair
Dr. Giulivi is a professor in the department of Molecular Biosciences. Her research centers on both in vitro and in vivo models of oxygen and nitrogen free radical biochemistry. Her research also focuses on mechanisms of mitochondrial dysfunction in neurological and metabolic diseases including autism, type-2 diabetes, Huntington’s disease, fragile-X and more.
Ben Moeller, Ph.D.
Interim Director
Dr. Moeller earned his Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Toxicology from UC Davis and works in the field of analytical chemistry and toxicology. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology. His expertise is in the use of analytical chemistry techniques, including mass spectrometry, to analyze analytical and bioanalytical specimens for pharmaceutical agents. This area has great relevance for current problems in the use of drugs by individuals and is directly applicable to drug testing (workplace, pain management, and forensic), drug metabolism, and pharmaceutical development.
Aliyah Middleton, Ph.D.
Program Coordinator
Dr. Aliyah Middleton is the Program Coordinator for the UC Davis Master of Forensic Science Program. She received her Ph.D. in Sociology from UC Davis and has a strong background in program management, administration, and student services within higher education. As a first-generation college graduate, Aliyah is passionate about helping students navigate higher education and achieve their academic and professional goals. She supports the day-to-day operations of the graduate program and is committed to helping students succeed from admission through graduation.
Joy Viray, M.S.
DNA Laboratory Manager
Joy Viray was the DNA Technical Leader and a Criminalist at the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Laboratory of Forensic Services. She oversaw the DNA technical operations and was responsible for ensuring that the laboratory complied with the FBI Quality Assurance Standards for Forensic DNA Testing Laboratories. Laboratory casework includes Short Tandem Repeat (STR) testing, Y-STR testing, and Paternity. As a criminalist, she has examined evidence from a wide range of casework including sexual assaults and homicides for over 23 years. She has testified as an expert in DNA testing and body fluid identification over 70 times and is board ertified as a Fellow of the American Board of Criminalistics in Forensic DNA.
Alyssa Cruz
TA, DNA Track
Alyssa Cruz is a 2026 graduate of the M.S. in Forensic Science program at UC Davis, with a focus on DNA. She earned her B.S. in Biological Sciences, with a concentration in Forensic Science and a minor in Chemistry, from California State University, East Bay. Her thesis research in the DNA laboratory focused on the recovery and analysis of nuclear and cell-free touch DNA.
Craig Triebold, M.S.
Criminalistics Laboratory Manager
Craig Triebold is a Supervising Criminalist at the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Laboratory of Forensic Services. He currently oversees the operations of the Toxicology unit and the laboratory’s Crime Scene Response Team. Craig has been with the Sacramento County DA’s laboratory since 2005 and has worked in Forensic Alcohol, Toxicology, Drug Chemistry, Ignitable Liquids, Fire Debris, and Crime Scene Investigations. He is dual board certified as a Diplomate of the American Board of Criminalistics, in the area of Comprehensive Criminalistics, and as a Diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Toxicology, in the area of Forensic Toxicology. Craig has been qualified to testify as an expert witness over 200 times in cases involving alcohol and toxicology analysis, the pharmacology of alcohol and drugs in the human body, fire debris analysis and interpretation, and crime scene investigation. Prior to joining the Sacramento County DA’s laboratory, Craig earned his B.S. in chemistry from San Jose State University and his M.S. degree in Forensic Science from UC Davis. In addition to working at the crime lab, Craig has been teaching in the UC Davis Forensic Science Graduate Program since 2015, with a focus on analytical instrumentation, forensic alcohol, toxicology, and drug chemistry.