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.
Ashley Hall, MS, PhD
Program Director
Dr. Hall is the Director of the Forensic Science Graduate Program at UC Davis. She earned her MS in Forensic Biochemistry and a Ph.D. in Biomolecular Science, both from the University of Central Florida. After graduate school, Dr. Hall worked in the defense industry before taking faculty posts in forensic science undergraduate and graduate programs at two Big 10, Tier 1 research universities - the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the University of Illinois-Chicago. Dr. Hall's research focuses on the use of touch and trace-level DNA to inform activity-level propositions, and the development of a DNA profile database, FauxDIS, for use in educational and research endeavors.
Ben Moeller, PhD
Graduate Group Chair
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.
Brianna Payne
Graduate Program Coordinator
Brianna Payne is the Coordinator of the Forensic Science Graduate Program at UC Davis. She earned her BS in Animal Science at UC Davis and is finishing her thesis as a third-year master’s student in the Forensic Science Graduate Program. During her time as a Forensic Science student, she has helped students as a TA for the UC Davis College of Biological Sciences and worked as a PCR technician in a commercial laboratory. Her research involves trace DNA, focusing on its transferability and recovery.
Aldrin Alviar
DNA Laboratory Manager
Aldrin Alviar earned his B.S. in Agricultural Biotechnology from the University of the Philippines. Currently, he works as a graduate student researcher in the DNA laboratory under the mentorship of Dr. Ashley Hall. His research primarily focuses on the quantitative analysis of touch DNA on various surfaces used in pathway scenarios. Additionally, he also worked as the social media manager for the Forensic Science Student organization
Amy Miller
Criminalistics Laboratory Manager
Amy Miller is the lab manager for the criminalist lab. She received her B.S in Molecular and Cellular Biology from UC Merced and her Graduate Certificate in Medical Anatomy and Physiology from University of Florida. She is a second year M.S Forensic Science student on the Forensic Criminalistic track. She is currently working on her thesis research studying the effects of H2S on mouse tissue. Her career goals include working for the federal government in counterterrorism, specifically with biological and chemical weapons.