By Kenneth Mullinax/ASU
Nadia Parker, an Alabama State University student enrolled in its Forensic Science program, has been selected by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to attend the Emerging Researchers National (ERN) Conference, which will be held April 4 - April 6 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Parker said she is ecstatic to have been selected by the NSF.
“I am thrilled and honored to be able to present my abstract at the 2025 Emerging Researchers National Conference," Parker said. "This opportunity represents a key moment in my academic and professional journey, and I am excited to share my research with such a prestigious and inspiring community. I look forward to engaging in meaningful discussions, learning from my peers, and contributing to advancing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) innovation."
ASU's Dr. Gulnaz Javan is a professor of Forensic Science and coordinator of the University's Forensic Biology program. She shared that this is the tenth consecutive year that students from her Thanatos Laboratory have received the competitive NSF honor. During that time, a total of 15 ASU students have been selected to attend the ERN Conference and present their scientific abstracts.
Parker's winning abstract is titled "Postmortem Interval Using Blow-Fly Larvae," which was first performed in Dr. Javan’s lab.
Her work is a collaborative effort headed by Dr. Javan, her research mentor, and funded in part by the Department of Education's Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program (MSEIP). Dr. Komal Vig serves as the director of MSEIP at ASU.
“I am so proud of Ms. Parker and of all of our forensic science students who continue to allow ASU to shine on a national level,” stated Dr. Javan. "We have a strong and hard working team of students and faculty at the University, and I personally can't wait to see what we accomplish next year."