Stephanie Polifroni
Senior Lecturer
Charles V. Schaefer, Jr. School of Engineering and Science
Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology
Education
- PhD (2022) CUNY Graduate Center (Criminal Justice - Forensic Science )
- MS (2013) John Jay College of Criminal Justice (Forensic Science )
- BS (2010) Hofstra University (Chemistry)
General Information
Joined Stevens in 2024. Taught as an Adjunct at John Jay College of Criminal Justice for more than 10 years, teaching forensic science, instrumental analysis, and general chemistry. Worked in the forensic science industry for 10 years for the NYPD Police Laboratory serving all five boroughs of New York City.
Experience
New York Police Department
Supervisor in the Criminalistics Section
Monitor daily work assignments of analysts, review laboratory requests for analysis (case management), manage casework backlogs, resolve technical issues when required, perform administrative and technical reviews of laboratory reports, evaluate analyst’s annual performance based on established tasks and standards, and conduct staff meetings. Act as liaison with other units within the police department, lab coordinators, and ADAs. Confer with Laboratory management about the activities of the section.
Analyst assigned to the Criminalistics Section (Materials Trace)
Perform analysis of evidentiary material for the possible presence of primer gunshot residue (pGSR) and to recognize and collect possible trace evidence (TERC). Completed training that included exercises, examinations, and a mock trial. Utilize instrumental analysis (SEM/EDS), microscopic analysis, and multiple techniques for collection. Skills include bench analysis, report writing, and providing testimony for court, as well as performing technical reviews of casefiles (pGSR only).
Analyst assigned to the Firearms Analysis Section
Perform class characteristic examination of fired cartridge casings on evidentiary material and determine firing pin and breech face impressions to group fired cartridge casing accordingly. Completed training that included exercises and examinations. Skills include bench analysis, microscopic analysis, report writing, and providing testimony for court.
Research and Development Unit
Assist in method validation, method verification, and research project organization, time management, and tracking. Communicate with analysts and Laboratory Management to review and approve project ideas, proposals, and final reports.
Training and Professional Development Unit
Prepare and train analysts for primer gunshot residue analysis. Prepare materials needed to train analysts in SEM/EDS. Create and prepare a new training program to train new examiners in the class characterization of fired cartridge casings.
Analyst assigned to the Controlled Substances Analysis Section
Perform qualitative analysis of evidentiary material for the possible presence of controlled substances. Completed training that included exercises, examinations, and a mock trial to prepare for courtroom testimony. Utilized color tests, instrumental analysis (GCMS, TruNarc™), thin layer chromatography, and microscopic analysis for identification. Skills included bench analysis, instrumental sequencing and processing, report writing, and provide testimony for court, as well as technically reviewed casefiles of other analysts.
Quality Assurance Section
Ensure the Laboratory is in compliance with accreditation standards from ISO 17025:2017, ANAB AR3125, as well as Laboratory procedures. Specifically, responsible for training records, personnel records, courtroom testimony reviews, document control, and quality actions. Additionally, liaised for the discovery law which included creating information databases and providing the District Attorneys’ Offices lab manuals, analyst CVs, proficiency tests, and nonconformances. Participated in internal audits (team leader for 2018 and 2021) and helped prepare for annual assessments, as needed.
John Jay College of Criminal Justice – Adjunct Lecturer
Lecture and laboratory instructor for forensic science and environmental science courses. Laboratory instructor for general chemistry and instrumental analysis. Included demonstrating labs, lecturing specific topics, clarifying lecture questions, creating exams, and orally testing students before beginning instrumental labs.
Supervisor in the Criminalistics Section
Monitor daily work assignments of analysts, review laboratory requests for analysis (case management), manage casework backlogs, resolve technical issues when required, perform administrative and technical reviews of laboratory reports, evaluate analyst’s annual performance based on established tasks and standards, and conduct staff meetings. Act as liaison with other units within the police department, lab coordinators, and ADAs. Confer with Laboratory management about the activities of the section.
Analyst assigned to the Criminalistics Section (Materials Trace)
Perform analysis of evidentiary material for the possible presence of primer gunshot residue (pGSR) and to recognize and collect possible trace evidence (TERC). Completed training that included exercises, examinations, and a mock trial. Utilize instrumental analysis (SEM/EDS), microscopic analysis, and multiple techniques for collection. Skills include bench analysis, report writing, and providing testimony for court, as well as performing technical reviews of casefiles (pGSR only).
Analyst assigned to the Firearms Analysis Section
Perform class characteristic examination of fired cartridge casings on evidentiary material and determine firing pin and breech face impressions to group fired cartridge casing accordingly. Completed training that included exercises and examinations. Skills include bench analysis, microscopic analysis, report writing, and providing testimony for court.
Research and Development Unit
Assist in method validation, method verification, and research project organization, time management, and tracking. Communicate with analysts and Laboratory Management to review and approve project ideas, proposals, and final reports.
Training and Professional Development Unit
Prepare and train analysts for primer gunshot residue analysis. Prepare materials needed to train analysts in SEM/EDS. Create and prepare a new training program to train new examiners in the class characterization of fired cartridge casings.
Analyst assigned to the Controlled Substances Analysis Section
Perform qualitative analysis of evidentiary material for the possible presence of controlled substances. Completed training that included exercises, examinations, and a mock trial to prepare for courtroom testimony. Utilized color tests, instrumental analysis (GCMS, TruNarc™), thin layer chromatography, and microscopic analysis for identification. Skills included bench analysis, instrumental sequencing and processing, report writing, and provide testimony for court, as well as technically reviewed casefiles of other analysts.
Quality Assurance Section
Ensure the Laboratory is in compliance with accreditation standards from ISO 17025:2017, ANAB AR3125, as well as Laboratory procedures. Specifically, responsible for training records, personnel records, courtroom testimony reviews, document control, and quality actions. Additionally, liaised for the discovery law which included creating information databases and providing the District Attorneys’ Offices lab manuals, analyst CVs, proficiency tests, and nonconformances. Participated in internal audits (team leader for 2018 and 2021) and helped prepare for annual assessments, as needed.
John Jay College of Criminal Justice – Adjunct Lecturer
Lecture and laboratory instructor for forensic science and environmental science courses. Laboratory instructor for general chemistry and instrumental analysis. Included demonstrating labs, lecturing specific topics, clarifying lecture questions, creating exams, and orally testing students before beginning instrumental labs.
Professional Societies
- AAFS – American Academy of Forensic Sciences Member
- NEAFS – Northeastern Association of Forensic Scientists Member
- ACS – American Chemical Society Member
Courses
Fall 2024
CH115-F General Chemistry I
CH362-A Instrumental Analysis I
CH362-LA Instrumental Analysis Laboratory I
CH362-LB Instrumental Analysis Laboratory I
Spring 2025
CH116-C General Chemistry II
CH461-A Instrumental Analysis II
CH461-LA Instrumental Analysis Laboratory II
CH461-LB Instrumental Analysis Laboratory II
CH115-F General Chemistry I
CH362-A Instrumental Analysis I
CH362-LA Instrumental Analysis Laboratory I
CH362-LB Instrumental Analysis Laboratory I
Spring 2025
CH116-C General Chemistry II
CH461-A Instrumental Analysis II
CH461-LA Instrumental Analysis Laboratory II
CH461-LB Instrumental Analysis Laboratory II