Faculty & Staff Profiles

Laura Gaydosh Combs, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Department of Forensic Science
Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences

For the Media

Email Media Relations
Laura Gaydosh Combs

Education

Ph.D. Biomedical Sciences/Molecular and Medical Genetics, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, 2014

M.A. Anthropology/Human Skeletal Biology Program, Graduate School of Arts and Science, New York University, New York, NY, 2006

B.A. Anthropology/major, Philosophy/minor, cum laude, Honors College and the College of Arts and Sciences, Adelphi University, Garden City, NY, 2003

About Laura

Dr. Laura Gaydosh Combs is an experienced forensic scientist/DNA analyst and a member of the Forensic Science Department faculty at the University of New Haven. She serves the UNewHaven community as a department representative to the Pre-Health Professions and Pre-Law Advisory Committees and the broader forensic science community on the Forensic Research Committee of the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors, American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) Standards Board working group, and as a reviewer for the Journal of Forensic Sciences. Her research explores the foundational assumptions of forensic biology, characterizing normality in various contexts to prevent miscarriages of justice from misinterpreted or limited data sets, integrating machine learning/artificial intelligence models into laboratory operations, and expanding quality management to include data authentication and data integrity. She is an active member of the ASCLD Laboratories and Educators Alliance Program (LEAP) and encourages research collaborations between academic researchers, operational laboratories, and our industry partners (vendors).

Dr. Combs’s interests in computer science and epistemological foundations were established in conjunction with her baccalaureate Anthropology research in the Honors College at Adelphi University and continued into the Human Skeletal Biology Masters Program in the Anthropology Department at New York University. Dr. Combs completed a Fellowship in Forensic Biology with the Virginia Institute of Forensic Science and Medicine before securing employment as a Forensic Scientist with the Virginia Department of Forensic Science. After encountering technical challenges associated with extracting DNA from skeletal samples in casework, she pursued research focused on elucidating their root causes. As a National Institute of Justice Graduate Research Fellow, she earned her doctoral degree in Biomedical Sciences from the University of North Texas Health Science Center while working as an instructor for their specialized master’s program in Forensic Genetics. Her postdoctoral research and training were completed within the Center for Human Identification, continuing to focus on physical and biochemical factors affecting extraction of DNA from skeletonized samples.

Prior to accepting her position at the University of New Haven, Dr. Combs worked for state and local laboratories in forensic and databasing units. These experiences continue to inform her research focus and commitment to strengthening the evidence base of forensic biology practice.

Personal Pages

 

Publications

Rhodes C, Price R, Willetts C, Swall J, Combs LG, Seashols‐Williams S. Improved DNA recovery and STR profile development from weathered Bos taurus bones using demineralized bone slices. Journal of Forensic Sciences. 2025 Mar 16; 70(3).
Available from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1556-4029.70023

Combs LG, Warren JE, Huynh V, Castaneda J, Golden TD, Roby RK. The effects of metal ion PCR inhibitors on results obtained with the Quantifiler® Human DNA Quantification Kit. Forensic Science International: Genetics. 2015 Nov 1;19:180–9.
Available from: https://www.fsigenetics.com/article/S1872-4973(15)30032-6/fulltext

Combs LG and Adams N. Fundamental Failures: Lessons for Continuous Improvement. Presented at the 78th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences in Special Session #2 Interdisciplinary Symposium: Sustaining the Science and the Scientist; 2026 Feb 10; New Orleans, LA.

Combs LG. Workforce Development, Collaboration, and Forensic Science Integrity. Presented at the Association of Forensic DNA Analysts and Administrators Summer Meeting; 2025 July 17; Houston, TX.

Carriquiry A, Combs LG, Green TD, Kerrigan S. Why academics are important to have at the table! Panel presentation, moderated by Chu S. Presented at: 2nd Annual Conference of the National Association of Forensic Science Boards; 2024 Nov 21; Albany, NY.

Carriquiry A, Combs LG, Morgan J, Villarrubia J. Current hot topic – artificial intelligence (AI) and forensic science. Panel presentation, moderated by McLendon M. Presented at: 2nd Annual Conference of the National Association of Forensic Science Boards; 2024 Nov 22; Albany, NY.

Kassie OQ, Seashols Williams S, Combs LG. A comparative analysis of swabbing solutions for sexual assault evidence: the direct impact on spermatozoa and DNA recovery. In: Proceedings of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. 2024 Feb; Vol. XXX. Abstract No. B87:293. Presented at the 76th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences; 2024 Feb 20; Denver, CO.

Combs LG. Investigator® 24plex Quality Sensor as a tool to assess the optimization of enzymatic digestion of human bone samples. Presented at the 13th Annual DNA Conference – Bode West 2016; 2016 Mar 23; San Diego, CA. Hosted by Bode Cellmark Forensics, LabCorp Specialty Testing Group.

Combs LG, Proctor FN, Sun J, Eisenberg AJ. Improved analysis of bone samples by performing sample type-specific sensitivity studies. Presented at the 26th International Symposium on Human Identification (poster no. 28); 2015 Oct 14; Grapevine, TX.

Proctor FN, Combs LG, Sun J, Warren JE. Effect of anionic detergent selection on STR profile development from bone-derived DNA extracts. Presented at the 26th International Symposium on Human Identification (poster no. 29); 2015 Oct 13; Grapevine, TX.

Combs LG, Huynh VH, Golden TD, Warren JE, Roby RK. Effect of skeletal sampling technique on DNA and elemental analysis results. In: Proceedings of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. 2015 Feb; Vol. XXI. Abstract No. B131:394–5. Presented at the 67th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences; 2015 Feb 20; Orlando, FL.

Combs LG. DNA quantification results obtained from bone samples using the Investigator® Quantiplex HYres Kit. Presented at the Qiagen North American Users’ Meeting; 2014 Jul 30; Houston, TX.

Combs LG, Huynh V, DeLeon VH, Golden TD, Warren JE, Roby RK. Elemental and DNA analysis of constituents obtained from extracting bone samples. In: Proceedings of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. 2014 Feb; Vol. XX. Abstract No. A39:49–50. Presented at the 66th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences; 2014 Feb 20; Seattle, WA.

Combs LG. Effects of metal ion PCR inhibitors on results obtained with the Quantifiler Human DNA Quantification Kit. Presented at the Association of Forensic DNA Analysts and Administrators Summer Meeting; 2013 May 30; San Antonio, TX.

Gaydosh LJ, DeLeon VH, Golden TD, Warren JE, Roby RK. Metal ions as forensically-relevant inhibitors of PCR-based DNA testing. In: Proceedings of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. 2013 Feb; Vol. XIX. Abstract No. A129:96–7. Presented at the 65th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences; 2013 Feb 22; Washington, D.C.

Gaydosh LJ. Metal ions as forensically-relevant inhibitors of PCR. Presented at the Association of Forensic DNA Analysts and Administrators Summer Meeting; 2012 Jun 29; San Antonio, TX.

Gaydosh LJ, Roby RK, Warren JE. A secondary research tool to enhance scientific investigations involving metal ions. Presented at the Neurobiology of Aging 9th Annual Trainee Symposium; 2011 Apr 15; Fort Worth, TX.

Gaydosh LJ. Comparative effects of hematin and humic acid inhibition of forensic multiplex STR genotyping systems and commercial PCR enhancers. Presented at the Association of Forensic DNA Analysts and Administrators Summer Meeting; 2010 Jul 8; Austin, TX.

Gaydosh LJ, Fast S, DeLillo S, Sprouse M, Kelley S, Evans L, Rayburn E, Warren JE. Comparative effects of hematin and humic acid inhibition of forensic multiplex STR genotyping systems and commercial PCR enhancers. Presented at the University of North Texas Health Science Center, 18th Annual Research Appreciation Day Poster Session; 2010 Apr 23; Fort Worth, TX.

Lopez K, Gonzalez S, Aranda X, Gaydosh L, Planz JV, Eisenberg AJ. Utility of the Maxwell® 16 and the DNA IQ™ Reference Sample Kit for the purification of DNA from bone samples. Presented at the 19th International Symposium on Human Identification (poster no. 12); 2008 Oct 14; Hollywood, CA.

Gaydosh LJ. Among the modified: a comparison of pre-industrial and modern culture’s quest for meaning through body modifications. In: National Conference on Undergraduate Research Proceedings. University of North Carolina-Asheville; 2003. Presented at the 17th National Conference on Undergraduate Research; 2003 Mar; University of Utah, UT.

Gaydosh LJ, Sardis A. Anthropological investigations on the demographic dynamics of a 9th BC/BCE Eastern Mediterranean population. In: National Conference on Undergraduate Research Proceedings. University of North Carolina-Asheville; 2002. Presented at the 16th National Conference on Undergraduate Research; 2002 Apr; University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Whitewater, WI. Included in the “Adelphi Authors and Artists” Exhibit at the Swirbul Library Gallery, Adelphi University; 2002.

Fellowships and Awards

  • Postdoctoral Fellowship, Center for Human Identification, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, 2015-2016
  • Graduate Research Fellow, NIJ FY 12 Ph.D. Graduate Research Fellowship Program, National Institute of Justice, award number: 2012-IJ-CX-0017, 2012-2014
  • Fellowship in Forensic Biology, Virginia Institute of Forensic Science and Medicine, Virginia Department of Forensic Science, Richmond, VA, 2006-2007

Professional Affiliations

  • 2024-present   Member, National Association of Forensic Science Boards (NAFSB)
  • 2024-present   Member, Northeastern Association of Forensic Scientists (NEAFS)
  • 2018-present   Member, International Society for Forensic Genetics (ISFG)          
  • 2007-present   Fellow, Criminalistics Section, American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS)
    • Member, Membership Recruitment and Retention Ad Hoc Committee (2025-2026)
    • Evaluator, Forensic Education Program Accreditation Commission (FEPAC)
    • Member, Membership Outreach Ad Hoc Committee (previous), 2020-2025

Courses

  • FORS 2217 Introduction to Forensic Science II
  • FORS 4403 Forensic Biology with Laboratory
  • FORS 4416 Seminar in Forensic Science
Related Links Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic SciencesB.S. in Forensic Science