On average, there are 433,648 victims (age 12 or older) of rape and sexual assault each year in the United States. That means that every 73 seconds, someone is assaulted. In a lot of cases, the sexual assault goes unreported, but there are plenty of men and women who report the crime and have a forensic examination performed in an effort to retrieve any evidence left by the assailant. While these sexual assault kits, as they are called, can be vital to rape and sexual assault investigations, a study by the National Institute of Justice found they are unusable about a third of the time. The study revealed out of nearly 2,000 sexual assault kits, 628 of them—or 32 percent—had no usable DNA to test. So, what happens to those 660 victims? An investigator has to tell them there’s nothing that can be done about possibly the most traumatic experience of their life and the case is now considered closed.
That isn’t a satisfactory ending for Candice Bridge so she’s pioneering an alternate path. Bridge, a professor of chemistry at the University of Central Florida, is the founder of the Sexual Lubricant Database, a compilation of reference lubricants, characterization data, instrumental data and classification models that can assist forensic scientists in conducting lubricant analysis in sexual assault cases. The database includes detailed information about more than 120 commercially available sexual lubricants and person hygiene products. By promoting the inclusion of forensic lubricant analysis in operational forensic laboratories, Bridge hopes to provide another lead avenue for investigators to explore when DNA doesn’t pan out.
Laboratory Equipment recently caught up with Bridge for this month’s Women in Science to discuss her current research objectives and how her background has played an important role in where she (and her research) is today.
LE: Being the first Black woman to teach chemistry at the University of Central Florida (second at Howard University) is a meaningful accomplishment you (probably) didn't necessarily set out to achieve. What does it mean to you, and how—if at all—did it affect your future work/research?
Bridge: You are correct, this was an accomplishment that I never thought about nor even considered when I looked for positions. Primarily because I assumed that there were Black women who taught at these universities before me. So, I was surprised when I learned that I achieved this accomplishment. To that point, I don’t think that being the first or one of the first Black women in these chemistry departments affected my research in any way. However, I do think that it has pushed me to do more service in order to achieve my personal goal of increasing the interest in science-based careers, particularly in forensic science, for students from under-represented communities. I find myself doing more outreach, meetings with students who are interested in forensic science, etc. I do think that because I am a Black woman, there are more students who seek to speak with me because they feel more comfortable with me, which is a plus.
LE: Can you tell us more about what your research laboratory at UCF focuses on?
Bridge: My research generally focuses on the analysis of trace evidence. My aim is to develop new analytical methods that increase the evidentiary value of evidence. My team and I use various types of mass spectrometry, spectroscopy and microscopic techniques, many of which are common in forensic laboratories, and we try to develop methods that can be seamlessly integrated into operational casework. To be specific, my research focuses on developing forensic lubricant analysis and laying the groundwork for that forensic discipline, gunshot residue analysis, glitter/shimmer, hair, automobile paint, and drug analysis. But basically anything we can analyze we will explore to see if we can develop new analytical methods that will increase the amount of information that can be gathered from the evidence to increase accurate associations/differentiation determinations.
LE: Forensic lubricant analysis is a pretty niche area of forensic science research. How did you come to realize this area was not only understudied, but that YOU could help fill the gap?
Bridge: I learned about forensic lubricant analysis when I was working at the U.S. Army Defense Forensic Science Center. Until I worked there, I was not aware that this was a forensic discipline and, trust me, I did my homework before pursuing a career in forensic science. I was fascinated by this area and wanted to learn more about it. So, when I joined the Department of Chemistry and the National Center of Forensic Science at UCF, I had the opportunity to explore an aspect of forensic science that I wanted to pursue. While I knew that forensic lubricants was on my list of things, I didn’t realize how understudied until I started looking for information about it. I started pursuing avenues so that I could know what areas of this discipline had not been explored aside from the traditional identifying of major lubricant components—and I focused on filling those gaps. I was not aware, and honestly didn’t think that people would be interested in working in this area with me, but I am grateful that the image of lubricant analysis is popular.
LE: Due to the nature of your research, you're at the front lines of innovative mass spectrometry (MS). What has your experience with MS been through the years?
Bridge: I realized today, as I was trying to fix my GC-MS this morning, that I have been working with mass spectrometry techniques, specifically GC-MS since 2003 during my first internship with the National Center for Forensic Science. That is 17 years… goodness. Over the years, I have had the pleasure of working with GC-MS, MALDI-TOF/MS, LA-ICP-MS, and most recently DART-HRMS. Regardless of the type of instrument, I think that working with mass spectrometry techniques really made me think, it has helped me to become a better “wayfinder.” There are so many things that can go wrong with a mass spectrometry instrument, and so many parts that can affect the resulting spectrum that you must learn to be patient, intuitive, and be a well experienced wayfinder. For those that haven’t used this term in project development, a wayfinder is one who has a resilience toward navigating the unknown to reach the goal. Sometimes that is how you have to be as a mass spectrometer, a wayfinder with great resilience and persistence. I think this is also what you need as a scientist. My experience with mass spectrometry has helped me develop my navigation, which I have seen myself use in other aspects of my life.
LE: What MS innovations do you need from instrument manufacturers to better meet the needs of your research?
Bridge: If there is a way to have a sustainable detector that can be cleaned, like the parts of the ion source, that would be great. I never want to hear the day that someone’s detector is dead.
LE: What trends do you see in forensic chemistry, currently?
Bridge: One of the current trends in forensic chemistry is the aim to best objectify and/or quantify association or differentiation decisions. This is on the same path as the implementation of likelihood ratios in areas like DNA and latent print. There are other disciplines exploring if this process can be applied to other aspects of forensic science, as well.
LE: You manage many students in your laboratory. What is your best advice for other laboratory managers?
Bridge: The one word I think of is patience. Really that is all that I can think of because life is hectic, work is hectic, and people can be stiff about their needs. But if one is flexible and patient…all things will become smooth.
Click here to read more about Bridge, her laboratory at UCF, and their current research agenda.
Photos: Candice Bridge working with DART-MS in her laboratory. Bridge earned her Ph.D. at the age of 25 and was one of the first people with a forensic Ph.D. in the country. Credit: Candice Bridge