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J. Tyler Davidson

Biography:

Dr. J. Tyler Davidson joined the Department of Forensic Science at Sam Houston State University as an Assistant Professor in August 2020. Dr. Davidson received a B.S. in Chemistry from Shippensburg University in 2015, an M.S. in Forensic and Investigative Science from West Virginia University (WVU) in 2017, and a Ph.D. in Forensic Science from WVU in 2020. During his time at WVU, his research focused on the use of multivariate analysis for the differentiation of novel psychoactive substance (NPS) positional isomers, a comparison between measured and recommended acceptance criteria for gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), forensic applications of direct analysis in real time tandem mass spectrometry (DART-MS/MS), and the structural characterization of emerging synthetic drugs.

Dr. Davidson belongs to the American Chemical Society (ACS), American Society for Mass Spectrometry (ASMS), and the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS). Dr. Davidson has authored and co-authored nine manuscripts with several more under review in peer-reviewed journals focusing on forensic applications of mass spectrometry and novel substance identification. His articles have been published in Forensic Chemistry, Drug Testing and Analysis, and the International Journal of Mass Spectrometry. Dr. Davidson has authored and co-authored more than twenty-five oral and poster presentations presented at national conferences. His continued research focuses on multivariate analysis of electron ionization mass spectra (EI-MS) for the classification of novel synthetic drugs, forensic applications of ambient ionization mass spectrometry (AI-MS), and novel substance identification through underlying fragmentation mechanisms.

Research Interests:

Dr. Davidson's research interests span the worlds of seized drug analysis and toxicology with an emphasis on the identification of novel synthetic drugs. His experience with seized drug analysis involves the combination of mass spectral interpretation and the use of multivariate analysis for the differentiation of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) with gas chromatography-electron ionization-mass spectrometry (GC-EI-MS). In comparison, his background in toxicology is based on the structural characterization of synthetic cathinones and fentanyl-related compounds (FRCs) with the use of tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS).

His long-term research goals are to assist the seized drug and toxicological communities through research focused on multivariate analysis of electron ionization mass spectra (EI-MS) for novel synthetic drug classification, forensic applications of ambient ionization mass spectrometry (AI-MS), and novel synthetic drug identification through underlying fragmentation mechanisms. Ultimately, Dr. Davidson hopes to assist the forensic science community by providing solutions for the classification and identification of novel synthetic drugs.

Recent Publications: