Sophia Boor, a first-year JGPT student in Dr. Brian Buckley’s laboratory, interned at the highly
prestigious toxicology unit of the New Jersey State Police Investigative Branch- Office of Forensic
Sciences in Sea Girt, New Jersey. Her research project explored contemporary issues in the field of
analytical forensic toxicology, investigating a novel oral fluid drug confirmation method to aid in the
transition from urine to oral fluid as the recommended matrix in forensic casework. Throughout the
project, Sophia deepened her expertise in mass spectrometry, while supporting the lab’s efforts to
optimize one of the largest oral fluid drug panels that includes novel psychoactive substances (NPS), a
class of unregulated designer drugs modified by illicit manufacturers that present high analytical
difficulty. Alongside a team of dedicated toxicologists, Sophia offered a fresh perspective on the
relationship between salivary gland vasculature and transporter-mediated secretion that presents an
increasingly complex metabolomic profile in oral fluid versus other biological matrices. In October 2026,
Sophia’s research efforts will continue as she presents her research at the Northeastern Association of
Forensic Scientists (NEAFS) conference and utilizes her new skills in pursuit of her Graduate thesis.