Stacy McDonald

Stacy McDonald is an Instructor in the Department of Pathology and currently serves as Deputy Chief of Physical Evidence at the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences. She oversees Firearms and Toolmarks, Trace Evidence, and Forensic Biology Laboratories, while maintaining roles in DNA analysis and technical leadership in autosomal STR DNA. Her work bridges academic research and applied forensic science.

Education:

• B.S. in Zoology (Texas A&M University)
• Ph.D. in Biology (Texas A&M University, advised by Dr. Ira Greenbaum)

Research Interests: Dr. McDonald's research focuses on chromosomal fragility in deer mice and humans, molecular characterization of genetic fragile sites, and development of forensic technologies for human identification. Her current efforts emphasize advancing DNA analysis methodologies in forensic contexts.

Professional Experience:

• Postdoctoral Fellowship at Mayo Clinic Department of Pathology (molecular characterization of human fragile sites)
• Visiting Scientist at FBI’s Counterterrorism and Forensic Science Research Unit (2002, technology development for human identification)

Labs/Teams: Directs Forensic Biology and other evidence analysis units at the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences.