Jason Brooks

Dr. Jason Brooks is a Teaching Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Penn State University and Director of the Forensic Science Program. He holds dual roles as a veterinary pathologist and Deputy Coroner for Centre County, combining medical and legal expertise in forensic investigations. Dr. Brooks is an ACVP Founding Fellow in Veterinary Forensic Pathology and serves on key committees including the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) Standards Board and ACVP Veterinary Forensic Pathology Certification Committee.

His research focuses on medicolegal death investigation, gunshot wound pathology, and postmortem interval estimation. He authored the textbook Veterinary Forensic Pathology and contributes to Forensic Science International. His work bridges veterinary medicine with legal systems, addressing wildlife forensics, animal abuse cases, and forensic evidence standards.

Professional roles include editorial leadership for Forensic Science International and prior service on the International Veterinary Forensic Sciences Association (IVFSA) board. Awards include ACVP’s Founding Fellow distinction recognizing his foundational contributions to veterinary forensic pathology.

Dr. Brooks teaches graduate courses in research foundations and medicolegal death investigation while actively publishing in high-impact journals. His grants and collaborations focus on advancing forensic veterinary methodologies and improving animal crime investigation standards.