Adam B. Hall Ph.D., Instructor
Biography
Dr. Hall received his Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry and Masters of Science in Chemistry from Northeastern University in Boston MA. His doctoral dissertation entitled “High Throughput Differential Mobility Spectrometry-Mass Spectrometry: Fundamental Considerations and Application Development in Forensic Science” focused on the development of analytical methods for the rapid separation of drugs of abuse and their metabolites in an effort to address an urgent need for the development of high throughput methodologies for the analysis of controlled substances. The research was conducted under the direction of Dr. Paul Vouros of the Barnett Institute of Chemical and Biological Analysis at Northeastern University and has been presented at local, national and international scientific meetings.
His forensic casework experience was obtained at the Massachusetts State Police Crime Laboratory where he was employed in the Criminalistics, Arson and Explosives and Crime Scene Response Units. Within the Criminalistics Unit he was responsible for performing biological screening of physical evidence from homicide and sexual assault cases including the examination of weapons and clothing items. His duties within the Arson and Explosives Unit involved the extraction and identification of petroleum and alcohol-based ignitable liquids by GC-FID and GC/MS. Explosives examinations were performed by FTIR, GC/MS and SEM-EDS. He has responded to crime scenes across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for investigations related to fatal and non-fatal violent crimes, arson investigations and explosives cases. He has been qualified as an expert witness in the areas of fire debris analysis, explosives analysis, sexual assault, assault and battery, and crime scene investigation. He continues to provide expert testimony for both the prosecution and defense on a variety of criminal cases.
Dr. Hall joined the Biomedical Forensic Sciences faculty in May 2007 and teaches courses in Forensic Chemistry, Advanced Topics in Forensic Chemistry, Instrumental Analysis and Arson and Explosives. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Criminalistics (D-ABC) in the specialty area of Fire Debris Analysis and holds an Adjunct Research Scientist appointment at the Barnett Institute of Chemical and Biological Analysis at Northeastern University.
Research Interests
Dr. Hall’s group focuses on research related to enhancing the extraction and identification of analytes of interest from fire debris samples and drugs of abuse. Current projects involve: (1) the extraction and identification of oxygenates from fire debris samples, (2) the effects of microbial degradation on the identification of ignitable liquids, (3) extraction and identification of synthetic cannabinoids and cathinones and (4) the development of methods for the isolation and detection of non-regulated, plant-based drugs of abuse.
Publications
Hall, A.B., Coy, S.L., Nazarov, E.G. & Vouros, P. Development of Rapid Methodologies for the Isolation and Quantitation of Drug Metabolites by Differential Mobility Spectrometry – Mass Spectrometry. IJIMS (accepted for publication July 2012)
Hall, A.B., Coy, S.L., Kafle, A., Glick, J., Nazarov, E.G. & Vouros, P. Extending the Dynamic Range of the Ion Trap by Differential Mobility Filtration. JASMS (submitted)
Hall AB, Coy S, Nazarov E, Vouros P. Rapid Separation and Characterization of Cocaine and Cocaine Cutting Agents by Differential Mobility Spectrometry – Mass Spectrometry. J. Forensic Sci. 2012 May;57(3):750-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1556-4029.2011.02033.x. Epub 2012 Jan 11.
Anzivino B, Tilley L, Ingalls L, Hall AB, Drugan, John E. Got a Match? Ion Extraction GC/MS Characterization of Accelerants Adsorbed in Charcoal Using Negative Pressure Dynamic Headspace Concentration. J. Chem. Educ. 2009, 86, 55.
Presentations
2012
Extending the Dynamic Range of the Ion Trap by Differential Mobility Filtration. American Society for Mass Spectrometry (ASMS) 60th Annual Meeting. Vancouver, B.C., May 22nd, 2012
Exploring DMS-MS as a High Throughput Method for Forensic and Bio-Organic Analysis. 2012 Annual Pittsburgh Conference (PittCon), Orlando, FL. March 12th 2012
Improving Oxygenated Ignitable Liquid Recovery by Dual-Mode Heated Passive Headspace Extraction with Zeolites and Activated Charcoal Strips. American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) 64th Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA, February 25th, 2012
2011
Further Studies Investigating Zeolites for the Recovery of Oxygenated Compounds from Fire Debris Samples. 37th Annual NEAFS Meeting, Newport, RI, November 3rd, 2011.
Development of Rapid Analytical Methods for Drugs of Abuse and their Metabolites by Differential Mobility Spectrometry – Mass Spectrometry. 37th Annual NEAFS Meeting, Newport, RI, November 3rd, 2011.
Instrumental Analysis of Evidence. 2011 University of Rhode Island – Forensic Science Partnership Seminar Series. Kingston, RI, September 30, 2011.
Applying Differential Mobility Mass Spectrometry to Pharma: A perspective from the forensic and biomarker communities. 2011 Applied Pharmaceutical Analysis Meeting. Boston, MA, September 11, 2011.
Rapid, Quantitative, Forensic Analysis of Drug Metabolites, Adulterants and Diluents by Differential Mobility Spectrometry – Mass Spectrometry. American Society for Mass Spectrometry (ASMS) 59th Annual Meeting. Denver, CO, June 9, 2011.
Selection of Transport Gas Modifiers in Differential Mobility Spectrometry – Mass Spectrometry (DMS-MS). American Society for Mass Spectrometry (ASMS) 59th Annual Meeting. Denver, CO, June 8, 2011.
Ultra Rapid Separation of Cocaine and Cocaine Adulterants by Differential Mobility Spectrometry-Mass Spectrometry American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) 63rd Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, February 24th, 2011.
Evaluation of a Novel Methodology for the Recovery of Volatiles from Fire Debris Samples. American Academy of ForensicSciences (AAFS) 63rd Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, February 24th, 2011.
2010
Ultra Rapid Drug Profiling by DMS-MS. 36th Annual NEAFS Meeting, Manchester, VT, November 10th, 2010.
Evaluation of a Novel Methodology for the Recovery of Acetone from Fire Debris Samples. 36th Annual NEAFS Meeting, Manchester, VT, November 12th, 2010.
Ultra Rapid Separation of Cocaine and Cocaine Adulterants by Differential Ion Mobility Spectrometry – Mass Spectrometry American Society for Mass Spectrometry (ASMS) 58th Annual Meeting. Salt Lake City, UT, May 27, 2010.
Acetone in Fire Debris Analysis: Case Discussion, Prevalence and Thresholds? American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) 62nd Annual Meeting. Seattle, WA, February 25, 2010.
An Introduction to Analytical Chemistry and the Forensic Analysis of Arson andExplosives Evidence: A Practical Guide for the Prosecution and the Defense.Adam B. Hall. Forensics Summit: MA Continuing Legal Education (MCLE), Boston, MA, January 20, 2010.
2009
Understanding the Millennial Generation: Strategies for the Incorporation of Technology into the Forensic Science Classroom. 35th Annual NEAFS Meeting, Long Branch, NJ, November 4th, 2009.
Elemental Analysis of Float Glass Samples Using a 193nm Excimer Laser Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer to Identify Forensic Glass Evidence. 35th Annual NEAFS Meeting, Long Branch, NJ, November 5th, 2009.
Evaluation of Commercially Available Presumptive Drug Testing Kits for the Forensic Analysis of Salvia Divinorum. 35th Annual NEAFS Meeting, Long Branch, NJ, November 5th, 2009.
2008
Forensic Chemical Analysis and Characterization of Salvia Divinorum and Salvinorin A. 34th Annual NEAFS Meeting, White Plains, NY, October 2nd, 2008.
