Rachel Cundey

I am from Ashburn, Virginia and went to West Virginia University where I earned my Bachelor of Science in Forensic Biology. During my senior year of undergrad, Tianna Warner and I worked on poisonous mushroom research together. We presented at an undergraduate research symposium and our poster was titled, “Towards a rapid DNA test for cases of poisonings with Amanita and Galerina mushrooms”. Our goal for this research was to develop a rapid identification test by amplifying a small region of genes that coded for deadly amatoxins and phallotoxins.

I chose Penn State because of the research opportunities within the Forensic Science program and the financial support I was awarded. It was a bonus that the campus is beautiful and nestled in the mountains. 

My PI is Dr. Holland, and the primary goal of my research is to examine differences between treated and untreated rootless human hair, with respect to the best cleaning approach and the ability to remove biological contaminants from the surface of hair shafts. This summer, I spent two months abroad in Croatia conducting research with the University of Split. Claudia and I worked together and analyzed over 200 hyoid bones to assess whether this bone can be used for indicating age and/or sex in forensic investigations. Upon my return, I continued my research on treated and untreated human hair shafts.