Jill Yeakel, DFS, D-ABFT-FDT Assistant Professor of Forensic Science and Department Chair
Email: JYeakel@HarrisburgU.edu
Biography
Dr. Jill Yeakel achieved her Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry from Lock Haven University. She then attended Arcadia University, where she earned a Master of Science in Forensic Science.
While attending Arcadia University, she was a mentor for the Forensics Mentors Institute, where she guided two high school students through a project studying the stability of salvinorin A, a hallucinogenic herb, in various biological matrices. This program sparked her interest in both research and education. More recently, she achieved her Doctor of Forensic Sciences from Oklahoma State University, where she studied the physiological and behavioral effects of various drugs on Lumbriculus variegatus (California blackworms).
Dr. Yeakel has worked in both forensic and clinical toxicology laboratories, including the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education, and the Armed Forces Medical Examiners Office. Through her research, she has several publications and has been awarded the Society of Forensic Toxicologist’s Educational Research Award and the American Academy of Forensic Sciences Irving Sunshine Award. She was part of a research group that studied novel psychoactive substance use and prevalence in the electronic dance music (EDM) festival community through a grant from the National Institute of Justice.
Teaching and Research Interests:
Dr. Yeakel’s primary professional interests lie in the fields of forensic toxicology and DNA analysis, with additional engagement across broader areas within forensic science. Her research is predominantly focused on the application of toxicology and DNA analysis in both forensic and clinical contexts.
Courses Taught at HU:
- Advanced DNA Analysis
- Chemistry I Laboratory
- Drones for Forensics
- Forensic Biology
- Forensic Instrumentation
- Forensic Pattern Analysis
- Forensic Population Studies
- Forensic Toxicology
- General Biology Laboratory
- Introduction to Forensic Science
- Scientific Mind II
Education
Doctor of Forensic Sciences (Oklahoma State University)
Master of Science in Forensic Science (Arcadia University)
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry/Biology (Lock Haven University)
