David Fisher

Senior University Lecturer, Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science
About Me
I am the Director of the Forensic Science Program in the Dept of Chemistry and Environmental Science at NJIT (the only FEPAC accredited Forensic Science Program in the State of NJ).
Prior to joining NJIT, I was a Criminalist in the Department of Forensic Biology at the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) for 17 years. As a forensic scientist I have worked on thousands of criminal cases, including homicides, sexual assaults, and property crime investigations and have been court qualified as an expert witness in DNA typing over 40 times.
Education
Graduate Certificate; University of New Haven; Forensic Genetic Genealogy; 2025
M.S.; CUNY John Jay College Criminal Justice; Forensic Science; 2013
B.S.; University of California-San Diego; Biochemistry & Cell Biology; 1997
Experience
NJIT
Senior University Lecturer, January 2022 -
US Dept of Health and Human Services, Office of the Asst Secretary for Preparedness and Response, Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team
Intermittent Medical Investigator, 2004 -
NJIT
Professor of Practice, January 2019 - December 2021
NYC Office of Chief Medical Examiner, Dept of Forensic Biology
Criminalist IV, July 2008 - December 2018
NYC Office of Chief Medical Examiner, Dept of Forensic Biology
Criminalist III, January 2005 - June 2008
NYC Office of Chief Medical Examiner, Dept of Forensic Biology
Criminalist II, January 2002 - December 2004
Awards & Honors
2026 Excellence in Service Award, NJIT Jordan Hu College of Science & Liberal Arts (HCSLA)
2026 Fall Courses
FRSC 491 - RESEARCH & INDEP STUDY I
FRSC 490 - CO-OP WORK EXPERIENCE
FRSC 201 - INTRO TO FORENSIC SCIENCE
FRSC 495 - SENIOR SEMINAR
Teaching Interests
Forensic Biology/DNA; Microscopy; Criminalistics
Past Courses
FRSC 201: INTRO TO FORENSIC SCIENCE
FRSC 359: PHYSICAL METHODS OF FORENSICS
FRSC 479: FORENSIC BIOLOGY
FRSC 480: FORENSIC MICROSCOPY
FRSC 480: FORENSIC MICROSCOPY & LAB
FRSC 495: SENIOR SEMINAR
FRSC 495: SENIOR SEMINAR: DRONE FORENSICS
Research Interests
Forensic Biology/Human DNA Typing; Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG)
In Progress
AR/VR in Crime Scene Investigation
Can VR/AR be used to effectively teach Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) in Forensic Science?
Book
Barry AJ Fisher, David Fisher. "Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation, 9th ed. ." 344 pp. CRC Press, 2022. ISBN 978-1498758130.
Barry Fisher, David Fisher. "Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation, 8th ed.." 503 pp. CRC Press, 2012. ISBN 978-1439810057.
Barry Fisher, David Fisher, Jason Kolowski. "Forensics Demystified." McGraw Hill, 2007. ISBN 978-0262132350.
Professional
New Jersey Association of Forensic Scientists (NJAFS)
Officer, President/Elect/Past, 2025
American Board of Criminalistics
Committee Member, 2016
Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission
Assesor, 2010
New Jersey Association of Forensic Scientists
Officer, Vice President, 2023