Photo of Lavinia Iancu

Lavinia Iancu

Ph.D
  • Assistant Professor / Director of the Forensic Science Program, Criminal Justice
    • Forensic Entomology, Forensic Microbiology

Contact Info

Office Address

O'Kelly Hall Room 270
221 Centennial Dr Stop 8050
Grand Forks, ND 58202-8050

Biography

Dr. Iancu received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology (Faculty of Biology, Bucharest University), followed by two master’s degree programs (European Master of Forensic Sciences and Medical Biology Master). She earned the PhD title in biology (forensic entomology and microbiology expertise) within the Romanian Academy, Institute of Biology Bucharest.

In her research, Dr. Iancu is committed to advancing the study of forensic entomology and microbiology, aiming to identify novel biomarkers for the estimation of the postmortem interval (PMI). The research focuses on investigating the necrophagous insects and bacteria diversity and dynamics associated with decomposed tissue, in correlation with the climatic parameters, aiming to provide new data useful for forensic investigations worldwide by emphasizing novel PMI estimators.

Her concept of education consists greatly in teaching with passion, in respecting each student and inspiring them through the way of being and existing; treating each student individually, being able to observe their motivation and passions. Her beliefs are that a professor needs to support the students, find what really motivates them, and in the forefront of forensic sciences, a goal unites them all, the fight for justice and finding out the truth; and in this sense, knowing that each student has their own motivation they can work in a team, where each one can bring their contribution.

Dr. Iancu’s experience and contributions to the field have been recognized by the numerous peer-reviewed articles in the field, by the Henry C Lee scholarship Award, the AAFS Outstanding Early Career Achievement in Forensic Science Award received from the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, The Fulbright Senior Award for initiative and leadership in advancing forensic entomology research, the Romanian Academy “Grigore Antipa” Award, granted for the pioneering work in the field of forensic entomology and microbiology, and the Itterman Faculty Professional Development Award granted by the College of Arts & Sciences in recognition of exemplary teaching while maintaining excellence in research and service.

FS 345. Forensic Science Seminar. 3 Credits.  

FS 346. Analysis of Forensic Evidence. 3 Credits. 

FS 490. Forensic Microbiology. 3 Credits.

FS 499. Forensic Entomology - From Crime Scene to Courtroom. 3 Credits.

The research carried out by Dr. Iancu aims to better understand the decomposition process related to the colonization pattern of necrophagous insect species and associated bacteria, during extreme temperatures, to create a preliminary data base for crime scene investigations in North Dakota, on the postmortem analysis in an outdoor environment.

PUBLICATIONS

  • Iancu L., Sahlean T., Davis T., Simmons R. (2023) Necrophagous insect species succession on decomposed pig carcasses in North Dakota, USA. Journal of Medical Entomology, tjad138, doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjad138
  • Iancu L., Muslim A., Aazmi S., Jitaru V. (2023) Postmortem skin microbiome signatures associated with human cadavers within the first 12 h at the morgue. Frontiers in Microbiology, 14:1234254. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1234254
  • Ruginescu R., Lavin P., Iancu L., Menabit S., Purcarea C. (2022) Bioprospecting for Novel Bacterial Sources of Hydrolytic Enzymes and Antimicrobials in the Romanian Littoral Zone of the Black Sea. Microorganisms, 10, 2468. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10122468.
  • Iancu L., I.R. Angelescu, V.I. Paun, et al. (2021) Microbiome pattern of Lucilia sericata (Meigen) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and feeding substrate in the presence of the foodborne pathogen Salmonella enterica. Scientific Reports, 11, 15296. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-94761-w.
  • Iancu L., G. Necula-Petrareanu, C. Purcarea (2020) Potential bacterial biomarkers for insect colonization in forensic cases: preliminary quantitative data on Wohlfahrtiimonas chitiniclastica and Ignatzschineria indica Scientific Reports, 10: 8497. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-65471-6.
  • Itcus C., M.D. Pascu, P. Lavin, A. Persoiu, Iancu, C. Purcarea (2018) Bacterial and archaeal community structures in perennial cave ice. Scientific Reports, 8: 15671. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-34106-2.
  • Iancu L.,N. Junkins, G. Necula-Petrareanu, C. Purcarea (2018) Characterizing forensically important insect and microbial community colonization patterns in buried remains. Scientific Reports, 8: 15513. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-33794-0.
  • Iancu L.,E. Dean, C. Purcarea (2018) Temperature influence on prevailing necrophagous Diptera and bacterial taxa with forensic implications for postmortem interval estimation: a review. Journal of Medical Entomology, 55(6):1369-1379. doi: 10.1093/jme/tjy136.
  • Brad T., C. Itcus, M.D. Pascu, A. Per?oiu, A. Hillebrand-Voiculescu, Iancu, C. Purcarea (2018) Fungi in perennial ice from Sc?ri?oara Ice Cave (Romania). Scientific Reports, 8(1):10096. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-28401-1.
  • Iancu L.,N. Junkins, C. Purcarea (2018) Characterization and microbial analysis of first recorded observation of Conicera similis Haliday (Diptera: Phoridae) in forensic decomposition study in Romania. Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine, 58:50-55. doi: 10.1016/j.jflm.2018.04.012.
  • Iancu L., Sahlean, C. Purcarea (2016) Dynamics of Necrophagous Insect and Tissue Bacteria for Postmortem Interval Estimation During the Warm Season in Romania. Journal of Medical Entomology, 53: 54-66. doi: 10.1093/jme/tjv156.
  • Iancu L.,O. Carter, E.N. Junkins, C. Purcarea (2015) Using bacterial and necrophagous insect dynamics for postmortem interval estimation during cold season: Novel case study in Romania. Forensic Science International, 254: 106-117. doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.07.024.

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES

Oral presentation

  • February 2023. American Academy of Forensic Sciences 75th Annual Scientific Meeting, Orlando, FL, United States of America.

Iancu L. - An overview of the decomposition process during North Dakota extreme winter temperatures.

  • June 2022. 18th Meeting of the European Association for Forensic Entomology, Alcalá de Henares (Madrid), Spain. Presenter and chairwoman.

Iancu L., I. R. Angelescu, V. I. Paun, C. Purcarea - Quantitative insights into Salmonella enterica dynamics throughout Lucilia sericata (Meigen) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) life stages.

  • February 2021. American Academy of Forensic Sciences 73rd Annual Scientific Meeting, United States of America.

Iancu L., V. I. Paun, I. R. Angelescu, P. Lavin, C. Henríquez-Castillo, C. Purcarea – Microbiome Dynamics in Lucilia sericata (Meigen, 1826) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) Developmental Stages.

  • June 2019. 16th Meeting of the European Association for Forensic Entomology, Bordeaux, France.

Iancu L., G. Necula-Petrareanu, C. Purcarea - Necrophagous Insect Microbiome – Qualitative and Quantitative Insights.

  • November 2018. Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas, United States of America - Biology Seminar - invited speaker:

Iancu L. - Forensic entomology research in Romania.

  • April 2018. International Forensics Symposium, Bucharest, Romania. Diploma of excellence.

Iancu L., G. Necula-Petrareanu, C. Purcarea - Application of microorganisms in decomposition monitoring during cold season.

Iancu L., C. Purcarea - Entomology as evidence in forensic investigations.

  • February 2018. American Academy of Forensic Sciences 70th Annual Scientific Meeting, Seattle, WA, United States of America.

Iancu L., G. Necula-Petrareanu, E. Junkins, C. Purcarea - Insects and Bacteria as Forensic Decomposition Markers of Buried Rat Carcasses

  • June 2017. 14th Meeting of the European Association for Forensic Entomology, Treviso, Italy.

Iancu L., C. Purcarea - Colonization pattern of Diptera and Coleoptera on buried remains in an urban area (Bucharest, Romania)

  • May 2017. International Forensics Symposium on "Forensic investigation of crimes involving violence", Cultural Center of the M.A.I. (Ministry of Internal Affairs), Bucharest, Romania. Diploma of Honor.

Iancu L., C. Purcarea - Experimental research regarding forensic entomology and microbiology in Romania.

  • May 2017. European day of parks. Changing climates – changing parks. The administration of the Ceahl?u national park, Durau, Ceahl?u, Neam? County, Romania.

Iancu L., L. Moscaliuc, C. Purcarea - Experimental research models within national natural parks in the current context of climate change.

  • May 2016. 13th meeting of the European Association for Forensic Entomology, Budapest, Hungary.

Iancu L. - Necrophagous insects identified during several forensic entomology experiments in Romania, since 2009 to date.

  • February 2016. American Academy of Forensic Sciences 68th Annual Scientific Meeting, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States of America.

Iancu L., C. Purcarea - Dynamics of necrophagous insect species and bacteria from swine carcasses during the warm season in Romania.

  • February 2015. American Academy of Forensic Sciences 67th Annual Scientific Meeting, Orlando, FL, United States of America.
  • November 2014. Annual Congress of Zoology, "Grigore Antipa" National Museum of Natural History, Bucharest, Romania.

Iancu L., C. Purcarea - Temperature dependence of necrophagous insect species diversity and dynamics in an experimental forensic model.

  • October 2014. 20th World Meeting of the International Association of Forensic Sciences, World Forensic Festival, Seoul, South Korea.

Iancu L., C. Purcarea - Cold season forensic entomology and bacteriology experimental model on Romanian urban territory.

  • February 2014. American Academy of Forensic Sciences 66th Annual Scientific Meeting, Seattle, WA, United States of America. Award: Henry C Lee scholarship

Iancu L., C. Purcarea - Forensic Entomology and Bacteriology for Post-Mortem Investigations in Romania.

  • November 2013. Annual Congress of Zoology, "Grigore Antipa" National Museum of Natural History, Bucharest, Romania.

Iancu L., C. Purcarea - Forensic entomology and microbiology – new experimental approach.

Iancu L., K. Akbarzadeh, L. Manelli - An example of international cooperation regarding forensic entomology between three countries – Romania, Iran and Italy.

  • October 2013. Forensics International Conference on "Valorization of traces and material evidence by forensic expertise", Cultural Center of the M.A.I. (Ministry of Internal Affairs), Bucharest, Romania. Diploma of Honor

Iancu L., C. Purcarea - Forensic Entomology and Microbiology – investigation techniques for post-mortem interval estimation.

  • November 2012. Annual Congress of Zoology, "Grigore Antipa" National Museum of Natural History, Bucharest, Romania.

Iancu (Paul) L., C. Parvu - The possibilities of estimating the post-mortem interval (P.M.I.) analyzing necrophagous insect species (Diptera, Coleoptera) using jackal skulls in Romania.

  • October 2012. International Conference on Forensics, Cultural Center of the M.A.I. (Ministry of Internal Affairs), Bucharest, Romania. Diploma of Excellence on the 15th anniversary since the founding of Romanian Journal of Forensic Science, for the contribution brought in increasing its scientific value.

Iancu (Paul) L., A.M. Krapal - Taxonomy vs. Genetics in order to identify necrophagous insect species.

  • May 2012. Forensics Symposium organized by the Romania Forensic Association.

Paul L. - Forensic entomology from the perspective of crime scene investigation.

  • March 2012. "At Antipa, behind closed doors conferences", "Grigore Antipa" National Museum of Natural History, Bucharest, Romania.

Paul L. - The role of insects in forensic investigation.

  • November 2011. Annual Congress of Zoology, "Grigore Antipa" National Museum of Natural History, Bucharest, Romania.

Paul L., C. Parvu, A.M. Krapal -The importance of the necrophagous insects (Diptera, Coleoptera) in the organic matter decay within different conditions of exposure to the control factors (Romania)

  1. Parvu, Paul L. - Catalogue of Romanian Dipterans (Insecta: Diptera).
  • October 2011. International Conference of Zoologists - Actual problems of protection and sustainable diversity of the animal world, Chisinau, Moldova.

Paul L., A.M. Krapal, A.M. Petrescu - Aspects of feeding and reproduction of Calliphora vicina (Robineau-Desvoidy 1830) species in Romania.

  • October 201 International Forensics Conference on "New techniques and methods used in forensic science”, Cultural Center of the M.A.I. (Ministry of Internal Affairs), Bucharest, Romania. Diploma of Honor

Paul L. - Experimental research regarding the method of forensic entomology in Romania.

  • October 2010. International Forensics Symposium on "Recovery of trace evidence and material resources through technical-scientific and forensic expertise", Cultural Center of the M.A.I. (Ministry of Internal Affairs), Bucharest, Romania. Diploma of Honor

Paul L. - A new forensic expertise in Romania - entomological expertise.

  • June 2010. Forensics Symposium on "Methods and techniques of forensic identification", Cultural Center of the M.A.I. (Ministry of Internal Affairs), Bucharest, Romania. Diploma of Honor

Paul L. - Forensic Entomology.

  • April 2010. International Forensics Symposium on "Contributions to the development of forensic science in Romania", Cultural Center of the M.A.I. (Ministry of Internal Affairs), Bucharest, Romania. Diploma of Honor

Paul L. - Forensic entomology from the perspective offence of murder and suspect death.

  • October 2009. Diploma of Honor for helping in the organization of the International Forensics Symposium on "Investigation of Organized Crime", Cultural Center of the M.A.I. (Ministry of Internal Affairs), Bucharest, Romania.

 

         HONORS AND AWARDS

  • 2023 (April) Itterman Faculty Professional Development Award, granted in recognition of exemplary teaching while maintaining excellence in research and service, by the College of Arts & Sciences, University of North Dakota.
  • 2020 (December) Romanian Academy “Grigore Antipa” Award, granted for the pioneering work in the field of forensic entomology and microbiology.
  • 2018 (January) Fulbright Senior Award, The Romanian-U.S. Fulbright Commission: Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX, United States of America, project “Necrophagous insect species colonization pattern of human remains from an indoor location with further considerations of associated bacteria”.
  • 2018 (April) Diploma of Excellence, for the scientific contribution brought to the development of the Romanian Forensic Association.
  • 2017 (July) AAFS Outstanding Early Career Achievement in Forensic Science Award, American Academy of Forensic Sciences 70th Annual Scientific Meeting, Seattle, WA, United States of America.
  • 2014 (February) Henry C Lee scholarship Award, American Academy of Forensic Sciences 66th Annual Scientific Meeting, Seattle, WA, United States of America.
  • 2012 (October) Diploma of Excellence, on the 15th anniversary since the founding of the Romanian Journal of Forensic Science, for the contribution brought in increasing its scientific value.
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