ORLANDO, Fla. – A new forensic training and research lab has opened in Lake Nona, giving University of Central Florida students a chance to learn alongside working Florida Department of Law Enforcement scientists while supporting research into emerging substances.
FDLE and UCF leaders said the space is the first co-located lab of its kind in Florida, designed to better prepare forensic science students for careers in crime labs and related fields.
“It really lays out a more realistic expectation for them as they can see their future working in a crime lab or somewhere else,” said Olivia Glaze, a UCF student.
Glaze said the hands-on training could also shorten the learning curve once students are hired full-time.
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“You need that training for sure. But it also takes away from other individuals who have to train those people,” she said. “So shortening that time down and getting students coming in with a little base knowledge is really helpful for expediting that process.”
During a tour, students and visitors saw technology used to process evidence and extract drugs from specimens.
“So urine often has like sediment. So that’s going to separate that from the actual liquid that we use to extract the drug within that specific specimen,” a lab representative explained.
The tour also included a demonstration of drug-impairment simulation goggles, showing how altered perception can impact balance and coordination.
FDLE leaders said the additional space is expected to strengthen law enforcement support by allowing more capacity for casework and staffing.
“It allows us to expand,” said Jason Bundy, FDLE’s assistant commissioner. “We’ve been quite restricted on space and forensics for quite some time. And this expansion allows us to do more work and add more people into our ranks.”
FDLE’s Orlando forensic lab processes about 10,000 cases each year. Officials said the new Lake Nona lab will create more opportunities for students to gain experience while helping move investigations forward.