Gene Peters: Advancing forensic science through leadership and mentorship

Gene Peters, the director of the FBI Visiting Scientist Program, has built a career rooted in science and public service. Within the FBI Laboratory’s research group, Peters oversees groundbreaking research that advances forensic science. His leadership is guided by a lifelong passion for science and a commitment to justice.

The FBI Laboratory’s research program encompasses three main objectives: developing new forensic capabilities, improving existing processes, and strengthening the scientific foundations of forensic methods. Peters emphasizes the importance of ensuring that forensic science withstands legal scrutiny, allowing defendants to challenge the admissibility of evidence based on robust scientific principles. “Ultimately, it’s about justice,” Peters explains. “Our research is used by defense attorneys just as much as by prosecuting attorneys.”

Peters’ journey into science began in Buffalo, New York, where he spent his childhood exploring a world-class fossil site in an abandoned shale quarry. This early exposure to geology sparked his curiosity and led him to pursue an undergraduate degree in the field. His career took a unique path, starting with five years of service in the United States Marine Corps through a Navy ROTC scholarship.

After his military service, Peters returned to science, working in environmental consulting, cleaning up Superfund sites, and addressing spent nuclear fuel disposal at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. These experiences broadened his scientific expertise, preparing him for his current role at the FBI Laboratory. “Many scientists focus their career on becoming the world’s expert in one specific problem,” he says. “My career has gone in a different direction, where I’ve broadened rather than narrowed my scientific focus.”

Today, Peters manages a diverse portfolio of research spanning anthropology, biology, chemistry, geology, statistics and toxicology. For Peters, the greatest reward in his role is collaborating with scientists across disciplines, continually expanding his knowledge base. “I'm working on getting a forensic zoology program so I can get the full A-Z metaphor,” he teased.

One of Peters’ most impactful contributions is his role in mentoring early-career research scientists through the FBI Visiting Scientist Program, in which the recent graduates or faculty on sabbatical conduct research alongside FBI research scientists. Though the time allotted to the participants is limited to five years, Peters described the reward for mentoring early career scientists as seeing them take the next step in their careers and achieve greatness. “I've got about ten senior research scientists who mentor our ORISE participants. Seeing them take those next steps in their career is really what brings us satisfaction from the mentorship perspective,” he said.

The Visiting Scientist Program is designed to foster innovation by bringing fresh perspectives to the FBI Laboratory. Participants are involved and mentored in every aspect of the research lifecycle, from conceiving ideas to pitching them, running samples, interpretating data, writing reports, and publishing within the larger scientific community. “This level of involvement is not only for us to validate our work to help those early career scientists participating in the program achieve the milestones and objectives that are part of any scientist's career, but their work also gets used in the courts in judicial decision-making about whether evidence should be admitted,” Peters explains.

While many alumni go on to work for the FBI, others find roles in state and local crime labs, federal agencies or non-forensic organizations. Peters emphasizes that the program helps early-career scientists refine their interests, whether they choose to stay in forensic science or explore other fields.

Running a research program within a federal agency sometimes comes with challenges, particularly in securing funding. Peters notes that research is often one of the first areas to face budget cuts during tough times. To overcome this, he focuses on demonstrating the program’s value and return on investment. For Peters, success is measured by the adoption of new methods by caseworking units and their use in real-world investigations. “If you build it, they will come,” he says, referencing the famous “Field of Dreams” metaphor.

Despite these challenges, Peters finds immense joy in seeing people succeed. Whether it’s mentoring early-career scientists or witnessing the real-world impact of forensic research, Peters has a passion for solving problems and advancing science. “There’s nothing that is uninteresting to me,” he says. “Still nearly 40 years into my career, I learn things every day, and that’s the single most rewarding part for me.”

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Visiting Scientist Program (VSP) through the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) provides technical leadership for the FBI as well as for other law enforcement and intelligence agencies through applied research and development. To learn more about the FBI Visiting Scientist Program, visit https://orise.orau.gov/fbi/default.html.