World Laboratory Day | Featuring the Experiences & Impact of Experts from Across J.S. Held’s Scientific Laboratories

J.S. Held has 10 in-house laboratories spanning multiple disciplines. Today, we celebrate experts involved in our labs – scientists, researchers, investigators, engineers, and technicians – for #WorldLaboratoryDay by sharing their experiences and impact on the industries we serve.

Roofing Laboratory

Our Roofing Lab combines science with state-of-the-art technology to enhance the research, testing, and investigation of roofing samples.

Through lab testing, we can determine if roofing materials are damaged and to what extent, as well as if a sample’s observed characteristics are consistent with hail damage or some other anomaly. Our team of engineers, consultants, and lab technicians also conducts third-party testing for roofing manufacturers to assist in product development and performance testing.

Roofing Lab Director Marcos Flores Jr. shares, “Located in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, the J.S. Held Roofing Lab is an IAS-ILAC accredited forensic laboratory providing technical training services and expert analysis in three major areas of roofing investigations – damage assessment, materials evaluation, and insurance claims consulting.”

Marcos has more than 25 years of research and development and materials analysis experience and oversees the testing, evaluation, and investigation of roofing samples at J.S. Held, including microscopic analysis, backlight imaging analysis, water column testing, desaturation analysis, Ice Ball Cannon (IBC) hail impact simulation, and heat flow measurement.

To learn more about Mr. Flores’ background and to view his contact information, click here.

Materials Science Laboratories

Our metallurgists, materials engineers, and chemists provide root-cause failure analysis and materials evaluations in matters involving incident investigations, insurance claims, and dispute resolution.

Executive Vice President and Failure Analysis & Prevention Service Line Leader Michael Casey , Ph.D., shares, “Analysis of metals, plastics, electronic materials, composites, and ceramics through our in-house materials science laboratories enhance our engineering and failure analysis capabilities to solve complex real-world problems.”

Dr. Casey leverages 30+ years of experience investigating the cause and scope of damage caused by equipment failures, corrosion, structural failures, fires, and explosions at industrial plants, as well as in the construction, transportation, and marine industries throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, Mexico, South America, and the Middle East.

To learn more about Dr. Casey’s background and to view his contact information, click here.

Human Factors & User Research Laboratories

We provide forensic human factors and product failure analysis, as well as proactive product safety and user experience (UX) research along the product lifecycle. Our team has supported projects of all scopes and complexities, from ad hoc third-party quality control (i.e., the proverbial “look over the shoulder”) to multi-month, multi-location studies with hundreds or thousands of participants and highly sophisticated methodologies.

J.S. Held Human Factors & User Research Leader, Robert Rauschenberger, Ph.D. , shares, “The J.S. Held User Research Labs in Phoenix, Arizona, and New York, New York, utilize advanced technology to collect scientific measures and evaluate a wide range of topics. Through this scientifically rigorous, client-centric approach, we help develop an in-depth understanding of our clients’ target audiences. Our collective expertise helps clients build products and services that are effective, safer, and user-friendly.”

Dr. Rauschenberger has over 25 years of experience researching topics of visual attention and distraction, the organization of perceptual information, product design, user experience, risk communication effectiveness, and consumer decision-making. He also designs and tests products across various industries.

To learn more about Dr. Rauschenberger’s background and to view his contact information, click here.

Accident Reconstruction Laboratories

J.S. Held’s Accident Reconstruction experts deliver specialized expertise in forensic investigations, evidence collection and preservation, and scientific diagrams and animations.

Our team of consultants, engineers, and Ph.D. scientists leverage diverse backgrounds in mechanical, civil, and biomechanical engineering, along with human factors analysis and event data retrieval, to address accidents involving vehicles, bridge/building collapses, excessive force, law enforcement, medical procedures, planes, pedestrians, shooting incidents, and trains.

Senior Accident Reconstructionist William Bortles shares, “J.S. Held is one of only three authorized service providers in the United States to access and preserve data from Volvo and Mack trucks. ASE-certified mechanics in our automotive lab perform complex evaluations of vehicular and mechanical systems, and we have strategic partnerships with closed courses to perform vehicle dynamics testing and nighttime visibility studies. Our in-house visualization experts also use cutting-edge technologies related to motion capture and virtual reality to create world-class animations and demonstratives.”

Mr. Bortles leverages 20 years of accident reconstruction experience to conduct forensic testing involving high-speed tire disablements, vehicle-to-pedestrian accidents, and loss of directional control. His research has been focused on event data recorders found in airbag control modules from passenger vehicles and engine control modules found in commercial vehicles.

To learn more about Mr. Bortles’s background and to view his contact information, click here.

Product/Technology Reverse Engineering & Testing Laboratory

“In our product and technology reverse engineering and testing lab in Ottawa, Canada, I oversee a team whose capabilities for testing and laboratory support are broad and mirror our technological expertise,” said David Jack , Intellectual Property Specialty Services Manager with Ocean Tomo, a part of J.S. Held.

“Whether in our Ottawa facility or a remote testing site, our lab is an extension of our remarkable team of engineers and technicians with a deep understanding of wireless communication, semiconductors, systems and software, and telecommunications.”

Mr. Jack has more than 10 years of experience in reverse engineering and evidence of use (EoU) documentation across various industries, with expertise in semiconductor packaging, process, and materials analysis.

To learn more about Mr. Jack’s background and to view his contact information, click here.

Fire Origin & Cause Laboratory

Using a scientific approach, our fire investigators utilize state-of-the-art techniques and industry experience to determine the origin and causation of fires and explosions, ensuring we deliver our clients a reliable and defensible report.

Senior Vice President Chad Forshee , CFI-IFSAC, CFEI, shares, “J.S. Held’s Fire Investigations team utilizes lab locations in Redmond, Washington; Dallas, Texas; and Albany, New York, to conduct in-depth examinations of post-fire artifacts. These forensic laboratories provide an environment for tabletop examinations and digital microscopy, along with in-house assistance from metallurgists, materials engineers, and chemists. Together, these resources allow the team to conduct thorough root cause failure analyses and address complex questions arising from fire incidents.”

Mr. Forshee leverages over 25 years in both public and private sectors to conduct fire scene investigations, determine origin and causation, and consult in fire code-related matters.

To learn more about Mr. Forshee’s background and to view his contact information, click here.