Like many Cal State L.A. students, Gregory Hogrebe has complemented his classroom experience with work experience.
He is employed as a forensic specialist for the Santa Monica Police Department, where he conducts crime scene investigations and latent print comparisons.
He graduated on June 13 with a Master of Science in criminalistics during Cal State L.A’s 68th Commencement.
Hogrebe earned a Bachelor of Science in biology and minored in chemistry at Cal State Fullerton. At Cal State L.A., his thesis research focused on investigating polarized light microscopy. This allows investigators to distinguish damage to textile fabrics from a bullet or shotgun slug, as opposed to the effects of wear, cutting, tearing and stabbing-related damage.
Hogrebe’s research was a collaboration with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Scientific Services Bureau and criminalistics faculty members to address limitations in current evidence analysis.
His research was recently presented at the California Association of Criminalists’ Semi-Annual Seminar. The Association of Firearms and Toolmarks Examiners recognized Gregory with its 2015 National Scholar Award.
His career goal is to secure a criminalist position and specialize in firearms examination.
