Meet the recipients of the 2025 Magnet Forensics Scholarship Award! 

We’re proud to announce the winners of the 2025 Magnet Forensics Scholarship Award!

Launched to help police agencies address their growing talent shortage in digital forensics, the program also aims to promote diversity in the profession while working against budgetary constraints. We’re happy to have been able to help in battling these constraints, which are hindering the ability for agencies to investigate crimes such as child sexual exploitation, human trafficking and cybercrime.

Once again, we’re extremely honored to be able to award these scholarships in the name of Peel Regional Police Sgt. Steve Martin. As an Internet Child Exploitation unit investigator, Sgt. Martin played a leading role in arresting criminals who preyed on children before he died of cancer in January 2021.

Meet the winners of the 2025 Magnet Forensics Scholarship Award:

New to forensics:

• Nicholas Gray, Petersburg Bureau of Police
• James Holmes, Wright City Police Department
• Sarah Hoy Spalding, Berry Street Victoria

Advanced field:

• Delanie Zohler, Digital Forensic Laboratory of Lehigh County
• Abhinav Biswas, ECIL
• Elton Haska, Albanian State Police

As recipients of the scholarship, they will receive:

• World-class digital forensics training: Starting from the very basics of digital forensics and working right through to advanced smartphone and computer forensics, winners will be able to take unlimited training from Magnet Forensics for a year.
• The opportunity to obtain digital forensics certifications: After completing training, they’ll be eligible to become Magnet Certified, demonstrating expertise and giving credibility with their agency and on the stand.
• Software license for one year: Winners will also receive a one-year Magnet Axiom license, giving them access to a comprehensive digital forensics tool that will help them find and report on evidence from smartphones, computers, and the cloud.

We asked the winners to share more about their experiences in the field, their hopes for the Magnet Forensics Scholarship Award, and more. Read more below.

Tell us about your current role/department.

Nicholas Gray: I am a sworn detective with the Major Crimes Unit of the Petersburg Bureau of Police. We’re a small department in a city of around 33,000 people that, with the exception of last year, is often in the top five localities for homicides per capita in the United States. Being a major crimes detective, I am generally tasked with investigating any major incident, from robbery, to rape, to fraud, to homicide.

Abhinav Biswas: As an ardent technocrat with 12+ years of hands-on work experience in cybersecurity operations & enterprise risk management, I currently spearhead the core cybersecurity program of Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL), a leading self-reliant public-sector enterprise under the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, which caters to strategic sectors like Nuclear, Defence & Aerospace. I am responsible for cybersecurity strategy-planning, policy-implementation, management of risks & threats, compliance-reviews and adoption of emerging-tech to spur the growth of sustainable cyber-resilience of ECIL. 

Sarah Hoy Spalding: I am currently the only cybersecurity staff member for a statewide NFP that specialises in family violence as well as has schools and fostering for traumatised young people. I handle everything from incidents to investigations to BAU.

James Holmes: I currently serve as the detective sergeant of the Wright City Police Department. Wright City is a rapidly growing town on the westernmost edge of the St. Louis suburban area. As the supervisor of the detective bureau, I am responsible for delegating the caseload and assuring that all felony crimes are properly investigated. In addition to supervising the detective bureau I supervise the School Resource Officers.

Delanie Zohler: I am currently employed as a Civilian Digital Forensic Analyst with the District Attorney’s Office of Lehigh County. In this role, I assist with the analysis of digital evidence, including mobile phones, hard drives, laptops, and other forms of digital media, primarily for law enforcement agencies in both Northampton and Lehigh Counties in Pennsylvania. Additionally, I support the District Attorney’s Office by providing testimony related to the processing and analysis of these devices.

I have been in this position for nine months and have contributed to numerous cases across a wide range of criminal investigations. While my primary focus is on the acquisition and forensic analysis of mobile devices, I am continuously expanding my expertise to include other types of digital evidence pertinent to criminal cases.

Elton Haska: I have been working as a digital forensic examiner since April 2019 at the Albanian State Police at the Digital Forensic Unit. My daily routine is primarily focused on examining various electronical devices and during all these years, I have been dealing with a lot of cases, including difficult ones like terrorism, child exploitation, homicides, kidnapping, human trafficking, cybercrimes and many more.

I also often participate at live crime scenes with live digital evidence and processes. I often have the leading role on responding to detecting, acquiring, analyzing and safely seizing those digital evidence sources.

What has been your policing experience up until now?

Nicholas Gray: I was sworn as an officer in June 2022 after graduating from the Crater Criminal Justice Training Academy. From July 2022 until August 2024, I served as a uniformed patrol officer on night shift dealing with a variety of calls for service. In August of 2024, I was moved to the Major Crimes Unit as a detective, where my pre-existing hobbies and interests have been utilized for search warrants for electronic devices and media.

James Holmes: I began my law enforcement career in 2017, in an urban suburb of St. Louis, during which time I was able to initially investigate crimes I responded to. Most times, however, the case was forwarded to a detective and my involvement with further investigation into the case was minimal. After joining the Wright City Police Department in 2023, the lower call volume afforded me the opportunity to investigate crimes more thoroughly as a patrol officer and I had success closing cases on my own. I found that to be very gratifying. When the opportunity arose to become a detective, I found myself wanting to make investigations my primary job responsibility. While I did have some basic investigative experience, the transition to full time investigator opened my eyes to the complexities and importance of locating, collecting and documenting evidence.

Delanie Zohler: As a civilian analyst, I do not have direct policing experience. However, my role involves working closely with law enforcement agencies to support investigators and detectives in gathering critical digital evidence related to their investigations. I collaborate regularly with task force officers assigned to our lab, assisting them with their cases and providing technical expertise to help advance their work. While I do not have personal policing experience, I have developed a strong working relationship with law enforcement professionals, and my contributions play a vital role in supporting their investigative efforts.

Sarah Hoy Spalding: I’m not a police member, but I grew up with a mother who worked for the Sheriffs department and then the District Attorney. My first job was working as an admin for District Attorney where I helped with homicide and DV evidence books. After I returned to Australia, I worked as a paralegal at the Department of Public Prosecutions. (DPP—the equivalent of U.S. District Attorneys’ felony prosecution department.)

Abhinav Biswas: While I do not serve in a traditional law enforcement capacity, but my professional background is deep-rooted in cybersecurity operations of public-sector environments and my work closely intersects with diverse stakeholders of the Indian cyber ecosystem. I have been actively involved in IT infrastructure audits, incident response exercises, and digital forensic investigations for high-security government organizations. My engagements with infosec auditors & forensic teams of strategic institutions & intelligence agencies have provided me hands-on experience in identifying and mitigating advanced state-sponsored cyberthreats to national critical-infrastructure.

Elton Haska: When I first entered at the Albanian State Police as a digital forensic examiner, I had no experience at the law enforcement field. I was just a normal guy having some IT and network experience. The beginning was hard and having to no experience made things more difficult for me, but because of hard work and dedication, I managed to have a good understanding of how various law enforcement organizations work at my country and what it needs to be done in order to have a successful collaboration for one final big purpose: fighting and solving crimes.

Attending various trainings and learning from my more experienced colleagues step by step, I managed to adapt at the digital forensic field, and everyday I am eager to improve my knowledge to become a better and better examiner.

How would you describe your knowledge of digital forensics up until now? 

Nicholas Gray: In terms of law enforcement digital forensics, I would say my knowledge is relatively minimal pre-Magnet. I am aware of how to obtain and execute search warrants for phone dumps, but my jurisdiction completely lacks the ability to do any digital forensics in-house. As it stands, all of our phones go to external agencies and are dumped there.

James Holmes: Had I been asked about my knowledge of digital forensics until now, my answer would have been, “Just enough to get by.” After being introduced to the digital forensic side of law enforcement, I realized there was an investigative tool I had not yet utilized.  

Delanie Zohler: Over the past few months, I have significantly expanded my knowledge of digital forensics. While I have earned a master’s certificate in the field, I would still consider myself early in my journey within digital forensics. I am continuously learning and striving to deepen my understanding, particularly when it comes to the more intricate aspects of the discipline. There is much more I wish to explore, and I am eager to continue advancing my expertise.

Sarah Hoy Spalding: I know enough to get by but I’m slow and ineffective. 

Abhinav Biswas: I have a well-developed foundational knowledge of digital forensics, threat-hunting, and incident response operations, particularly in analyzing critical system logs, identifying suspicious network activities, examining cyberattack patterns, and understanding malware behavior to support forensic investigations. My experience spans across intrusion detections, forensic imaging, evidence preservation, log correlation, and behavioral anomaly detection, ensuring the integrity of digital investigations. I have also contributed towards implementation of ISO security frameworks to handle cyber incidents effectively. While I have worked more on security audits and cyber risk-assessments, I see this program as an opportunity to deepen my hands-on technical expertise with specialized tools, especially in advanced areas such as cloud forensics, mobile device forensics, and automated forensic workflows. 

Elton Haska: During all these years, I have examined a lot of mobile phones, computers, DVRs, but also a lot of other devices. More often than not, I have faced a lot of technical difficulties and challenges, which helped me learn a lot and helped me became a better and more experienced examiner.

Even though I consider myself to be a proficient digital forensic examiner, and I have successfully participated and completed a lot of professional trainings, I am always thirsty for new knowledge and very interested in enhancing my capabilities in the field of digital forensics

What made you want to get into the field?

Nicholas Gray: I’ve been using computers since I was 4 or 5, and generally keep up to date with new developments from a technological and criminal aspect as both are of interest to me. After being in law enforcement for a few years, I came to the conclusion that my personal hobbies and interests could be applied to my work. I determined that I would be better able to serve the public good by effectively using my pre-existing skills in any way possible.

James Holmes: My initial work in digital forensics was completely out of necessity. When I transitioned into the role as an investigator, I was given a caseload which included sex crimes, crimes against children, and exploitation. My initial successes in solving crimes with the use of digital forensics spurred my desire to become proficient in the technology.    

Delanie Zohler: My interest in digital forensics began during an internship at the lab where I currently work, while I was pursuing a psychology degree in college. Throughout the internship, I developed a strong passion for investigating criminal activities and contributing to the exoneration of the innocent. I realized the significant impact digital forensics can have in assisting the community and supporting victims. The field’s rapid growth and its potential to make a real difference captured my attention, prompting me to shift my career focus to digital forensics. Since making that decision, I have never looked back.

Sarah Hoy Spalding: I’ve loved forensics forever and was actually studying it when I was 18, but life happened, and I went other places. After coming back to Australia and getting into cybersecurity, I realised it was coming back to what I wanted to do. Last year, I was asked to assist on a case and KNEW that I needed to be better and this was my future!

Abhinav Biswas: The evolving nature of cyber threats, particularly in critical infrastructure and national security, fueled my passion for cybersecurity and digital forensics. Early in my career, I witnessed how cyber incidents could cripple essential IT services, prompting my deep interest in forensic investigation, threat intelligence, and digital evidence analysis. My commitment to strengthening national cyber resilience and fostering secure digital ecosystems drives me to continuously upskill and contribute to this dynamic field.

Elton Haska: Ever since I was a child, I was very passionate about technology and electronics. I hold a Bachelor diploma for Electronic Engineering and a Master diploma for Information Technology.

The main reason I got into this field is that I wanted my country to be a better place to live and everyday I tried to give my best to contribute to fighting digital crimes and examining digital evidence: as I always have done, and I always will do. As the world becomes more digital, the need for skilled digital forensic experts continues to grow because they have a direct impact on protecting people, organizations, and solving various crimes.

This field is the intersection of technology, law enforcement, and problem solving and even though at first, I didn’t consider getting in this field, I am now more than sure I made the right choice.

How did you hear about the Magnet Forensics Scholarship Program?

Nicholas Gray: My Sergeant informed me about the scholarship and stated his belief that I should apply.

James Holmes: I was referred to the scholarship program by an Assistant United States Attorney. I worked on several child exploitation investigations in which digital forensics was a key component in the successful closure of those cases.    

Delanie Zohler: I first learned about the Magnet Forensics Scholarship Program from a coworker while we were discussing various training opportunities in the DFIR field. Although I had heard of Magnet Forensics and had used some of their tools in my work, I didn’t realize they offered such a valuable opportunity for individuals to expand their knowledge and skills. After doing further research, I recognized that the scholarship would be a great opportunity for my professional development.

Sarah Hoy Spalding: I did a mentoring session with a local digital forensics expert, and she suggested I get myself a copy of Magnet Verakey, even if I needed to pay for it. The rest was me and Google! 

Abhinav Biswas: I became aware of this program through industry forums, professional cybersecurity networks, and recommendations from peers in the digital forensics and law enforcement community. Given my engagement in security conferences, digital investigations, and forensic analysis, I frequently explore opportunities for advanced learning and skill development. Magnet Forensics has a strong reputation in the field and this program stood out as an excellent opportunity to enhance my forensic expertise while contributing to the broader cyber defense community. 

Elton Haska: In our unit, we currently use two powerful tools from Magnet Forensics: Magnet Axiom and Magnet DVR Examiner. Every day, I navigate through Magnet Forensics’ website to be updated with the latest software versions and to get the latest news. I also receive in my inbox a lot of emails from Magnet. When I first saw the Magnet Forensics Scholarship Program announcement I thought it would be a great opportunity to apply not only for me personally but also for my whole unit.

What are you hoping to achieve after completing the Scholarship Program?

Nicholas Gray: Ideally, I would like to achieve every possible certification, become proficient in every piece of software Magnet offers, become an expert witness, and greatly increase the odds of successful prosecution in every case I am a part of.

James Holmes: I hope to bring closure and justice to many more victims by using the knowledge I will acquire from the scholarship program. Additionally, I hope to make digital forensics available to all law enforcement agencies in our county by sharing my knowledge and resources and possibly creating a multijurisdictional cyber crimes team. 

Delanie Zohler: Upon completing the Magnet Forensics Scholarship Program, I hope to gain a comprehensive understanding of how to effectively utilize Magnet Forensics tools. Additionally, I aim to deepen my overall knowledge of digital forensics and its diverse capabilities. The program will provide me with a clearer understanding of data processing and enhance my ability to analyze it at a more advanced level, ultimately preparing me to testify with greater confidence and expertise.

Sarah Hoy Spalding: I want to be faster and more effective. There’s also the ability to work directly with our victim survivors. I’m also to see how it intersects with my research into technology facilitated violence! 

Abhinav Biswas: This program strongly resonates with my professional ethos and commitment to deepen my digital forensic capabilities from seizure/acquisition of electronic artefacts to analysis/presentation of digital evidence in legal proceedings. To reinforce my technical investigation expertise, this program offers an exceptional opportunity for aligning my skills in cyber defense with the critical mission of attaining forensics proficiency that would empower me to conduct thorough and impactful investigations.

Elton Haska: I hope to strengthen not only my personal capabilities but those of our whole unit, as well as our collaboration other law enforcement agencies. There are only a few digital forensics examiners working in Albania, and even though we are a relatively small country, the digital devices and cases are rapidly increasing.

Having more advanced digital forensics knowledge and certificates will help me become a more confident, capable, and trusted digital forensic examiner, and hopefully someday I’ll be able to come back as a certified coach to also help new examiners at this important field.

What are you looking forward to learning in the program?

Nicholas Gray: I’m primarily excited about learning to dump phones and read results. We collect a sizeable amount of cell phones each year, and I’ll be able to assist with getting each of them inspected before speedy trial becomes a concern. I also have a particular interest in Magnet Verify due to my personal prior experiences attempting to determine if a video was edited with AI.

James Holmes: I am excited to learn a systematic and procedure-based approach to acquiring, examining and preserving digital evidence. I look forward to implementing new processes in order to find more evidence and have the knowledge and understanding in order to testify to its authenticity.    

Delanie Zohler: I am particularly excited to expand my knowledge of computer and cloud forensics. While I have a foundational understanding of these areas, I recognize that gaining a deeper insight into them will significantly enhance my skills as an analyst. I believe that mastering these aspects of digital forensics will allow me to provide even more valuable support in my role.

Sarah Hoy Spalding: Everything! 

Abhinav Biswas: This program not only offers world class training in digital forensics but also provides the essential resources needed to translate learning into actionable expertise. With this training, I would strengthen my forensic analysis capabilities to handle sensitive cases with greater confidence and precision and also contribute to the broader mission of ‘Protecting the Innocent’ by securing digital evidence, thereby honoring and furthering the legacy of Sgt. Steve Martin.

Elton Haska: Since I have applied as an experienced digital forensic examiner, I plan to attend some advanced trainings to further broaden my professional knowledges. I have some decent experience using Magnet Axiom and DVR Examiner and this program will further help me to understand the capabilities, limitations, and utilities of this software—knowing when and how to use them the best way possible and analyze various artifacts in details.

Sometimes, is not easy for me as an examiner to give a specific conclusion based on the artifacts found on various electronic devices. Having advanced knowledge about two of the most powerful software solutions in this field will surely make some things easier for me.

How has the support been from your leadership?

Nicholas Gray: My chain of command has been extremely supportive and helpful and has actively encouraged me to apply for this scholarship and to apply for every training possible.

James Holmes: My administrative staff have been extremely supportive of my participation in the Magnet Forensics Scholarship, providing me with the time necessary for travel and training. My chief and lieutenant are both former detectives in this county and they know firsthand how valuable this technology is in the modern era of investigation. They are thankful our agency will benefit from this new technology.    

Delanie Zohler: The support from my supervisor and coworkers has been invaluable in my journey to deepen my knowledge of the DFIR field. They recognize the importance of helping me grow as an examiner, as it will ultimately lead to more thorough investigations and a deeper understanding of the cases we handle. Additionally, this support has enabled me to share new insights and techniques with the team, particularly in areas such as extractions and examinations.

Sarah Hoy Spalding: Really really good! They are all really excited to support me and see how this can make a long-term impact. 

Abhinav Biswas: The leadership at my organization has been highly supportive of my pursuit of advanced technical capabilities. They recognize the strategic importance of digital forensics in safeguarding critical infrastructure and have encouraged my participation in global cybersecurity and forensic training programs. This program aligns with our vision of enhancing forensic readiness and contributing to national security initiatives.

Elton Haska: At the very first moment I informed my manager for the scholarship opportunity, he was encouraging and supportive and I would like to thank him a lot. Even though our unit has some backlog cases waiting to be solved, he also understood the need for me to participate in more and more advanced training and willingly wrote a reference letter for me, emphasizing all my professional and personal qualities.

He also supported my application one step further by having an online conversation with Magnet Staff, approving to let me have the necessary time and resources to attend the training if I won the scholarship.

Any other thoughts you would like to share?

Nicholas Gray: I’m eagerly anticipating gaining the certifications, tools, and knowledge to ensure that every possible piece of digital evidence can be recovered as evidence for trial. Speedy trial conflicting with waiting for other agencies to dump a phone will be a thing of the past, which brings me great joy. I’ll be able to do more for our law-abiding citizens due to increased efficiency. At the end of the day, that is what matters to me.

James Holmes: I greatly appreciate this opportunity, and I look forward to being a part of the Magnet Forensics community and leveraging technology in the furtherance of justice for victims.

Delanie Zohler: I am genuinely excited about the opportunity to learn more through the Magnet Forensics program and to connect with new peers who I hope to collaborate with in the future. I believe that collaboration is one of the greatest strengths of the DFIR community, and I am eager to expand my network. By doing so, I hope to enhance both my personal growth and my forensic skills, ultimately improving my work and the support I can provide to my team.

Abhinav Biswas: I am honored to be part of this program, and I look forward to applying the knowledge gained into real world digital investigations. The program represents a significant step towards building a resilient cyber-defense ecosystem by fostering collaboration between cybersecurity professionals, forensic analysts, and law enforcement agencies. I am excited to contribute to this mission and make a meaningful impact in the field of digital forensics and cybercrime investigations.

Elton Haska: I am very thankful and grateful to Magnet Forensics Staff which supported my application and saw me as a good candidate for this year’s Magnet Forensic Scholarship. For me, it is a great achievement to have admission to the program. I look at it as a reward for all the years of hard work, dedication, and contributions to the digital forensic field. Having said that, I will try to get the best from it, and it will surely be helpful for future personal growth and knowledge enhancement.