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Agenda
Presentations on the newest forensic DNA technologies and practices by industry leaders.
- September 22nd
- September 23rd
- September 24th
- September 25th
- September 26th
8:30 am - 11:30 am
AABB Workshop
This workshop will address AABB accreditation topics, including quality systems, standards, proficiency testing, and calculations.
JW Marriott Hill Country, Room Grand NO
8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Bringing FGG into the Publicly Accredited Laboratory – Considerations from Validation to Implementation
Michael CobleChair
Executive Director, Center for Human Identification, UNTHSC
This workshop will provide the audience with the Center for Human Identification's roadmap and perspective on the challenges of implementing FGG into a public laboratory.
JW Marriott Hill Country, Room Grand AB
8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Beyond the “Who Done It…”–DNA Interpretation Given Activity Level Propositions
Tim KalafutChair
Associate Professor of Forensic Science, Sam Houston State University
This workshop will demonstrate methods to interpret DNA evidence when questions about the evidence relate to what may have happened. These methods allow the expert to share knowledge using a scientifically sound framework and published practices.
JW Marriott Hill Country, Room Grand CD
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Identificación Genética de Restos Oseos de Víctimas
Juan Carlos Alvarez MerinoChair
Universidad de Granada
Para ello se dará a conocer el uso de un sistema LIMS de gestión de toda la información relativa a las muestras (datos, análisis asociados, perfiles obtenidos...) la valoración y cotejo de los perfiles genéticos generados tanto en electroforesis capilar como a través de NGS y el uso de software de valoración estadística (Familias, M-FISys).
JW Marriott Hill Country, Goldenrod Room
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
DNA Trainers’ Meeting
Kelly ElkinsCo-Chair
Professor of Chemistry, Towson University
Eugene LienCo-Chair
Assistant Director, NYC-OCME Department of Forensic Biology
In this interactive workshop, DNA trainers and researchers will share best practices for training new hires in serology and DNA typing.
JW Marriott Hill Country, Room Grand NO
8:30 am - 12:30 pm
2025 FBI QAS – What You Need to Know About All the Upcoming QAS Changes and Forensic Rapid DNA
Douglas HaresChair
Rapid DNA Implementation Program Advisor for the FBI’s Biometric Analysis Section
The primary goal of this workshop is to conduct a deep dive into all the changes to the FBI’s Quality Assurance Standards coming in 2025. Changes include portions of Standards 5 Personnel, 8 Validation, and 15 Audits, as well as edits to allow for the future use of expert systems in the forensic standards, and the new Rapid DNA Standards 18 and 19.
JW Marriott Hill Country, Room NO
8:30 am - 5:00 pm
A Summary of the Recommendations made by the NIST/NIJ Expert Working Group on Human Factors in Forensic DNA Interpretation
Niki OsborneChair
Forensic Research Scientist | Project Management Support, National Institute of Standards and Technology (Contractor)
In this workshop, members of this Expert Working Group will present, from a human factors perspective, their research and recommendations.
JW Marriott Hill Country, Room Grand EF
8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Designing and Building the Forensic Scientist Pipeline: From Academic Instruction and Outreach to Hiring, Onboarding, Training, and Mentorship
Ray WickenheiserChair
Director for the New York State Police Crime Lab System
Our experienced faculty will create and deliver an interactive workshop, combining their content, examples and exercises with discussions and networking, to share ways to design and build an effective forensic scientist pipeline. This workshop will also include a sharing and brainstorming session to bring real and specific shared challenges from workshop participants to the peer group for illustration, advice and solution generation.
JW Marriott Hill Country, Room Grand EF
8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Supporting Your Laboratory During Probabilistic Genotyping Implementation: from Validation to Admissibility
Michael CobleChair
Executive Director, Center for Human Identification, UNTHSC
This workshop will cover the key recommendations for internal validation. We will discuss experimental design to meet the recommendations, summarize published material addressing these key issues, and discuss common challenges to the use of PG methods.
JW Marriott Hill Country, Room Grand ABCD
8:30 am - 5:00 pm
From Lab to Verdict: Navigating the Intersection of Forensic Science, Media, and Legal Decision-Making
Craig O’ConnorChair
Deputy Director, Forensic Biology Department, New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner
A panel of experts in the criminal justice arena will examine jury perception of expert testimony regarding DNA, how it’s presented, and what effect it may have on deliberation and the final verdict.
JW Marriott Hill Country, Room Grand PR
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Grupo Cientifico Latino-Americano de Trabajo Sobre Identificacion Humana
This workshop will be presented entirely in Spanish. Agenda to follow.
JW Marriott Hill Country, Goldenrod Room
1:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Accreditation for Rapid DNA and Tips and Tricks for Implementation
Douglas HaresChair
Rapid DNA Implementation Program Advisor for the FBI’s Biometric Analysis Section
This workshop will focus on tips and tricks to implementing a Forensic Rapid DNA Program and include presentations on expanding the lab’s scope of accreditation for Rapid DNA by the accrediting bodies.
JW Marriott Hill Country, Room NO
8:45 am - 10:50 am
From Evidence to Narrative: The Convergence of True Crime Media and DNA Forensics
Anna Barbaro
President, Worldwide Association of Women Forensic Experts
Ashley Flowers
Founder of AudioChuck | Podcaster | Best-Selling Author | Advocate
This year’s keynote spotlights the dynamic intersection of true crime and DNA forensics: from unraveling mysteries and personal narratives to inspiring change and advancing justice. Our panel of speakers will share their insights and experiences, underscoring the pivotal role of DNA in connecting the past with the present and shaping the future.
Location TBA
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Expert Witness Testimony and FIGG
In this workshop, we will provide a basic overview of testifying in FIGG cases for analysts and genealogists. This will include both the basics of expert witness testimony as well as legal considerations for both FIGG and NGS.
JW Marriott Hill Country, Room Grand AB
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Practical FIGG Casework Bioinformatics for the Forensic Practitioner
Cydne HoltChair
Expert Consultant
This workshop enables better understanding of whole genome FIGG SNP data processing. Educational content bridges operational criminalistics laboratories and “behind the scenes” bioinformatics.
JW Marriott Hill Country, Room Grand AB
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Engaging Collaboration: How to Further Cold Cases with Advanced DNA Approaches
Jason MoranChair
President – JEMM Consulting, LLC
This workshop will provide a template for all stakeholders to further cold case investigations through collaboration across agencies and departments using advanced DNA methods.
JW Marriott Hill Country, Room Grand AB
Dedicated Networking Opportunities
"I enjoy the time we have to talk to different vendors because I always get ideas for trying new procedures or instrumentation that I can bring back to my lab. Same with the posters; I get to interact with a variety of people from different laboratories and always learn something new that I can later apply to my own laboratory."Lynndsey Simon // Columbus Police Forensic Services Center