Workshop
Practical Application of FIGG in a Case of Unknown Identity: A Guided Interactive Approach Workshop
Monday September 18th, 2023 // 8:30 am - 5:00 pm // Hyatt Regency at the Colorado Convention Center, Mineral Hall ABC
Fee includes breakfast, lunch, breaks, and materials. Workshop currently at capacity. A waitlist is available to join on our registration page.
Description:
The purpose and goal of this workshop is to provide a basic understanding of the steps involved in using FIGG to identify an unknown individual.
Speakers have prepared a case that will allow attendees to watch or participate depending upon their level of FIGG experience. Each module will include a presentation followed by a period of directed collaborative research. Solutions will be given at the end of each module enabling attendees to assess their skill level.
Handouts will include module content, flowchart and reference guide.
Attendees will learn the steps to work a case from start to finish which include:
- Case assessment for FIGG (Claire)
- Strategies to identify DNA relatives from a match list (Wendy)
- Locating patterns that lead to the identification of common ancestors (Wendy/Alison)
- Determining likely relationship placement of DNA relatives to the unknown DNA profile. (Wendy/Alison)
- Assessing an investigative lead through genetic genealogy probability tools. (Alison)
- DNA reference and forensic confirmation testing (Claire)
This workshop is for the beginner and intermediate level attendee and offers the opportunity to participate at any skill level.
Intermediate-level attendees will be searching for information and records (no tree building) using their existing genetic genealogy accounts like Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, GEDmatch.com, etc.
Beginners will be part of collaborative groups where they can observe or participate at their skill/comfort level.
Speakers

Wendy McLeanChair
Practitioner-In-Residence FGG Program, University of New Haven | Contract Genealogist, Bode Technology
Wendy McLean is the owner of 23 Pairs Genealogy, LLC and a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists. She began using genetic genealogy to assist adoptees identify their biological parents in 2017 and later applied the same skills to provide investigative leads in UHR and forensic cases as a genealogist with the DNA Doe Project and Cold Case Coalition. She is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and serves on the Forensic Genealogy SIG board.
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Dr. Claire Glynn
Associate Professor, University of New Haven
Dr. Glynn, who joined the University of New Haven in 2014, teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses in forensic science, focused on forensic biology, forensic DNA analysis, and forensic/investigative genetic genealogy (F/IGG). Her research interests are focused F/IGG, and a broad range of applications for this novel investigatory tool. This includes investigating the effects of degraded samples and novel technologies, establishing best practices, the international feasibility of this tool, historical applications, and ethical considerations, to name just a few. Her other research interests include Rapid DNA analysis, RNA (mRNA and miRNA) analysis, Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNPs) applications, and DNA Methylation markers.
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Alison Wilde
Cold Case Coalition/IMF (Tulsa 1921 Graves Investigation)
Alison took her first genealogy class in 1988 and has been a genealogy lecturer and mentor for the last ten years. She transitioned to full time, professional genetic genealogy work in 2016 and is the owner of Tri DNA Genealogy, LLC. Alison has been with the Cold Case Coalition since January of 2020. Previously Alison was a project and department manager for a large financial services company.
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