Speakers

Jonathan Adelman

Jonathan Adelman is a Research Assistant Professor at Syracuse University. He received his BS in Environmental Science from Ramapo College, his MS in Botany from the University of Wyoming, and MS in Computer Science from Syracuse University. Jonathan’s research has ranged from combinatorial geolocation using plant DNA, to the use of cognitive radio in jamming and counter-jamming, to classification of forensic […]

Michael Baird Ph.D

Michael L. Baird Ph.D. received his doctorate in genetics from the University of Chicago. He was a postdoctoral fellow for one year at the University of Michigan in the department of human genetics where he studied sickle cell anemia. He next joined Columbia University as a Research Associate in the department a human genetics and medicine […]

Jack Ballantyne

Dr. Jack Ballantyne is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at the University of Central Florida (UCF) and the Associate Director for Research at the National Center for Forensic Science in Orlando, Florida. He possesses a B.Sc. (with Honours) in Biochemistry from the University of Glasgow, Scotland, a M.Sc. in Forensic Science from the University of Strathclyde, […]

Paul Berry

Paul Berry is a Forensic DNA analyst IV for the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab and has been there since January 2006. He received his BS in Molecular Biology and minor in Chemistry from Louisiana Tech University, and his MS in Forensic DNA and Serology from the University of Florida. In his spare time, Paul enjoys Brazilian Jiu Jitsu […]

Charles Brenner

Charles Brenner is the author of the widely used DNA⋅VIEW software for DNA identification, and has published on various mathematical aspects of forensic DNA including the seminal 2006 Science article on familial searching Finding Criminals Through DNA of Their Relatives. Dr. Brenner graduated from Stanford and UCLA with degrees in mathematics. He is a Visiting […]

Jo-Anne Bright

Jo-Anne Bright is a Senior Science Leader within the Forensic Biology group at the Institute of Environmental Science and Research Limited (ESR) New Zealand, where she has worked since 1999. She completed her Bachelor of Science degree at Victoria University of Wellington in 1998 and Master of Science degree in Forensic Science at the University of Auckland […]

Bruce Budowle

Dr. Bruce Budowle received a Ph.D. in Genetics in 1979 from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. From 1979-1982, Dr. Budowle was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Working under a National Cancer Institute fellowship, he carried out research predominately on genetic risk factors for such diseases as insulin dependent diabetes […]

Thomas Callaghan

Thomas F Callaghan serves as the Senior Biometric Scientist for the FBI Laboratory’s Biometric Analysis Section. Dr. Callaghan received his Doctorate in Molecular Biology from Case Western Reserve University, where he worked on the molecular biology of Viruses and Oncogenes. Prior to joining the FBI, Dr. Callaghan was a Forensic Scientist with the Pennsylvania State […]

Michael Capuzzo

Michael Capuzzo is the author of the critically acclaimed New York Times bestseller, The Murder Room, the story of forensic psychologist and consulting detective Richard Walter, “the living Sherlock Holmes,” and the Vidocq Society of Philadelphia. The Murder Room was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction, was shortlisted for the 2011 Gold Dagger […]

Michael Chamberlain

Mike Chamberlain is a Deputy Attorney General in the Criminal Division of the California Department of Justice. He has been a state prosecutor since 2002. Before joining the AG’s Office, he served as a Deputy District Attorney in San Diego and Contra Costa counties. Mike splits his time between litigation of felony appeals and serving […]

Abirami Chidambaram

Abirami Chidambaram received her Bachelor of Science degree in Botany (with ancillary Chemistry and Zoology). Additionally she has a Bachelor of Education degree with focus on Biology, Education of Exceptional Children and teaching English as a second language. She received her Ph.D. in Human Genetics from the Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, […]

Melissa Chila

Melissa Chila is a Forensic Biologist at the Defense Forensic Science Center. She received her B.S. in Forensic Chemistry from West Chester University and her M.S. in Biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University. Melissa started her career at the Armed Forces DNA Identification Lab as a Forensic Scientist where she identified the remains of those still missing from conflicts […]

Jennifer Churchill

Jennifer Churchill received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from Texas A&M University. Her undergraduate research at Texas A&M involved the application of molecular genetic technologies to the study of population and conservation genetics of the North American bison. Jennifer earned her Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences specializing in Human and Molecular Genetics at the […]

Michael Coble

Dr. Michael Coble is a Forensic Biologist in the Applied Genetics Group at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Dr. Coble received his Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Appalachian State University, his Master’s Degree in Forensic Science and his Ph.D. in Genetics from the George Washington University. Prior to working at NIST, Dr. Coble was […]

Robin Cotton

Dr. Robin Cotton is the Director of the Biomedical Forensic Sciences Program and teaches courses in Forensic DNA Analysis. She is an expert in the fields of DNA identification and analysis of biological evidence, whereby she has testified in over 200 cases – including numerous high profile cases – around the country. In October of […]

Phillip Danielson

Professor Danielson, has over 24 years of experience in molecular analysis of biological samples. He is currently an Adjunct Professor in the Sturm College of Law (Denver, CO) and Fellow of the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education (Willowgrove, PA). His experience includes both the review of forensic casework and research in forensic genetics […]

Marsha Deitz

Marsha Deitz has worked for AABB as the staff Lead Assessor for Relationship Testing since January 2010. Marsha is a Certified Quality Auditor with ASQ, a certified lead auditor for ISO/IEC 17025, a forensic scientist and licensed Medical Technologist. She completed her undergrad at California State University in Fullerton, CA and earned an MBA from […]

Toni Diegoli

Toni Diegoli is a Research Scientist within the Office of the Chief Scientist at the Defense Forensic Science Center. She completed her undergraduate degree at Harvard University, a M.F.S. at George Washington University and her PhD at Flinders University. Toni has been a part of the Office of the Chief Scientist at DFSC for over […]

Mandy Fashano

Mandy Fashano has been a Forensic Scientist II, Alternate CODIS Administrator in the DNA Section at the Columbus Division of Police Crime Lab since 2013. She received her Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science from Youngstown State University and Master of Science in Biology from University of Nebraska at Kearney. Mandy started her career in 2009 at the Armed […]

Andrea Fischer

Andrea Fischer is a DNA Analyst, working at INTERPOL’s General Secretariat in Lyon, France on establishing an International Missing Persons DNA Database. She received her Ph.D. from Technische Universität Braunschweig in Germany (research for Ph.D. thesis conducted at Yale University, New Haven, CT) and the German equivalent of Master of Science in Human Biology from Philipps-Universität Marburg, Germany. She recently […]

Colleen Fitzpatrick

Colleen Fitzpatrick, PhD, founder of Identifinders International, is a forensic genealogist who has been recognized for her work with the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory on identifying the remains found in the Alaskan crash of Northwest Flight 4422. She has consulted on many high profile DNA identification efforts including the identification of the Unknown Child […]

Chantal Frégeau

Chantal Frégeau joined the RCMP Operational Support Unit of the Molecular Genetics Section in Ottawa in 1991. Her mandate is to develop and implement new strategies for human identification to facilitate casework processing in the laboratory or at crime scenes for Biology Operations and support the mandate of the National DNA Data Bank and the CBRNE […]

Adam Garver

Adam Garver has been working in the field of forensic science for over 11 years and is currently a Forensic Scientist in the CODIS section at Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s London laboratory. While obtaining his Master’s degree, he worked at the Smithsonian’s Center for Conservation and Evolutionary Genetics at the National Zoological Park sequencing non-coding […]

Richard Guerrieri

Richard Guerrieri received a M.S. in Forensic Chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh in 1980, and presently serves as the Research Leader with Battelle Memorial Institute’s Applied Genomics Program, directing forensic and biometric initiatives for the development and implementation of the next-generation sequencing technology in support of the forensic DNA community. Mr. Guerrieri’s career as a […]

Oskar Hansson

Oskar Hansson earned a Master of Science in Biology degree from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and is currently completing a Ph.D. at the University of Oslo. He is employed at Oslo University Hospital in the Section for Forensic Biology where he is a leader in the Unit for reporting officers and research. Oskar has a […]

Douglas Hares

Dr. Douglas Hares is the National DNA Index System Program Manager in the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s CODIS Unit. He joined the DNA Analysis Unit II of the FBI Laboratory in 2000 as a Forensic Examiner. In 2006, Dr. Hares transferred to the CODIS Unit where he accepted his current position as NDIS Custodian. Dr. […]

George Herrin

Dr. Herrin is the Deputy Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation-Division of Forensic Sciences, a position he has held since 2007. He received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry in 1985 from Rice University and conducted postdoctoral research at Texas A&M University. As Deputy Director, Dr. Herrin is responsible for the strategic direction and operations of […]

Chuck Heurich

Chuck received his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania and his Masters of Forensic Science from the George Washington University. He began his career in forensics by spending 3 years as a crime scene technician in Baltimore City where he processed over 2000 crime scenes. He then spent almost 12 […]

Sylvain Hubac

Sylvain Hubac, Ph.D. received his doctorate in molecular biology and genetics from the University of Paris Seine. He joined the Forensic Science Laboratory of the French Gendarmerie in 2004 as military officer. Sylvain is the head of the High Throughput DNA unit for reference and DVI samples in which more than 120 000 analyzes are carried […]

Amy Jeanguenat

Amy Jeanguenat has spent her career working in the private forensic industry supporting efforts world-wide to prevent and eliminate DNA backlogs, refine operational logistics, and provide quality and technical system support. As a former laboratory director and technical leader, she managed a staff of 100+ forensic DNA scientists completing over 14,000 cases and 80,000 database […]

David Kaye

David H. Kaye is Distinguished Professor of Law and a member of the graduate faculty in Forensic Science at the Pennsylvania State University as well as Regents’ Professor Emeritus of Law and Life Sciences, Arizona State University. He holds degrees in law (Yale University), astronomy (Harvard University), and physics (MIT). Professor Kaye’s publications include over […]

Scott Kennedy

Scott Kennedy is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology at the University of Washington. He received his BS in Chemistry and PhD in Chemistry from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Scott’s research interests are focused on using high accuracy sequencing methods to detect low frequency mutations arising during aging and cancer with a major emphasis […]

Pam King

Pam King was appointed to the bench in the 3rd Judicial District of Minnesota, in October 2015 and was elected in October 2016. Prior to being appointed to the bench, Ms. King worked full-time as an attorney for the Minnesota Public Defender. In this role, Ms. King handled cases involving complex litigation and/or forensic science. She consulted with […]

Igor Lednev

Igor Lednev’s research is focused on the development and application of novel laser spectroscopy for biomedical and forensic purposes. Lednev served as an advisory member on the White House Subcommittee for Forensic Science. He is a Fellow and a Governing Board member of the Society for Applied Spectroscopy. He is an editorial board member of four […]

Kevin Legg

Dr. Kevin Legg earned a BS degree in Bioinformatics and a PhD in Molecular Biology from the University of Denver. Dr. Legg’s dissertation research focused on applying comparative proteomics techniques to forensic serology. While in school, Dr. Legg was awarded several grants and awards including the Graduate Research Fellowship from the National Institute of Justice. […]

Michael Marciano

Michael Marciano is a Research Assistant Professor and lead of the Bioforensics laboratory in the Forensic and National Security Sciences Institute at Syracuse University. His research centers on the analysis and interpretation of low quality/quantity human and non-human DNA samples. He was previously employed as a forensic DNA analyst at Wallie Howard Jr. Onondaga County Center […]

Alyse Margetts

Alyse Margetts has been a Forensic Scientist at the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office since January of 2014. She received her B.S. in Biology, B.A. in Anthropology, M.S. in Forensic Science, and completed a Certificate Program in Forensic Serology and DNA all from the University of Florida. Alyse is a Fellow in Molecular Biology through the American Board […]

Amy McGuckian

Amy McGuckian received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Siena College in Loudonville, New York and her Master of Science in Forensic Science from the George Washington University in Washington, DC. She is currently employed by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office where she has served as the Technical Leader of the Forensic Biology […]

Jennifer Mihalovich

Jennifer Mihalovich is the DNA Technical Leader of the Oakland Police Department Crime Lab where she has worked since 1999. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Microbiology at the University of Montana and her Masters of Public Health in Forensic Science at the University of California, Berkeley.

CeCe Moore

CeCe Moore is an independent professional genetic genealogist and media consultant who is considered an innovator in the use of DNA for genealogy and unknown parentage research. She has been the genetic genealogy consultant and scriptwriter for the PBS Television documentary series Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. since 2013. She is the founder of The […]

Tamyra Moretti

Dr. Tamyra R. Moretti is currently the Supervisory Examiner for the DNA Support Unit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory. She earned her Ph.D. in Genetics from the George Washington University. From 1989 to 1996 she conducted research at the National Institutes of Health to identify genetic variants for linkage studies of disease susceptibility loci. […]

Erin Murphy

Erin Murphy’s research focuses on technology and forensic evidence in the criminal justice system. She is a nationally recognized expert in forensic DNA typing, and her work has been cited multiple times by the Supreme Court. Her new book, Inside the Cell: The Dark Side of Forensic DNA, was released in October 2015 (Nation Books). […]

Philip Nase

Philip Nase earned a BS, Biology and MS in Forensic Science and Law from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA. He is employed as a Forensic Biologist at the Defense Forensic Science Center. Philip has been at DFSC/USACIL for 8 years, having served as a casework examiner for the majority of that time. He also spent 8 […]

Rachel Oefelein

Rachel Oefelein is currently the Quality Assurance Manager/Senior DNA Analyst at DNA Labs International (DLI). She received her MSc in Forensic Science from the University of Strathclyde, and her BS in Criminal Justice, with a Forensic Science Minor, from Loyola University of New Orleans. Rachel worked at the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) for […]

Karen Olson

Karen Olson attended the University of Wisconsin in La Crosse where she earned a BS in Chemistry. She completed a Ph.D in Biology at the University of California in San Diego. Ms. Olson is currently a Research Scientist: Envistacom contractor at the Defense Forensic Science Center. In this role she manages internal and external research […]

Brandy Plean

Brandy Plean is a Forensic Scientist in the Forensic Biology Unit at the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, where she performs Serology and DNA analysis on biological evidence, testifies in court, and participates in research and validation of new technologies implemented on casework. Brandy received her Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science with minors in Chemistry and […]

Anjali Ranadive

Anjali Ranadive is the President of SciLawForensics, Ltd, a forensic science and legal consulting firm in Brookings, SD. Ms. Ranadive is an Advisory Commissioner on the American Academy of Forensic Science’s Forensic (AAFS) Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC) and has served on the AAFS program committee in various capacities for the last eleven years. […]

Cristina Rentas

Cristina Rentas is a Senior DNA Analyst at DNA Labs International (DLI). She received her Master of Forensic Science in Forensic Molecular Biology from the George Washington University, as well as a Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering and Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering from the Catholic University of America. Previously, she worked at the Armed […]

Michael Saunders

Captain Michael Saunders joined the Washington State Patrol in 1986, and currently serves as the Division Commander of the Office of Professional Standards. He has over 34 years of combined law enforcement experience, with 4 years military service and 30 years with the Washington State Patrol (WSP). As a State Trooper, Captain Saunders has worked […]

Sarah Schmedes

Sarah Schmedes is a PhD Candidate in Molecular Genetics, University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC) studying under the direction of Bruce Budowle, PhD. She conducted her master’s internship at the McMaster Ancient DNA Centre at McMaster University in Hamilton, ON under the director of Dr. Hendrik Poinar. This work contributed to a project focused on […]

Sarah Seashols-Williams

Sarah Seashols-Williams earned a BS in Biology from The College of William & Mary, a MS in Criminal Justice from Virginia Commonwealth University and a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Virginia Commonwealth University where she is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Forensic Science. Prior to her current position, she worked for 4 […]

Donald Siegel

Dr. Siegel received his Ph.D. in biochemistry from the Department of Neuroscience at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and did his postdoctoral work in molecular genetics at the Rockefeller University. He was on the faculty of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and New York Medical College. In 2007 he moved to the Molecular […]

Jenifer Smith

On July 17, 2015 Mayor Muriel Bowser named Dr. Jenifer Smith to lead Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS). Smith is a nationally recognized leader in forensic science, with experience working at the highest levels of the federal government. Dr. Smith’s background combines strong scientific knowledge of forensics, a background in law enforcement, and experience as […]

Melissa Smrz

Melissa Smrz has been employed in the forensic science profession since 1983, first as a forensic scientist with the then Virginia Bureau of Forensic Science in Roanoke, Va, then as a Supervisory Special Agent and Forensic Examiner with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory, Quantico, VA. She held a variety of mid-level and senior executive management […]

Beccy Stafford-Allen

Beccy Stafford-Allen earned a MSc in Forensic Science from King’s College London and a BSc in Human Sciences from University College London. She is currently an Applications Scientist for the Para DNA Product Development Group at LGC. Beccy has been part of the ParaDNA group at LGC for almost 7 years, in which time she’s worked […]

Joel Sutton

Joel Daniel Sutton is the DNA Casework Technical Leader for the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory Defense Forensic Science Center. He received a B.S. in Biology and M.S. in Forensic Sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. A native Texan, Joel Sutton has over twenty years experience working in federal, state, and private DNA laboratories conducting forensic […]

Maiko Takahashi

Maiko Takahashi was born and raised in Japan and worked for 10 years at the Criminal Investigation Laboratory of Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department as a Forensic Scientist where she completed over 5,000 cases for crime investigation including cold cases, missing persons and mass disaster identification. After TMPD, she joined Dr. Budowle’s lab at UNTHSC as […]

Ulises Toscanini

Ulises Toscanini is the head of the laboratory PRICAI-FUNDACIÓN FAVALORO in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He has been the President of the Spanish and Portuguese Speaking Working Group of the ISFG (GHEP-ISFG) since 2016 and will continue to be through 2018. He was a member of the Advisory Commission of the Forensic Laboratories Network, Ministry of Science, Technology […]

Charlotte Word

Charlotte Word is currently a consultant in Human DNA Identification testing. She joined Cellmark Diagnostics in Germantown, MD (later called Orchid Cellmark) in 1990 and over the 15 years she worked there had several titles, including Deputy Director and Senior Manager, Forensics and Laboratory Director. She has performed technical reviews on many 1000’s of cases […]

Mike Yakoo

Mike Yakoo will be graduating this September from Boston University where he conducted research under the direction of Dr. Robin Cotton. He spent last summer working as an intern with the Forensic Biology/DNA section of the San Diego Police Department’s crime lab. Other than science, Mike enjoys watching history documentaries, running, and learning new languages (he […]

Linton von Beroldingen

Linton von Beroldingen has served in public crime laboratories since 1975, with almost all of his time divided between the Oregon State Police and California Department of Justice between 1976 and the present. He is the CA State CODIS Administrator, a founding member of the California DOJ Familial Search Committee, and its chairperson since November of […]