NORTHEASTERN ASSOCIATION OF FORENSIC SCIENTISTS

NEAFS 2021 Annual Meeting Workshops

ABC Examination Preparation Course

Tuesday,

November 2nd

8:30 - 4:30

Instructor: Tiffany Roy

This workshop involves lectures and discussion in preparation for the American Board of Criminalistics (ABC) certification examinations.  The workshop is directed at forensic practitioners to assist them in focusing their study for certification examinations.

The workshop will focus on ABC exam preparation strategies including timeline, study guides, resources, and discussion of the general exam categories across all specialties (legal, quality, common KSA's).  The workshop will consist of ABC specific exam preparation using the ABC study guides. The course will include a “mock examination” for the participants to test their current knowledge and identify weak areas for further study. The workshop can also be tailored to include breakout material/lectures for specific examinations depending on enrollment.

Tiffany Roy MSFS, JD is a Forensic DNA expert with over fifteen years of forensic biology experience in both public and private laboratories in the United States. She has processed thousands of DNA samples and thousands of cases over the course of her career. She has provided expert witness testimony in more than one hundred cases in state, federal and international courts. She instructs undergraduates at University of Maryland Global Campus and Southern New Hampshire University. She currently acts as a consultant for attorneys and the media in the area of forensic biology through her firm, ForensicAid, LLC.

Roy holds degrees from Syracuse University, Massachusetts School of Law and University of Florida in the areas of Biology, Law and Forensic Science. She is a member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, the Northeastern Association of Forensic Scientists and the Massachusetts Board of Bar Examiners. She is certified in the area of Molecular Biology by the American Board of Criminalistics. 

Constructing a Face: Forensic Facial Approximation Workshop

Tuesday,

November 2nd

8:30 - 4:30

Instructor: Jenny Kenyon

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Join Forensic Artist Jenny Kenyon for a day-long workshop in Forensic Facial Approximation.  Using a 3D print of a skull, workshop participants will perform an anthropological assessment of gender, age, ancestry, and build.  Using scientific soft tissue datasets and the Manchester/British Method of facial reconstruction, participants will work with pegs and clay to create muscles, skin and soft tissue to reconstruct/approximate the face of the individual over the course of the day. 

The Manchester/British method was developed by Richard Neave in 1977 and is the most accepted method for facial reconstruction/approximation today.  This method has been used in many famous reconstructions including Phillip II of Macedon, Johann Sebastian Bach, Saint Nicholas, Robert the Bruce, and King Richard III. 

Supplies and tools will be provided, and no prior facial reconstruction experience is needed.

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Jenny Kenyon is both a Forensic Artist and  Costume & Scenic Designer for Theatre.  She received her BFA in Studio Art from SAIC, an MFA in Theatre Design from Brandeis University, and a MSc in Forensic Art from University of Dundee, Scotland.  Her specialties include virtual and clay 3D Facial Reconstructions from skeletal remains and CAD based 3D reconstructions of Heritage and burial sites.  Her other skills include Age Progression & Regression, Witness Interviewing Techniques, Composite Sketching, Forensic Photography, and Cranio-Facial Superimposition.  Her archaeological facial reconstructions have been featured in exhibits in Europe, the UK and the US.  She also works creating illustrations for scientific research, with police departments providing faces for unidentified human remains, and teaching forensic art & photography at Penn State University. 

Advanced Topics in DNA Analysis

Tuesday,

November 2nd

8:30 - 4:00

Proposed schedule 

830am-8:45am

Opening remarks

8:45am-9:45am 

Robin Cotton, Director, Biomedical Forensic Sciences, Boston University School of Medicine

DNA extraction recovery from vaginal swabs

The results of DNA testing on forensic samples are affected by optimization of each step in the testing process.  The initial choice of cell lysis and DNA extraction procedures impact all downstream processes.  There are many available chemistries to choose from.  Differences include time, cost and difficulty.  Some of these chemistries are compatible with robotic platforms.  DNA extraction chemistries vary in the extent of DNA purification and the extent of inhibitor removal.  Additionally, some processes work well on specific type of evidence or substrates but not on others. Therefore, most laboratories employ more than one DNA extraction process. This talk will discuss considerations in planning validation procedures and approaches for measuring DNA recovery from new and existing DNA extraction methods.

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Dr. Cotton’s experience in the forensic application of DNA analysis began at Cellmark Diagnostics in Germantown, MD in 1988.  She subsequently served as Laboratory Director and Technical leader of the Cellmark Laboratory from 1994 to 2005.  As Director and Technical Leader, Dr. Cotton was responsible for overseeing development and implementation of new technology as well participating in technical review of forensic casework results and providing testimony in admissibility hearings and trials. In the past 20 years she has testified as an expert in DNA analysis in over 250 criminal cases in 35 states.

Dr. Cotton has B.S. and M.S. degrees in Biology from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas and received her Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry from the University of California at Irvine in 1980.  Prior to joining Cellmark in 1988, she did post-doctoral research at the University of Iowa and at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.  

In October of 2006, Dr. Cotton joined the faculty at the Boston University School of Medicine where she is the Director of the M.S. Program in Biomedical Forensic Sciences, a FEPAC accredited program.  She teaches courses in Forensic DNA Analysis and Advanced DNA Analysis and conducts research in methods for improving or developing new DNA extraction methods and other procedures for use with low template DNA samples.  Dr. Cotton currently serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Forensic Sciences and the Forensic Oversight Board for the State of Massachusetts.

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9:45am-10:15am

Laura Ascroft, Field Application Scientist

Jaime Brachold. Sr. Forensic Science Applications Group (FSAG) Manager

Megan Meyer, Senior HID account manager, Thermo Fisher Scientific

Quantification Hacks: Tips to Maximize your Quantifiler Trio Data Analysis

How well do you understand your Quantifiiler Trio results? Join our forensic experts as they guide you through the tips and tricks they use when evaluating quantification data. We will provide a behind the scenes look at the technical support process and how we at Thermo Fisher utilize a broad team of technical experts to help solve your inquiries. This presentation will walk through the troubleshooting of challenging quantification results and provide tools for identifying a resolution. 

10:15am-10:30am

Morning Break

10:30am -11:00am 

Thermo Fisher Scientific - Continued

11:00am – 12:00pm  

Pamela Marshall, Director and Associate Teaching Professor, Forensic Science and Law Program, Director Cyril H. Wecht Institute of Forensic Science and Law Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Duquesne University

Advancing DNA Research 

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This presentation will focus on two novel research approaches to advance DNA forensics with regards to sexual assault examinations and missing persons casework. Extraction reagents have been optimized for maximal DNA yield, but the cotton swab used in SAKs has not advanced. Despite research suggesting the cotton swab’s absorbent nature and its inclination to retain cellular material, another swab type has not been implemented. A novel forensic technique to improve the outcome of missing person cases associated with bodies of water will also be discussed. 

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Dr. Pamela Marshall has been involved in the field of forensic analysis since 2002. Upon the completion of her MS in Forensic Genetics in 2002, she worked as a Forensic Scientist III at the Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Division. While in Maryland, she was the Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (SAFE) Coordinator for the state, helped to promote 120-hour SAFE collection legislation, and assisted in the training of over 200 SAFE nurses. Pam has also travelled abroad to Luanda, Angola, Africa in order to train analysts in forensic DNA analysis. She has been qualified as an expert witness in the fields of serology and DNA in Maryland, West Virginia and Texas.

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Her dissertation was titled “Improved Tools for the Robust Analysis of Low Copy Number and Challenged DNA Samples”, leading to her graduation with her doctorate in 2014 under the guidance of Drs. Bruce Budowle, Art Eisenberg, Ranajit Chakraborty, and Angela van Daal. She also holds an additional Master of Science degree in Biomedical Science from the University of North Texas Health Science Center.

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From 2014-2018, Pam served as the Director of the Forensic Science Program at the Southern University at New Orleans, a public, historically black college and university (HBCU). While at SUNO, she created a state of the art forensic laboratory for hands-on research and experimentation. She has received numerous grants as well as partnered on research projects with other faculty and students. Pam is an advocate for increasing the number of African American and underrepresented minority professionals in the field of forensic science.

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In July 2018, Pam became the Director of the Forensic Science and Law Program at Duquesne University, the nation’s only FEPAC accredited entry level Master’s degree program in forensic science. She also serves as an Associate Professor and holds a courtesy appointment in the Department of Biological Sciences. In 2019, Pam also became the Director of the Cyril H. Wecht Institute of Forensic Science and Law. 

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Pam has extensive graduate and undergraduate teaching experience in the forensic disciplines of serology, DNA, and microscopy. Her research interests include low copy number DNA, human and wildlife DNA identification challenges, nanoparticle technology, pressure cycling technology, and PCR enhancement. She has numerous publications and frequently presents at meetings, conferences and trainings.

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12:00pm-1:00pm

Lunch break

1:00pm-2:00pm 

Claire Glynn and Mark Wentling, Associate Professor and Research Coordinator, Forensic Science Department, Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences, University of New Haven

Fundamentals of Forensic Genetic Geneology (FGG)

2:00pm -2:15pm

Pamela Marshall

The Ethics of FGG

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This presentation will also cover the various ethical and privacy issues associated with the use of genetic genealogy for forensic casework, specifically informed consent, data security and data privacy. 

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2:15-3:15 pm 

Catherine Grgicak, Henry Rutgers Chair and Associate Professor Chair, Department of Chemistry, Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University

Solving the DNA mixture conundrum through single-cell analysis: High fidelity single-copy signal and the continuous interpretation thereof

Current forensic analysis relies on the probabilistic interpretation of electropherograms expressing signal from an unknown number of potentially partial genotypes. Single-cell methods offer a solution to the forensic DNA mixture problem by applying a step that separates cells before extraction. To fully realize the potential of single-cell methods, a full pipeline incorporating efficient direct-to-PCR extractions and fully continuous interpretation schemes based on sound biological, physicochemical and probabilistic principles are a necessity. In this portion of the workshop, we will demonstrate: 1. the potential of single-cell analysis to solve the DNA mixture conundrum; 2. share laboratory protocols rendering high-fidelity single-cell signal; and 3. expound on state-of-the art interpretation strategies that render full weights-of-evidence for this type of pipeline. 

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Catherine Grgicak (Gerg-i-chuck) is an Associate Professor, Henry Rutgers Chair and Department Chair of the Department of Chemistry at Rutgers University in Camden NJ. She received her B.S. in Physical Science and B.Ed. from the University of Windsor, her M.S.F.S. from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and her Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Ottawa. Her Laboratory for Forensic Technology and Integration is focused on developing systems and procedures that improve forensically relevant bio-analytical processes. She is a member of the Journal of Forensic Science’s editorial board, editorial board of Electrophoresis, Forensic Laboratory Needs Technical Working Group, Expert Working Group on Human Factors in DNA Interpretation, American Society of Forensic Sciences, the International Society of Forensic Genetics and the Center for Computational and Integrative Biology at Rutgers University.  

3:15pm-3:30pm

Afternoon break 

3:30pm-4:00pm

Q and A