The Human Identification Group
The aim of the Human Identification Research Group is to advance technology-based methods by which humans and other mammals are identified and, hopefully individualized, to in order to address questions of a medico-legal nature. The focus of our work is to provide scientific and technical support to the forensic science community.
To this end, our past efforts have included studies on the molecular genetic variation among human populations, forensic DNA databasing and CODIS development, human skeletal variation, and cemetery analysis. Current work centers on the analysis of protein markers in biological fluids, microscopic analysis of hair evidence, molecular genetic analysis of skeletonized and cremated human remains, and the use of ancient biomolecules in archeological and anthropological investigations. We also work collaboratively with the Department of Criminology and various law enforcement and criminal justice agencies to assess the impact of forensic technology on the victims and perpetrators of violent crimes and the criminal justice process in general.