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DNA Labs International to have Featured Speakers on Live Webinar Regarding Probabilistic Genotyping

By January 23, 2018January 29th, 2018No Comments

DNA Labs International’s quality assurance manager/senior DNA analyst, Rachel Oefelein, and laboratory supervisor/techincal leader, Alicia Cadenas, will be featured speakers on Forensic® Magazine’s webinar “From Training to Trial: A Reflection on Nearly Three Years of Probabilistic Genotyping.”

Deerfield Beach, Fla. (January 2018)DNA Labs International, a private forensic laboratory in Broward County, Florida, is pleased to announce that two of its employees will be featured speakers on the webinar “From Training to Trial: A Reflection on Nearly Three Years of Probabilistic Genotyping,” presented by Forensic® Magazine and sponsored by Promega, on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018 at 11:00 am EST. The webinar will offer expert information from DNA Labs International’s quality assurance manager/senior DNA analyst, Rachel Oefelein, and laboratory supervisor/technical leader, Alicia Cadenas. The webinar will be moderated by Michelle Taylor, editor-in-chief of Forensic Magazine.

Forensic science is on the cusp of change across not only the United States, but also the world, as increasingly more laboratories transition to analyzing and reporting DNA mixtures as a likelihood ratio (LR) utilizing probabilistic genotyping software systems.

In this webinar, Oefelein and Cadenas will focus on two key topics: training and implementation, as well as casework results and courtroom experiences, including:

  • The original training, validation and implementation of STRmix™, as well as the challenges and lessons learned with validation and implementation.
  • Probabilistic genotyping to analyze mixtures that may have previously been reported as inconclusive.
  • The effects of the implementation of STRmix software on DNA mixture analysis of profiles obtained from firearms, sexual assaults and other commonly mixed DNA samples.
  • The experiences encountered as these cases make their way through the court systems with adjustments to report writing, courtroom testimony and Daubert/Frye challenges.

For more information and to register for the webinar, visit https://event.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1175078&tp_key=506bf26f97&sti=for_promega_013118_news.

 

Rachel Oefelein, Quality Assurance Manager/Senior DNA Analyst, DNA Labs International.

Rachel Oefelein is the quality assurance manager and senior DNA analyst for DNA Labs International. 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 Oefelein worked at the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) for nearly five years. She interned at the Forensic Lab in Krakow, Poland and is a board member for an animal rescue group.

Alicia Cadenas, Laboratory Supervisor/Technical Leader, DNA Labs International.

Alicia Cadenas, Laboratory Supervisor/Technical Leader, DNA Labs International.

Alicia Cadenas is currently the laboratory supervisor/technical leader at DNA Labs International. She received her MS in Forensic Science from Florida International University and her BS in Biology from Nova Southeastern University. Cadenas previously worked at the Virginia Department of Forensic Science in the Forensic Biology section for over six years. She also participated in a research appointment at the FBI’s Counterterrorism and Forensic Science Research Unit as a Visiting Scientist. As Technical Leader, Cadenas was involved in the validation and implementation of STRmix at DNA Labs International and has analyzed multiple casework samples since its inception.

Forensic Magazine has covered the crime scene to the crime lab for over ten years. The magazine addresses all forensic disciplines and covers the tools, procedures and technology professionals need t d their jobs better and stay on top of new developments in the field. Their comprehensive website reaches thousands of forensic experts, while the e-newsletter reaches over 40,000 subscribers.

Promega Corporation is a leader in providing innovative solutions and technical support to the life sciences industry. The company’s 3,500 products enable scientists worldwide to advance their knowledge in genomics, proteomics, cellular analysis, drug discovery and human identification. Founded in 1978, the company is headquartered in Madison, WI, USA, with branches in 16 countries and over 50 global distributors.

To learn more about DNA Labs International’s capabilities, visit http://dnalabsinternational.com/. Stay up to date on the latest in forensics by following DNA Labs International on Facebook and LinkedIn.

About DNA Labs International:

Since 2004, DNA Labs International has been providing clients with exceptional quality service based on open communications, equal attention to the importance of every case and accurate and reliable results every time. They provide the latest technology available to solve cases; such as the M-VAC®, a wet vacuum DNA collection tool and STRmix®, a software program that can solve previously inconclusive DNA results. They can now achieve comparable DNA results from spent shell casings! DNA Labs International is accredited by ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB), the country’s longest established provider of ISO 17025 accreditation to Forensic Sciences testing laboratories in the U.S. www.dnalabsinternational.com