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DNA Labs International’s Rachel Oefelein Announced as Workshop Chair for International Symposium of Human Identification (ISHI)

Oefelein, DNA Labs International’s quality assurance manager and senior DNA analyst, has been announced as the Workshop Chair for the “Evaluation of Testimony Topics of 2018 – Preparing as an Expert Witness for DNA Testimony in Today’s Courtroom” Workshop at ISHI, held in Phoenix, Arizona, Sept. 24 – 27, 2018.

Deerfield Beach, Fla. (March 2018)DNA Labs International, a private forensic laboratory in Broward County, Florida, announces that its very own Rachel Oefelein has been named the Workshop Chair for the “Evaluation of Testimony Topics of 2018 – Preparing as an Expert Witness for DNA Testimony in Today’s Courtroom” Workshop at the International Symposium on Human Identification (ISHI), to be held at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona, Sept. 24 – 27, 2018. This particular workshop will be held Sept. 27 from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. The intended audience includes forensic scientists, students, attorneys, laboratory managers and training managers.

The presenters at this workshop have testified throughout the year, both nationally and internationally. An evaluation of common DNA testimony topics encountered in 2018 trials by analysts will be discussed. The panel will discuss specific questions received from prosecution and defense attorneys and possible responses in expert witness testimony. The workshop will be conducted in an open forum format where attendees will be encouraged to contribute and bring forward additional testimony topics. The workshop will conclude with a question and answer session in a mock court format. Questions and topics will be accepted by attendees both before and during the workshop.

During the workshop, attendees will gain a better understanding of:

  • Probabilistic genotyping (STRmix™ software and TrueAllele software)
  • The likelihood ratio
  • Phenotyping and forensic genealogy
  • Secondary transfer (including the most recent publications on transfer)
  • Next generation sequencing (NGS) / Massively Parallel Sequencing (MPS)
  • Responding to forensic implications from media publications/landmark court decisions
  • Introducing new technology to the courtroom: Daubert, Frye, Frye-Mack, Rule 702, etc.
Rachel Oefelein, Quality Assurance Manager/Senior DNA Analyst, DNA Labs International.

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. 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.

Now in its 29th year, ISHI is a symposium focused on DNA analysis. Approximately 950 scientists, DNA analysts, law enforcement and legal and ethical experts from around the world gather to share the latest technologies, announce new product concepts and debate policy issues. The conference is open to all practitioners and suppliers of DNA analysis for human identification.

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