Mark your calendars for Charla Marshall’s talk this coming Thursday, October 23rd at 3:30 pm in room 230 Davenport Hall. There will be a short reception directly after the talk for faculty and students to speak with the candidate.
Statement from the speaker: My research focuses on developing genomic technologies for the identification of historical human remains, positioned at the intersection of ancient DNA, population genetics, and forensic science. I am particularly interested in designing novel DNA assays and marker sets that (1) are sensitive enough to accommodate highly degraded and limited samples, (2) maximize recovery of individually discriminating genetic information, and (3) minimize the generation of medically relevant or sensitive data.
To this end, I have led several collaborative research initiatives to adapt whole mitochondrial genome sequencing methods for forensic use, develop single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) panels for human identification and extended kinship inference, and apply these tools to the identification of historical remains. I have also contributed to shaping U.S. policy in forensic genomics through my service on national working groups that establish and regulate laboratory standards.
At UIUC, I am especially interested in supporting the Investigative Technology Exchange and its partnership with the Illinois State Police by identifying gaps in DNA casework that can be addressed through forensic genomics. My experience as an applied scientist and research leader at the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory has shown me the complexity of implementing technological change within the medicolegal system, and I look forward to contributing to that challenging yet profoundly meaningful effort to advance forensic science in the state of Illinois.