team lead

I am a forensic scientist with expertise in the fields of forensic genetics and DNA, homicide and sex crime investigation, clandestine grave site recovery and cold case review. i am director of the cold case review @ murdoch initiative.

Having worked for over 10 years in western australian state government departments in both the forensic DNA laboratory and with law enforcement at crime scenes, I have attended thousands of major crime scenes, been involved in countless investigations, and performed numerous body recovery activities associated with high profile homicides an wa.

My research is focussed on the enhancement of molecular capabilities for national security and unsolved cases using cutting-edge DNA sequencing techniques and high sensitivity analysis. I am currently chief investigator on research grants to the value of approx. $1.2million.

Dr Brendan Chapman, Director

phd researchers

Sara Natale, PhD Candidate

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Ruby Dixon, PhD Candidate

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Ea reprehenderit possimus et earum error aut animi natus nam galisum numquam vel recusandae quam. Non consequatur dolores eum molestiae unde et fugit harum. Ex reprehenderit modi quo placeat amet 33 officia accusantium.

Amber Skye, PhD Candidate

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Ea reprehenderit possimus et earum error aut animi natus nam galisum numquam vel recusandae quam. Non consequatur dolores eum molestiae unde et fugit harum. Ex reprehenderit modi quo placeat amet 33 officia accusantium.

Aaron Hamilton, PhD Candidate

My current research is focused on genetic variants that have the potential to give to rise in changes to the amino acid sequence of peptide chains found in hair strands and their potential for the identification of persons of interest based on recovered hair strands. More broadly my research contains work on genetic sequencing, bioinformatics and population variant mapping. My previous research has been in the area of metabolomics and biomarker discovery, working towards developing a biological test of fatigue that will allow for monitoring of drivers and improved driver safety.

Heather McKenna, PhD Candidate

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Ea reprehenderit possimus et earum error aut animi natus nam galisum numquam vel recusandae quam. Non consequatur dolores eum molestiae unde et fugit harum. Ex reprehenderit modi quo placeat amet 33 officia accusantium.

current researchers

Alice Whittingham

iPhone LiDAR to Support Depth Measurement Accuracy of Clandestine Gravesite Photogrammetry

Grace Jeong

Analysis of coagulation cascade factors as a forensic biomarker for assessing the age of blood (time since deposition)

Kimberley Carrillo

Exploratory Analysis of Antigen-Antibody Complexes for Sperm Detection Using Flow Cytometry in Mixed Samples.

Megan Taylor

A comparative study of GEDmatch and GEDmatch Pro databases and establishment of the best pathway for Forensic Genetic Genealogy in Australia.