Thomas Parsons
International Commission on Missing Persons
Alipasina 45A, 71000
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzogovina
Email: Thomas.Parsons@ic-mp.org
Education
- Dec. 2002- Jan 2003, Mini-sabbatical on an Antarctic field expedition with David Lambert, studying ancient DNA, population genetics, and molecular evolution in Adelie Penguins
- Ph. D., 1989. Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington
- Dissertation Title: Poplar Biotechnology and the Molecular Biology of a Wound-induced Response in Poplars.
- B. A., 1982. Physics, University of Chicago.
Biography
In early 2006, Thomas J. Parsons joined the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina as Director of Forensic Sciences. At the ICMP he supervises ~100 forensic science staff in a multidisciplinary approach to identification of missing individuals involving forensic archaeology, anthropology, pathology, and high throughput DNA analysis. These processes are integrated in a "DNA-led" approach to mass identification, involving large scale comparison of profiles from families of the missing to profiles recovered from skeletal remains in a high-throughput DNA typing laboratory. The ICMP's primary focus has been on mass graves from the former Yugoslavia, but has also worked in victim identification from the 2004 Asian tsunami, hurricane Katrina, aircraft incidents, the Philippine Typhoon Frank, and has assisted the governments of South Africa, Chile and Colombia in their search for missing persons from human rights violations. ICMP now provides assistance to governments globally and maintains offices in Baghdad and Erbil, Iraq. As of Jan 2011, the ICMP has made DNA identification matches to over 18,000 individuals. Dr. Parsons has coordinated provision of extensive DNA, forensic anthropology and archaeology evidence to the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugosolavia (ICTY) and Bosnian State Court in war crimes trials, and testified on multiple occasions for the ICTY in The Hague. Dr. Parsons has served on a Presidential Panel and as an external advisor to the Government of Chile in support of their forensic investigations of missing from human rights violations.
Prior to joining the ICMP, Thomas J. Parsons worked at the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) since August of 1994, where he held the position of AFDIL Chief Scientist since 2000. His principle role was directing the AFDIL Research Section in projects focusing on projects such as mtDNA genome databasing, population genetics and statistical interpretation, ancient DNA extraction methods and LCN STR analysis from bone. At AFDIL he was part of the team that finalized the identification of Tsar Nicholas II, and for two years after the 9/11 attacks served on a National Institute of Justice advisory panel for the World Trade Center DNA identification efforts. His undergraduate degree was in Physics from the University of Chicago, and he received a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Washington in 1989. As a postdoctoral fellow at the Smithsonian Institution, he focused on molecular evolution and phylogenetics, as well as mtDNA biogeography and avian speciation.
Professional and Educational Experience
Director fo Forensic Science, International Commission on Missing Persons, Alipašina 45A, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzogovina.
March 2006-present
Adjunct Associate Professor, Pennsylvania State University, Forensic Science Program
May 2008- present
Chief Scientist, Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, 1413 Research Blvd., Rockville, MD 20850
2000-2006.
Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Genetics, the George Washington University, Washington D.C.,
1999-2006.
Adjunct Faculty Member, Department of Forensic Sciences, the George Washington University, Washington D. C.,
1998-2006.
Chief of Research Section, Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, 1413 Research Blvd., Rockville, MD 20850
1998-2000.
Research Scientist, Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, 1413 Research Blvd., Rockville, MD 20850
1994-1998.
Research Assistant Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
1992-1994
Postdoctoral Fellow, Laboratory of Molecular Systematics, Smithsonian Institution, Washington D. C. 20560.
1989-1992
Other Appointments/Activities:
2010-present: Board Member and DNA Sub-Committee co-Chairman, U.S. Scientific Working Group on Disaster Victim Identification (SWGDVI).
2010: International Expert Advisor on human identification to the Chilean National Medical Legal Service Human Rights Program.
2007- present: Editorial Board of Forensic Science International: Genetics
2006-present: Testimony and evidence coordination for war crime prosecution for the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia, and Bosnia State Court.
2006-2007: Member of Expert Panel on the Identification of Detained and Disappeared Persons, Chilean Presidential Advisory Commission for Human Rights.
2005: Chairman, Steering Committee on Forensic Programs, International Commission on Missing Persons.
2000 to 2004: Scientific Advisory Board Member, International Commission on Missing Persons.
Sept. 2005 to March 2006: Member of advisory committee, “Hurricane Victim Identification Expert Panel” in support of the State of Louisiana in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrin and Rita.
Sept 2001 to 2005: Member of National Institute of Justice “Kinship and Data Analysis Panel” (KADAP) in support of DNA Identifications relating to the World Trade Center attack.
Symposia and Course Organization, Teaching
2011 International Society of Forensic Genetics International Congress, ½ day pre-conference educational workshop organizer and presenter: “Forensic Genetics and Missing Persons” August, 2011.
Organizer and Primary Presenter of 2-Day Event: International Society of Forensic Genetics Summer School, “Disaster Victim Identification with Special Emphasis on DNA,” Copenhagen, June 7-8, 2010.
Organizer of Full Day Pre-Conference Workshop: DNA and the Missing: Practice, Progress, and Perspectives. International Society of Forensic Genetics 23rd World Congress, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sept, 2009.
Course Director and Primary Presenter: European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI) Training Course on the Use of DNA in DVI. Berlin, Germany, March. 10-12, 2009.
Course Director and Primary Presenter: European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI) Training Course on the Use of DNA in DVI. Vienna, Austria, Nov. 11-13, 2008.
Breakout Symposium Organizer and Presenter: “Mitochondrial DNA.” 13th Promega Symposium on Human Identification, Phoenix, AZ, Oct 7-10, 2002.
Taught “Forensic Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 295,” Dept. of Forensic Sciences, George Washington University, 2000.
Co-Organizer, Mitochondrial DNA Workshop, First International Conference of Forensic Human Identification in the Millennium. London. October, 1999.
Conference Organizer and Program Committee Chair: AFIP/ARP First International Workshop on Human Mitochondrial DNA, Washington D.C. November, 1997.
Course organization and lecturer: Armed Forces Institute of Pathology and George Mason University Training Course: Mitochondrial DNA Sequence Analysis for Forensic Scientists. Nov. 2-12, 1998.
Lecturer in George Washington University “Forensic DNA Profiling 254” Course, GW Dept. of Forensic Science: 1994-1999.
Presentations and Posters at Conferences/Symposia
Parsons, T.J. “The Impact of Forensic Genetics on Mass Disasters, Missing Persons, and Human Rights.” Invited keynote presentation for symposium “100 Years of Science in the Service of Justice” in celebration of the centenary of the Spanish National Police. Madrid, Spain, Sept. 26-30, 2011.
Parsons, TJ. “ICMP Experience: International Standards in Missing Persons Identification Programs.” Invited presentation, ENFSI/Interpol DNA Monitoring Expert Group Workshop on International Standards for the Identification of Missing Persons/Unidentified Human Remains. Vienna, Austria, August 29, 2011
Amory S., Huel R., Bilić A., Parsons T.J. “Next generation STR kits applied to post-mortem DNA extracts. Poster presentation. 2011 International Society of Forensic Genetics International Congress, Vienna, Austria, August 2011.
Smajlovic L., Amory S., Huel R., Milos-Bilic A., Parsons TJ. “Validation and use of mtDNA linear array in large scale missing persons identification at the ICMP. Poster presentation. International Society for Applied Biological Sciences 7th Conference, Bol, Croatia, June 2011.
Thomas J Parsons, PhD; Adnan Rizvić, BSc; Andreas Kleiser, LLM; Adam Boys, MA; Asta Zinbo, MA; Mark Skinner, PhD; Kathryne Bomberger, MA. “The International Commission on Missing Persons, and an integrated, multidisciplinary forensic approach to identification of the missing from the 1995 Bosnian Srebrenica mass execution event.” American Academy of Forensic Sciences 62nd Annual Meeting, Seattle, Washington, February 2010.
Renée C. Kosalka, MA; Sharna Daley, MSc; Jon Sterenberg, MSc, Rick Harrington, PhD, Hugh Tuller, PhD, Cecily Cropper, PhD, Mark Skinner, PhD, Thomas J. Parsons, PhD. “The work of the ICMP in the Detection, Excavation, Documentation, and Analysis of Clandestine Graves relating to the Fall of Srebrenica 1995: A Review of Activities and Challenges Encountered.” American Academy of Forensic Sciences 62nd Annual Meeting, Seattle, Washington, February 2010.
Rifat Kešetović, MD*, Laura Yazedjian, MSc, Dragana Vučetić, MSc, Emina Kurtalić, Zlatan Šabanović, Cheryl Katzmarzyk, MA, Adnan Rizvić, BSc, Thomas J. Parsons, PhD. “The Podrinje Identification Project: A Dedicated Mortuary Facility for the Missing from Srebrenica.” American Academy of Forensic Sciences 62nd Annual Meeting, Seattle, Washington, February 2010.
Cheryl Katzmarzyk, MA, Rifat Kešetović, MD, Kerry-Ann Martin, MSc, Edin Jasaragić, René Huel, BSc, Jon Sterenberg, MSc, Adnan Rizvić, BSc, Mark Skinner, PhD, Thomas J Parsons, PhD. “The Lukavac Reassociation Center: A Model for a Multidisciplinary Approach in the Examination of Commingled Remains.” American Academy of Forensic Sciences 62nd Annual Meeting, Seattle, Washington, February 2010.
Cheryl Katzmarzyk, MA, Kerry-Ann Martin, MSc, Šenem Skulj MSc, Laura Yazedjian, MSc, Dragana Vučetić, MSc, Adnan Rizvić, BSc, Thomas J. Parsons, PhD. “The Use of Population-Specific Standards in Anthropological Examination and their Incorporation into a Multidisciplinary Mortuary Database.” American Academy of Forensic Sciences 62nd Annual Meeting, Seattle, Washington, February 2010.
René Huel BSc., Ana Miloš-Bilic MSc., Sylvain Amory PhD., Stojko Vidović, Tony Donlon, BSc (Hons), Adnan Rizvić, BSc, Thomas Parsons PhD. “High throughput DNA typing for degraded skeletal remains and victim reference samples in a large scale “DNA-led” missing persons identification and re-association project: the ICMP work on the missing recovered from Srebrenica mass graves.” American Academy of Forensic Sciences 62nd Annual Meeting, Seattle, Washington, February 2010.
Edin Jasaragić, Zlatan Bajunović, Adnan Rizvić, BSc, and Thomas J Parsons, PhD. “The ICMP Identification Coordination Center: A sample-accessioning and blind DNA matching system for missing persons identification on a regional scale.” American Academy of Forensic Sciences 62nd Annual Meeting, Seattle, Washington, February 2010.
Adnan Rizvić, BSc; Azra Aljić, MSc; Djordje Badza, BsC; Damir Bolić, BsC; Goran Jotanović, BsC; Muris Pucić, BsC; Amir Mandzuka, BsC; Zoran Cvijanović, PhD; Edin Jasaragić, Zlatan Bajunović, Cheryl Katzmarzyk, MA, Kerry-Ann Martin, BSc, Sharna Daley, MSc, Reneé Kosalka, MSc, René Huel, BSc, Tony Donlon, BSc, Thomas J Parsons, PhD. “An Innovative Software Solution for Large Scale Forensic Identification Efforts.” American Academy of Forensic Sciences 62nd Annual Meeting, Seattle, Washington, February 2010.
Renée C. Kosalka, MA Cheryl Katzmarzyk, MA; Sharna Daley, MSc; Jon Sterenberg, MSc; Rifat Kešetović, MD; Laura Yazedjian, MSc ; René Huel, BSc; Edin Jasaragić; Adnan Rizić, BSc; Thomas Parsons, PhD. “Mapping Forensic Evidence onto the Events of Srebrenica: Augmenting the Historical Record through the Analysis of Archaeology, Anthropology and DNA.” American Academy of Forensic Sciences 62nd Annual Meeting, Seattle, Washington, February 2010.
Rifat Kešetović, MD, Nedim Duraković, BSc, Emina Kurtalić, Amir Hasandžiković, BSc, Adnan Rizvić, BSc., Thomas J. Parsons PhD. “Identifying the Missing from Srebrenica: Family Contact and the Final Identification Process.” American Academy of Forensic Sciences 62nd Annual Meeting, Seattle, Washington, February 2010.
Thomas J Parsons PhD, Andreas Kleiser LLM, Adnan Rizvić BSc, Kathryne Bomberger MA “Lessons and Challenges from Srebrenica: A Summary, and Future Perspectives.” American Academy of Forensic Sciences 62nd Annual Meeting, Seattle, Washington, February 2010.
Thomas J Parsons “Progress and Challenges in Practice and Policy”, in pre-conference workshop, DNA and the Missing: Practice, Progress, and Perspectives. International Society of Forensic Genetics 23rd World Congress, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sept, 2009.
Jodi A Irwin, Odile Loreille, Rebecca S. Just, Thomas J. Parsons. “Characteristics of a modified STR amplification approach for severely degraded skeletal elements.” Poster presentation. International Society of Forensic Genetics 23rd World Congress, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sept, 2009.
Jodi A. Irwin, Thomas J. Parsons, Jessica Saunier, Melissa Scheible, Kimberly Sturk, Toni Diegoli, Michael D. Coble. “ Geographic substructure in the mitochondrial DNA distribution of U.S. ‘Hispanic’ populations.” International Society of Forensic Genetics 23rd World Congress, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sept, 2009.
Micheal Coble, Jessica Saunier, Melissa Scheible, Kimberly Sturk, Toni Diegoli, Rebecca Just, Thomas Parsons, Jodi Irwin. “Enhancing the size, sampling, and quality of global forensic mtDNA databases.” International Society of Forensic Genetics 23rd World Congress, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sept, 2009.
Cheryl Katzmarzyk, Rene Huel, Edin Jasaragic, Kerry-Ann Martin, Ana Milos, Sharna Daley,
Adi Rizvic, and Thomas J. Parsons. Oral Presentation. “Evaluation of a Multidisciplinary Approach to the Identification of Human Remains Recovered from Mass Graves in Bosnia-Herzegovina.” Australia New Zealand Forensic Science Society 19th International Symposium, Melbourne Australia, October 6-9, 2008.
Thomas J. Parsons, Katharine Strouss. Invited Presentation. “Site specific relative evolutionary rates in the mtDNA control region by phylogenetic analysis of a large population dataset.” DNA in Forensics Conference, Ancona, Italy, May 27-30, 2008.
Thomas J. Parsons. “ICMP: Integrating Forensic Sciences in High Throughput Identification of Missing Persons from Mass Graves.” Invited seminar. 5th ISABS Conference in Forensic Genetics and Molecular Anthropology, Split, Croatia, September 3-7, 2007.
Basic L, Huel R, Madacki-Todorovic K, Smajlovic L, Eminovic I, Berbic I, Milos A, Parsons TJ. “Variant alleles, triallelic patterns and point mutations observed in nuclear STR typing of populations in Bosnia and Serbia.” Poster presentation. 5th ISABS Conference in Forensic Genetics and Molecular Anthropology, Split, Croatia, September 3-7, 2007.
Selamanovic A, Milos A, Smajlovic L, Huel R, Katzmarzyk C, Rizvic A, Parsons TJ. “Success rates of nuclear STR typing from different skeletal elements.” 5th ISABS Conference in Forensic Genetics and Molecular Anthropology, Split, Croatia, September 3-7, 2007.
Thomas J. Parsons. “Evaluation of DNA evidence in mass identification projects.” Oral presentation. 22nd Congress of the International Society of Forensic Genetics, Copenhagen, Denmark, August 21-25, 2007.
Thomas J. Parsons. “Evolutionary rates in mtDNA sequences: Forensic applications and implications.” Invited course lecture, pre-Congress workshop on Mitochondrial DNA, 22nd Congress of the International Society of Forensic Genetics, Copenhagen, Denmark, August 21-25, 2007.
Kimberly A. Sturk, Jodi A. Irwin, Jennifer E. O’Callaghan, Jessica L. Saunier, Michael D. Coble, Thomas J. Parsons. “A Custom Relational Database Application to Assist in the Interpretation of Novel mtDNA Sequence Variation.” Poster presentation. American Academy of Forensic Sciences 59th Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX, Feb. 19-24, 2007.
Toni M. Diegoli, Michael D. Coble, Harald Niederstaetter , Thomas J. Parsons. “The Use of a Mitochondrial DNA-Specific qPCR Assay to Assess Degradation and Inhibition.” Poster presentation. American Academy of Forensic Sciences 59th Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX, Feb. 19-24, 2007.
Thomas J. Parsons, Jon Sterenberg, Rene Huel, Ana Kron, Jeffrey Buenger, Ana Milos, Arijana Selmanovic, Adnan Rizvic, Sharna Daley, Marija Djuric, Dusan Dunjic, Danijela Djonic. “The excavation, recovery and analysis of remains from a series of interrelated sites containing the mortal remains of Kosovar Albanians.” American Academy of Forensic Sciences 59th Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX, Feb. 19-24, 2007.
Ana Miloš, René Huel, Thomas J. Parsons, Adnan Rizvic, Jon Sterenberg, Ana Kron. “Batajnica: The DNA Analysis of Remains From a Series of Interrelated Sites Containing the Mortal Remains of Kosovar Albanians.” American Academy of Forensic Sciences 59th Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX, Feb. 19-24, 2007.
Kamelija Madacki-Todorovic, Lara Basic, Irfan Berbic, Rijad Konjhodzic, Jon Davoren, Ana Milos, Rene Huel, and Thomas J. Parsons. “A Broad Population Survey of Rare/Variant Alleles from Large Scale PP16 Testing the Former Yugoslavia.” Promega STRs Users Workshop, Porto Portugal, Oct. 26-27, 2006
Walther Parson, Odile Loreille, Harald Niederstätter, Thomas J Parsons, and Richard Scheithauer. “DNA-investigations of the Putative Mozart Skull.” 17th Promega International Symposium on Human Identification, Nashville, TN, Oct. 9-12, 2006.
René Huel, Ana Milos, Jon Davoren, Rijad Konjhodzic, Arijana Selmanovic, Lejla Smajlovic, Thomas J. Parsons. “Challenges in High Throughput STR typing from Degraded Skeletal Remains in Missing Persons Casework.” 17th Promega International Symposium on Human Identification, Nashville, TN, Oct. 9-12, 2006.
Jodi A. Irwin, Jessica C. Spangler, Suni M. Edson, Demris A.Lee, Rebecca S. Just, Mark D. Leney, Odile Loreille, Thomas J. Parsons, Richard Hites, Suzanne M. Barritt, Thomas Holland, and Louis N. Finelli. “The Intersection of Genetic Identity: The Application of Multiple Marker Systems to Establish Identity 50 Years after Death.” 17th Promega International Symposium on Human Identification, Nashville, TN, Oct. 9-12, 2006.
Irwin, JA, Sturk, KA, Saunier, JL, Coble, MD, and Thomas J. Parsons. “Considerations for a Text String Search Engine for Forensic Mitochondrial Control Region Databases.” Poster presentation. DNA in Forensics 2006 Conference, Innsbruck, Austria, Sept 28-30, 2006.
Thomas J. Parsons, Rene Huel, Jon Davoren, Cheryl Katzmarzyk, Arijana Pozder, Lejla Smijlovic, Michael D. Coble, and Adnan Rizvic. “Application of novel “mini-amplicon” multiplexes to high volume casework on degraded skeletal remains.” DNA in Forensics 2006 Conference, Innsbruck, Austria, Sept 28-30, 2006.
Ana Milos, Rene Huel, Cheryl Katzmarzyk, Adi Rizvic, and Thomas J. Parsons. “Success Rates of DNA Typing from Skeletal Elements.” DNA in Forensics 2006 Conference, Innsbruck, Austria, Sept 28-30, 2006.
Michael D. Coble, Jodi A. Irwin, Rebecca S. Just, Jessica Saunier, Toni M. Diegoli, Katharine Strouss, Kimberly Sturk, and Thomas J. Parsons. “Development and Expansion of High Quality Control Region Databases to Improve Forensic mtDNA Evidence Interpretation.” DNA in Forensics 2006 Conference, Innsbruck, Austria, Sept 28-30, 2006.
Balazs Egyed, Jodi A. Irwin, Anita Brandstätter, Gabriella Szamosi, Zsolt Padar, Jessica L. Saunier, Thomas J. Parsons, Walther Parson. “Control Region Sequence Variations in the Hungarian population: Analysis of population samples from Hungary and from Transylvania (Romania).” DNA in Forensics 2006 Conference, Innsbruck, Austria, Sept 28-30, 2006.
Odile M. Loreille, Toni M. Diegoli, Jodi A. Irwin, Michael D. Coble, and Thomas J. Parsons. “High Efficiency DNA Extraction from Bone by Total Demineralization.” DNA in Forensics 2006 Conference, Innsbruck, Austria, Sept 28-30, 2006.
Jodi A. Irwin, Odile Loreille, Christopher W. Los, Mark Leney, Suzanne M. Barritt, Darren E. Haliniewksi, Rebecca S. Just, Michael A. Coble, and Thomas J. Parsons. “Application of Low Copy Number Y-STR Typing to Degraded Skeletal Remains.” Poster presentation. DNA in Forensics 2006 Conference, Innsbruck, Austria, Sept 28-30, 2006.
Cheryl Katzmarzyk, Jon Sterenberg, Jon Davoren, Rene Huel, Adnan Rizvic, and Thomas J. Parsons. “Success rates of mini-STR Typing by Bone Type for Human Remains Recovered from Secondary Mass Graves in the Former Yugoslavia.” Mediterranean Society of Forensic Sciences Conference, Sept. 2006.
Thomas J. Parsons. “Grave to Grave: Integrating the Forensic Sciences in a DNA-led Approach to Human Remains Identification from Mass Graves.” International Society of Forensic Genetics, English-speaking Working Group Biennial Conference, Tuusula, Finland, June 8-11, 2006
Rebecca S. Just, Jodi A. Irwin, Christopher W. Los, Mark Leney, Suzanne M. Barritt, and Thomas J. Parsons. “Resolution of a Challenging Case using mtDNA SNPs and LCN STR Typing.” International Society of Forensic Genetics, English-speaking Working Group Biennial Conference, Tuusula, Finland, June 8-11, 2006
Jodi Irwin, Jessica Saunier, Katharine Strouss, Kimberly Sturk, Toni Diegoli, Walther Parson, Anita Brandstätter, Rebecca Just, and Thomas J. Parsons “Investigation of point heteroplasmy in the mitochondrial control region: a synthesis of observations from nearly 5000 global population samples.” International Society of Forensic Genetics, English-speaking Working Group Biennial Conference, Tuusula, Finland, June 8-11, 2006
Odile Loreille, Hannah Koon, Toni M Diegoli, Katharine M Strouss, Mark Leney, Matthew Collins, and Thomas J Parsons “Characterization and reversal of extensive DNA crosslinking in skeletal remains from the Korean War treated with formaldehyde-based mortuary compounds. Poster Presentation. 16th Promega International Symposium on Human Identification, Grapevine, TX, Sept 26-29, 2005.
Rebecca S. Just, Christopher W. Los, Christina M. Miller, Mark Leney, Suzanne M. Barritt-Ross, and Thomas J. Parsons. “Using mtDNA SNP Typing To Resolve Common HV1/HV2 Types.” Poster Presentation. 16th Promega International Symposium on Human Identification, Grapevine, TX, Sept 26-29, 2005.
Thomas J. Parsons. Panel Presenter “ICMP involvement in Tsunami DNA Identifications.” Round Table panel on “Lessons Learned from the Tsuanmi Experience,” 21st Congress, International Society from Forensic Genetics, Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal, Sept. 13-17, 2005.
Thomas J. Parsons, Michael Hofreiter, Odile M. Loreille, Suzanne M. Barritt, Mark J. Wadhams, Robert K. Massie, Erika Hagelberg, and Peter Gill. Invited Presentation. “The Erroneous Refutation of DNA Testing in the Romanov Case” Fourth European-American Intensive Course in Clinical and Forensic Genetics. Dubrovnik, Croatia, Sept. 5-10, 2005.
Irwin, J.A., Saunier, JL., O’Callaghan, J.E., Just, R.S., Diegoli, T.M., Paintner, C.D., Strouss, K.M., Sturk, K.A., Watson, K.J., Williams, H.R., Correll, S.J., Ivory, W.J., Ferriola, D, Norris, J.C., Ross, J.P., Nuritdinov, A.I., Mukhaedov, R.S., Parsons, T.J., Ikramov, A.A. Poster Presentation. “Entire mtDNA Control Region Databases from Central Asia: Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kygyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.” Fourth European-American Intensive Course in Clinical and Forensic Genetics. Dubrovnik, Croatia, Sept. 5-10, 2005.
Coble, M.D., Just, R.S., Saunier, J.L., O’Callaghan, J.E., Letmanyi, I.H., Peterson, C.T., Irwin, J.A., Vallone, P.M., Butler, J.M., Parsons, T.J. “Identification of SNPs in the Mitochondrial Genome to Resolve Common HVI/HVII types in Caucasian Populations.” Oral Presentation, Taipei Symposium on the Application of mtDNA Technology in Forensic Science, Taipei, Taiwan November 24 and 25.
Thomas J. Parsons. “Weathering Stormy Seas: Progress and Challenges in Forensic mtDNA Applications.” Invited presentation, 4th International Y-User Workshop "Haploid DNA markers in forensic genetics." Berlin, Germany, Nov 18- 20, 2004.
Egyed, B., Irwin, J.A., Szamoi, G., Padar, Z., Saunier, J.L., and Parsons, T.J. “First report of mitochondrial DNA CR variations in the Hungarian population.” Poster presentation, 4th International Y-User Workshop "Haploid DNA markers in forensic genetics." Berlin, Germany, Nov 18- 20, 2004.
Thomas J Parsons. “Forensic DNA Testing at the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory.” Invited seminar, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Innsbruck, Austria. Nov. 14, 2004.
Jennifer E O’Callaghan, Jodi A Irwin, Suzanne M Barritt, Col. Brion Smith, and Thomas J Parsons. “Unusual and/or Problematic Sequence Variants in the mtDNA HyperVariable Region 1: A Catalog, and Calling Guidelines.” Poster presentation, 15th Promega Symposium on Human Identification, Phoenix, AZ, Oct 4-7, 2004.
Jennifer E O’Callaghan, Jodi A Irwin, Suzanne M Barritt, Col. Brion Smith, and Thomas J Parsons. “Unusual and/or Problematic Sequence Variants in the mtDNA HyperVariable Regions 2 and 3: A Catalog, and Calling Guidelines.” Poster presentation, 15th Promega Symposium on Human Identification, Phoenix, AZ, Oct 4-7, 2004.
Thomas J. Parsons, Michael Hofreiter, Odile M. Loreille, Suzanne M. Barritt, Mark J. Wadhams, Robert K. Massie, Erika Hagelberg, and Peter Gill. Oral Presentation. “The Romanov Case: Is acceptance of ancient DNA authenticity governed by sensible general guidelines, reproduction of results in qualified laboratories, and the specifics of the investigation—or by axiomatic dogma?” Ancient DNA VII Conference, Brisbane, Australia, July 10-17, 2004.
Just, R.S., Los, C.W., Leney, M., Barritt, S.M., Parsons, T.J. Multiplex mtDNA SNP Typing on Degraded Skeletal Remains. Poster Presentation. The 7th International Conference on Ancient DNA and Associated Biomolecules, Brisbane, Australia, July 10-17, 2004.
Thomas J. Parsons. “Increasing Forensic Discrimination of mtDNA: SNP assays for polymorphisms outside of HV1/HV2.” Presentation, NIJ Grantees Workshop, Washington DC, June 28-30, 2004
Just, R.S., Irwin, J.A., O’Callaghan, J.E., Saunier, J.L., Coble, M.D., Vallone, P.M., Butler, J.M., Parsons, T.J “Research Toward Increasing the Utility of mtDNA in Forensic Identifications.” Invited Presentation. Mediterranean Academy of Forensic Sciences Workshop, Calabria, Italy, June 11-13, 2004.
Jodi Irwin, Rebecca Just, Jennifer O’Callaghan, Jessica Saunier and Thomas J. Parsons. “Automated, High-throughput Production of Global mtDNA Population Databases.” Presentation, Australian and New Zealand Forensic Science Society Annual Meeting, Wellington, NZ, March 2004.
Thomas Parsons, Michael Coble, Rebecca Hamm, Jennifer O’Callaghan, Suzanne Barritt, Peter Vallone, John Butler, Anita Brandstaetter, Harald Niederstaetter, and Walther Parson. “Forensic SNP testing in the mtDNA Genome.” Presentation, Third European Academy of Forensic Science Meeting, EAFS, Istanbul, Turkey, September 22- 26, 2003.
Jodi A. Irwin, LeAnn Hodge and Thomas J. Parsons. “Development of an Improved Method for the Recovery and Typing of Nuclear DNA from Highly Degraded Bones.” Poster, 14th International Symposium on Human Identification, Promega Corp., Phoenix, AZ. Sept 28-Oct3, 2003.
Richon E. Tate, Nissa Abassi, Amanda Coute, Timothy P. McMahon, Jodi Irwin, Suzanne M. Barritt, Col. Brion C. Smith, and Thomas J. Parsons. “Validation of the Tecan Genesis Robotic Sample Processor for Automated Cycle Sequencing of mtDNA Database Samples.” Poster, 14th International Symposium on Human Identification, Promega Corp., Phoenix, AZ. Sept 28-Oct3, 2003.
Anita Brandstätter , Thomas J. Parsons , Walther Parson. “MtDNA Coding Region SNPs for Rapid Screening and Haplogroup Identification of Forensic Samples.” Poster, 20th International Congress of International Society of Forensic Genetics, Arcachon, France, Sept. 9-13, 2003.
Hamm, RS, MD Coble, PM Vallone, JE O’Callaghan, JL Saunier, IH Letmanyi,
CT Peterson, JA Irwin, JM Butler, and TJ Parsons. “Multiplex SNP assays for increased discrimination in forensic mtDNA testing.” Invited presentation, Third European-American Intensive Course in Clinical and Forensic Genetics. Zagreb, Croatia, Sept. 2-5, 2003.
Thomas J. Parsons, Michael D. Coble, Rebecca Hamm, Jennifer O’Callaghan, Ilona Letmanyi, Christine Harvey, Jodi Irwin. “Increasing forensic discrimination of mtDNA: SNP assays for polymorphisms outside of HV1/HV2.” Invited presentation, National Institute of Justice DNA Grantees Workshop. Washington D.C., June, 2003.
Thomas J. Parsons. “Increasing forensic discrimination of mtDNA: variation outside of HV1/HV2.” Invited presentation, Advanced DNA Technical Workshop, Bode Technologies, Hawkes Caye, FL, May 15-18, 2003.
Thomas J. Parsons, Michael D. Coble, Rebecca S. Hamm, Jennifer L. Eyster, Ilona Letmanyi, Harald Niederstaetter, Walther Parson, and Peter M. Vallone. “Multiplex Mito SNPS: How do we really get there, and what do we do with them?” Presentation, 13th Promega Symposium on Human Identification, Phoenix, AZ, Oct 7-10, 2002.
Michael D. Coble, Rebecca Hamm, Jennifer Eyster, Ilona H. Letmanyi and Thomas J. Parsons. “Increasing mtDNA Discrimination for Common Haplotypes: Targeting of Additional Information in the Entire Mitochondrial Genome.” Presentation, 13th Promega Symposium on Human Identification, Phoenix, AZ, Oct 7-10, 2002.
Walther Parson, Harald Niederstaetter, Michael D. Coble, and Thomas J. Parsons. “Characterization of mtDNA SNP-Typing Using Real-Time PCR.” Presentation, 13th Promega Symposium on Human Identification, Phoenix, AZ, Oct 7-10, 2002.
Jennifer L. Eyster, Nissa Abbasi, Thomas J. Parsons. “Use of Magnetic Beads in the Automation of Sequence Extension Product Purification.” Poster, 13th Promega Symposium on Human Identification, Phoenix, AZ, Oct 7-10, 2002.
Hamm, R.S., Letmanyi, I.H., Coble, M.D., and T. J. Parsons. “Multiplex Real Time Fluorogenic SNP Assays for Increasing Discrimination of mtDNA Testing.” Poster, 13th Promega Symposium on Human Identification, Phoenix, AZ, Oct 7-10, 2002.
Thomas, J.A., Ewing, M.M., Reitwiesner, W.A., and T.J. Parsons. “Observed mtDNA substitutions among maternal lineages of the European Royalty.” Poster, 13th Promega Symposium on Human Identification, Phoenix, AZ, Oct 7-10, 2002.
Peter M. Vallone, Michael D. Coble, Ilona Letmanyi, John M. Butler, and Thomas J. Parsons. “Multiplex Detection of 10 SNPs Located in the Coding Region of the Mitochondrial Genome.” 52nd Annual American Society for Human Genetics Conference, Baltimore, MD, Oct 15-19, 2002.
Parsons, T. J., M. D. Coble, I. H. Letmanyi, R. S. Hamm, H. Niederstaetter, and W. Parson. “Quick and Easy SNP Assays to Increase the Power of Discrimination of mtDNA Testing.” Invited Presentation, National Institute of Justice DNA Grantees Workshop. Washington D.C., June 24, 2002.
Michael Coble, MFS; Demris Lee, MSFS; Robert M. Fisher, MSFS; James DiFrancesco, MFS; Kimberly Murga, MFS; Col. Brion Smith, DDS; and Thomas Parsons, Ph.D. Mitochondrial Databases, Phylogenetic Trees and September 11th. Mid-Atlantic Association of Forensic Sciences Conference, Frederick, MD April 23-26, 2002.
Parsons, T. J., M. D. Coble, I. H. Letmanyi, H. Niederstaetter, and W. Parson. “MtDNA Genome SNP Discovery and Development for Increased Forensic Discrimination and Heteroplasmy Detection.” Invited Presentation, Mitochondrial DNA Workshop, American Academy of Forensic Sciences 54th Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA, Feb. 11, 2002.
Parsons, T.J. “Developments in Obtaining and Handling mtDNA Sequence Data.” Invited presentation, Second European-American Intensive Course in Clinical and Forensic Genetics. Dubrovnik, Croatia, Sept. 3-14, 2001.
Parsons., T.J. “Increasing the Power of mtDNA Forensic Testing by SNP Assays over the Entire mtDNA Genome.” Invited presentation, Second European-American Intensive Course in Clinical and Forensic Genetics. Dubrovnik, Croatia, Sept. 3-14, 2001.
Parsons, T. J. and M.D. Coble. “Increasing the Power of mtDNA Forensic Testing by SNP Assays over the Entire mtDNA Genome.” National Institute of Justice Second Annual DNA Grantee’s Workshop. Washington DC. June 6-8, 2001.
Parsons, T. J. “DNA Identification Challenges: Identifying US Soldiers Missing from the Korean War.” Invited presentation, Second European-American Intensive Course in Clinical and Forensic Genetics. Dubrovnik, Croatia, Sept. 3-14, 2001.
Parsons, T.J., J.A. Irwin, J.E. Byrd, B.J. Adams, G.A. Nelson, M.J. Wadhams, T.D. Anderson, M.A. Fasano, S.M. Barritt, and B.C. Smith. “Development of Extraction Methods to Solve a Unique Challenge in mtDNA Identification: The Korean War 'Punchbowl' Unknowns” 53rd Annual Meeting, American Academy of Forensic Sciences, Seattle, WA, February 19-24, 2001.
Coble, M.D., Harvey, C., Letmanyi, I., and T.J. Parsons. "SNP Analysis and Fluorescent Detection of Sequence Variation in the Entire Human Mitochondrial Genome." Joint Meeting of the Mid-Atlantic and Southern Associations of Forensic Sciences, Williamsburg, VA. May, 2001.
Coble, M.D., Harvey, C., Letmanyi, I, and T. J. Parsons. "Analysis of Sequence Variation in the Entire Human Mitochondrial Genome." 53rd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, Seattle, Washington. Feb. 2001.
Parsons, T. J. “New Developments in mtDNA Typing.” Invited Presentation. Cambridge Health Institute Symposium on DNA Forensics. Springfield, VA. 6/1/00
Parsons, T.J., Gabriel, M., Irwin, J. and Smith, B. C. Oral Presentation. “The Final Chapter: DNA Analysis of Human Remains from the Harewood Excavations.” Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. 2/25/00
Parsons, T.J., Dimling, W. E, Hornickel, M. A., and Allard, M. W. Oral Presentation. “Analysis of Population Structure in Caucasian mtDNA Sequence Databases.” Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. 2/25/00
Parsons, T. J. “mtDNA: Forensic Applications and Interpretation Issues.” Fourth International Conference on Forensic Statistics. Raleigh, North Carolina. Dec. 6-8, 1999.
Parsons, T.J. “Obtaining the data: new developments and directions at AFDIL.” Invited presentation. Mitochondrial DNA Workshop, First International Conference of Forensic Human Identification in the Millennium. London. October, 1999.
Parsons, T.J. “mtDNA ‘mutation rates:’ When is an exclusion an exclusion?” Invited presentation. Mitochondrial DNA Workshop, First International Conference of Forensic Human Identification in the Millennium. London. October, 1999.
Parsons, T.J. “Analysis of the forensic mtDNA database: is a Caucasian a Caucasian?” Invited presentation. Mitochondrial DNA Workshop, First International Conference of Forensic Human Identification in the Millennium. London. October, 1999.
Lee, D. A., R. Post, R., Ross, J.P., Parsons, T.J., Holland, M.M., & Smith, B.C. Poster Presentation: “Mutation Rate for 13 Short Tandem Repeat Loci.” First International Conference of Forensic Human Identification in the Millennium. London. October, 1999.
Ericson, P.G.P., Parsons, T.J. and U.S. Johansson. “Higher level systematics in living birds: or is Galloanserae fact or fiction?” Invited Presentation, New Perspectives on the Origin and Early Evolution of Birds: An International Symposium in Honor of John. H. Ostrom. Peabody Museum of Natural History and the Yale University Department of Geology and Geophysics, New Haven, Connecticut. Feb 14, 1999.
Parsons, T. J. “The AFDIL Research Section: New methods in ancient DNA analysis.” Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Professional Staff Conference. Washington D. C. Jan. 27, 1999.
Anderson, T., Huffine, E., Ryan, J., Yang, N., Daoudi, Y., Johnson, T., Parsons, T., and M. Holland. “Increasing the discriminatory potential of mitochondrial DNA sequencing by analyzing control region data outside of the hypervariable regions.” Presented Paper,“1999 American Academy of Forensic Sciences Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL.
Ryan, J., Wadhams, M., Yang, N., Barritt, S., Wilson, R., Huffine, E., Parsons, T., and M. Holland., “Improvements in mitochondrial DNA amplification and sequencing through the use of ‘mini-primer sets’ for highly degraded forensic specimens.” Presented Paper, 1999 American Academy of Forensic Sciences Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL.
Cayea, C.A., J.S. Raskin, C.M. Ernst, T.J. Parsons, J.H. Ryan, K.B. Smigielski, R.J. Steighner, N.C.S. Yang, E.F. Huffine, B.S. Smith, T. Holland, M.M. Holland. Poster Presentation: "Looking beyond HV1 and HV2: the application of VR1/VR2 testing of mitochondrial DNA to further dscriminate ancient skeletal remains of American war casualties." October 7-10, 1998. 9th International Symposium on Human Identification, Orlando, FL
Ryan, J. H., Wadhams, M. J., Yang, N. C. S., Barritt, S. M., Wilson, R. E., Huffine, E. F., Parsons, T. J., and M. M. Holland. Poster Presentation: “Improvements in mitochondrial DNA amplification and sequencing through the use of "mini-primers sets" for highly degraded forensic specimens.” October 7-10, 1998. 9th International Symposium on Human Identification, Orlando, FL
Anderson, T. D., Huffine, E. F., Ryan, J. H., Yang, N. C. S., Daoudhi, Y., Johnson, T. M., Parsons, T. J., and M. M. Holland. Presented Poster: “Increasing discrimination potential of mitochondrial DNA sequencing by analyzing control region data outside of hypervariable regions.” October 7-10, 1998. 9th International Symposium on Human Identification, Orlando, FL
Marino, M., Devaney, J., Hangar, A., Davis, A., Abright, C., and T. J. Parsons. Invited Presentation: “Determination of single sequence variations using liquid chromatography.” July 1998. IBC Symposium on Forensic DNA Analysis. Anapolis, MD.
Parsons, T. J., Devaney, J., Hangar, A., Cariola, M., and M. Marino. Poster Presentation: “Within-lineage mutations Observed in the Human mtDNA Control Region (Detection by Denaturing HPLC).” June, 1998. Society for the Study of Evolution, American Society of Naturalists, Society for the Study of Systematic Biology joint conference, Vancouver, Canada.
Yoder, A. D., and T. J. Parsons. Presented Paper: “DNA sequences from extinct giant lemurs: consequences for biogeographic and phylogenetic hypotheses of the extant species.“ June, 1998. Society for the Study of Evolution, American Society of Naturalists, Society for the Study of Systematic Biology joint conference, Vancouver, Canada.
Wadhams, M. J., Barritt, S. M. Wilson, R. E., Diefenbach, C. A., Huffine, E. F., Ryan, J. H., Parsons, T. J., and M. M. Holland. Presented Paper: “Analysis of Highly Degraded Forensic Specimens by “Mini-primer Set” mtDNA Sequence Analysis.” June, 1998. Second European Symposium of Human Identification, Innsbruck, Austria.
Parsons, T. J. Invited Symposium Presentation: “High-throughput DNA Identification Testing: the Mission, Structure, and Techniques of the U. S. Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory.” November, 1997. International Symposium on Human Identification, Bogota, Columbia.
Parsons, T. J. Invited Symposium Presentation: “Mitochondrial DNA Sequence Analysis from Degraded Skeletal Remains: Identification of Tsar Nicholas II, and Advanced Research Topics.” November, 1997. International Symposium on Human Identification, Bogota, Columbia.
Parsons, T. J. Symposium Presentation (and Scientific Program organizer): “An Unexpectedly High Substitution Rate Observed in the mtDNA Control Region.” Oct. 25-28, 1997. First International Workshop on Human Mitochondrial DNA, Washington D. C.
Morgan, M.A., Parsons T.J., and M.M. Holland. Presented Paper: "Amplification of Human Nuclear Pseudogenes Derived from Mitochondrial DNA: A Problem for Mitochondrial DNA Identity Testing?" September 1997. Eighth International Symposium on Human Identification, Scottsdale, AZ.
Daoudi, Y., Parsons, T. J., Fasano, M. A., Holland, J., and M. M. Holland. Poster Presentation: “The Mitochondrial DNA Sequence Database at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology.” September 1997. Eighth International Symposium on Human Identification, Scottsdale, AZ.
Parsons, T. J. Presented Paper: “A high, directly observed mutation rate in the human mtDNA control region.” Fifth Annual Meeting of the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution. June, 1997. Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.
Parsons, T. J. Presented Paper: “Observed intergenerational substitutions in the mtDNA control region, and the case of Tsar Nicholas II.” June, 1997. Fourth International Conference on Ancient DNA, Goettingen, Germany.
Roby, R.K., Steighner, R. J., Parsons, T. J., and M. M. Holland. Presented Paper: “The Evolution of mtDNA Testing at the DoD DNA Registry.” Feb. 1997 American Academy of Forensic Sciences Meeting, New York, NY.
Ivanov, P. L., Parsons, T.J., Wadhams, M. W., Holland, M. M., Roby, R. K., and Weedn, V. W. Presented Paper: “Hessian Family Lineage Mitochondrial DNA Heteroplasmy-- A Unique Tool for Identification of Tsar Nicholas II.” 1996 European Symposium on Human Identification, Toulouse, France.
Parsons, T. J. “mtDNA Sequence Analysis from Degraded Skeletal Remains: Techniques, Considerations, and Forensic Applications.” Invited Panel Presentation: 1996 American Association of Anthropological Genetics Workshop, Denver, CO.
Parsons, T. J. Poster and Workshop Presentation: Comparison of DNA Extraction Methods from Ancient or Degraded Bone. 1995 Ancient DNA II Conference, Oxford, U.K.
Parsons, T. J. Presented Paper: Genetic Differentiation and Identification of Chromosomal Sibling Species in Black Flies: mtDNA and RAPDs. Society of Vector Ecologists, 1994 Symposium on Molecular Genetics of Arthropod Vectors of Disease. Gainesville, FL
Parsons, T.J. and Pruess, K.P. 1993. Presented Paper: “RAPD analysis of Simulium vittatum sibling species.” 1993 Entomological Society of America Meeting, Indianapolis, IN.
Mariaux J., Parsons T.J. and Braun M.J. 1993. Poster Presentation: “Taq Polymerase error vs. mtDNA Microheteroplasmy in Cloned Polymerase Chain Reaction Products.” 25th Meeting, Union des Societes Suisses de Biologie Experimentale. Lausanne, Switzerland.
Parsons, T.J. and Braun, M.J. 1992. Presented Paper: Unidirectional Introgression of Male Secondary Sexual Plumage Traits across an Avian Hybrid Zone (genus Manacus). 1992 Evolution Meeting (Society for the Study of Evolution), Berkeley, CA.
Parsons, T.J. and Braun, M.J. 1992. Presented Paper: Unidirectional Introgression of Male Plumage Traits across an Avian Hybrid Zone (genus Manacus). 1992 American Ornithological Union Meeting, Ames, IA.
Parsons, T.J. and Braun, M.J. 1991. Presented Paper: “Population Genetics of the Manacus candei/Manacus vitellinus complex in Western Panama.” 1991 American Ornithological Union Meeting. Montreal, Canada.
Parsons, T.J. 1986. Invited Symposium Speaker: “Control of Expression of Foreign Genes in Plants.” International Energy Association Conference on Biotechnology. Uppsala, Sweden.
Parsons, T.J., Stettler, R.F. and Gordon, M.P. 1986. Poster presentation: “Molecular Analysis of a Wound-induced Response in Poplars.” 1986 Gordon Conference on Plant-Herbivore Interactions, Oxnard, CA.
Other Invited Seminars
International Society of Forensic Genetics 23rd World Congress, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sept, 2009. Invited Keynote Speaker: “Integrated Forensic Sciences in Missing Persons Identification.”
Australia New Zealand Forensic Science Society 19th International Symposim, Melbourne, Australia. invited Plenary Lecture “Large Scale Victim Identification.” Oct. 2008.
International Committee of the Red Cross, Geneva, Switzerland. “DNA in the World.” Feb. 2008
Uppsala University, Sweden: “Humanitarian Applications of Forensic DNA Analysis.” June, 2006.
Interpol DNA User’s Conference, Lyon, France. “Overview of Human Remains Identification.” November, 2005.
University of Innsbruck: “Forensic DNA Analysis at the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory” Nov. 2004.
University of Innsbruck: “Biology and Forensic Applications of Human Mitochondrial DNA” May 28, 2002.
Boise State University Invited Seminar: “Sequence Variation in the Human mtDNA Control Region: Forensic Applications and Evolutionary Dynamics.” Dec. 1999
National Zoological Park Research Seminar: “Sequence Variation in the Human mtDNA Control Region: Forensic Applications and Evolutionary Dynamics.” Nov. 1999.
Northwestern University, Dept. of Cellular and Molecular Biology Seminar: “An Unexpectedly High Substitution Rate Observed in the Human mtDNA Control Region” February, 1998.
National Zoological Park Research Seminar: "mtDNA Sequence Analysis from Degraded Skeletal Remains: the Quest for Military Full-Accounting, the Last Russian Tsar, and the Mother of all Humans." Sept. 1996
Cosmos Club, Washington D. C. Lecture: “DNA Identification of the Romanovs.” November, 1996.
Kansas State University, Department of Entomology: "Molecular Analysis of Black Fly Species Complexes. Nov. 1993."
University of Nebraska, Lincoln; College of Biological Sciences: "Selective Gene Flow across an Avian Species Boundary." 1993
George Washington University; Department of Biology: "Sexual Selection and Genetic Introgression in an Avian Hybrid Zone." 1992
University of Maryland; Department of Zoology and Psychology: "Sexual Selection and Genetic Introgression in an Avian Hybrid Zone." 1992
Southern Illinois University; Department of Zoology: "Unidirectional Introgression of Secondary Sexual Plumage Traits across an Avian Hybrid Zone." 1992.
Smithsonian Institution; National Museum of Natural History "Unidirectional Introgression of Secondary Sexual Plumage Traits across an Avian Hybrid Zone." 1992.
Selected Publications
Articles or Media about My Work
S. Lehrman (2006). “Missing No Longer: International Commission Forges Ahead to Identify Genocide Victimes.” In focus. August 21, 2006. ScientificAmerican.com Austrian Public Television Documentary (2006). “Mozart: Finding Traces”
A. Gibbons (1998). “Calibrating the Mitochondrial Clock.” Research News, Science 279:28-29.
K. Davies (1996). “Romanovs find Closure in DNA.” Editorial, Nature Genetics 12:339-340.
P. G. Debenham (1996). “Heteroplasmy and the Tsar.” News and Views, Nature 380-384-385.
Peer-Reviewed Journal Publications, Chronological List
A. Salas, M. Coble, S. Desmyter, T. Grzybowski, L.Gusmão, C. Hohoff, M.M. Holland, J. A. Irwin, T. Kupiec, H.-Y. Lee, B. Ludes, S. Lutz-Bonengel, T. Melton, T J. Parsons, H. Pfeiffer, L. Prieto, A. Tagliabracci, W. Parson. (2012) A cautionary note on switching mtDNA reference sequences in forensic genetics. FSI:Genetics 6: e182-e184
N. Al Zahery, J. Saunier, K. Ellingson, W. Parson, J.A. Irwin, T.J Parsons. (2012). Characterization of mitochondrial DNA control region lineages in Iraq. FSI:Genetics, in press. DOI 10.007/S00414-01200757-8.
R. Huel, S. Amory, A. Bilić, S. Vidović, E. Jasaragić, T. J. Parsons. (2012). DNA Extraction from Aged Skeletal Samples for STR Typing by Capillary Electrophoresis. In: A. Alonso ed., DNA Electrophoresis Protocols for Forensic Genetics, Methods in Molecular Biology Volume 830, 2012, pp 185-198. Springer Science+Bussiness Media.
Amory S, Huel R, Bilić A, Loreille, O, Parsons T. (2012). Automatable full demineralization DNA extraction procedure from degraded skeletal remains. FSI:Genetics, 6: 398-406.
Röck A, Irwin J, Dür A, Parsons T, Parson W. (2011). “ SAM: String-based sequence search algorithm for mitochondrial DNA database queries.” FSI:Genetics 5:126-132.
Jodi A. Irwin, Abror Ikramov, Jessica Saunier, Martin Bodner, Sylvain Amory, Alexander Röck, Jennifer O’Callaghan, Abdurakhmon Nuritdinov, Sattar Atakhodjaev, Rustam Mukhamedov, Walther Parson, Thomas J Parsons (2010). “The mtDNA composition of Uzbekistan: a microcosm of Central Asian patterns.” Int. J. Legal Med 3:195-204.
Jodi A. Irwin, Jessica L. Saunier, Katharine M. Strouss, Kimberly S. Sturk, Toni M. Diegoli, Anita Brandstätter, Walther Parson, Thomas J. Parsons. (2009). “Investigation of point heteroplasmy in the mitochondrial DNA control region: a synthesis of observations from over 5000 global population samples.” J. Molecular Evol. 68:516-527.
Irwin JA, Saunier JL, Beh P, Strouss KM, Paintner CD, Parsons TJ. (2009). “Mitochondrial DNA control region variation in a population sample from Hong Kong, China.” Vol. 3: e119-e125.
Just RS, Leney MD, Barritt SM, Los CW, Smith BC, Holland TD, Parsons TJ. (2009) “The use of mtDNA SNPs to assist in the resolution of three challenging forensic cases”. J. Forensic Sci. 54:887-891.
Just RS, Diegoli TM, Saunier JL, Irwin JA, Parsons TJ. (2008). “Complete mitochondrial genome sequences for 265 African American and U.S. “Hispanic” individuals.” Forensic Sci. Int.: Genet. 3 (2008) e45-48.
Saunier JL, Irwin JA, Just RS, O’Callaghan JE, Parsons TJ. Mitochondrial control region sequences from a U.S. “Hispanic” population sample. (2008) Forensic Sci. Int.: Genet. 2 e19-e23.
Hannah E.C. Koon, Odile Loreille, Anthony D. Covington, Thomas J. Parsons, Matthew J Collins (2008). “Diagnosing post-mortem treatments which inhibit DNA amplification from US MIAs buried at the Punchbowl.” For Sci Int. 178 (2-3):171.
Jodi A. Irwin, Jessica L. Saunier, Katherine M. Strouss, Toni M. Diegoli, Kimberly A. Sturk, Jennifer E. O’Callaghan, Carla D. Paintner, Carsten Hohoff, Bernd Brinkmann and Thomas J. Parsons. (2008). “Mitochondrial control region sequences from a Vietnamese population sample.” Int. J. Legal Med 122:195-204
Kimberly A. Sturk, Michael D. Coble, Suzanne M. Barritt, Thomas J. Parsons, and Rebecca S. Just. (2008). “The application of mtDNA SNPs to a forensic case.” Forensic Sci. Int.: Genet Supplement Series 1:295-297.
Jodi Irwin, Jessica Saunier, Katharine Strouss, Carla Paintner, Toni Diegoli, Kimberly Sturk, Leda Kovatsi, Anita Brandstätter, Marios A. Cariolou, Walther Parson, and Thomas J. Parsons. (2008). “Mitochondrial control region sequences from northern Greece and Greek Cypriots.” Int. J. Legal Med 122:87-89.
Rebecca S. Just, Toni M. Diegoli, Jessica L. Saunier, Jodi A. Irwin, Thomas J. Parsons. (2008)
“Complete mitochondrial genome sequences for 265 African American and U.S. ‘Hispanic’ individuals.” FSI:Genetics, in press.
Jodi A. Irwin, Suni M. Edson, Odile Loreille, Rebecca S. Just, Suzanne M. Barritt, Demris A. Lee, Thomas D. Holland, Thomas J. Parsons, Mark D. Leney. (2007). “DNA identification of ‘Earthquake McGoon’ 50 years postmortem.” J. Forensic Sci. 52: in press. Doi: 10.1111/j.1556-4029.2007.00506X
Jodi A. Irwin, Mark D. Leney, Odile Loreille, Suzanne M. Barritt, Alexander F. Christensen, Thomas D. Holland, Brion C. Smith, Thomas J. Parsons. (2007). “Application of Low Copy Number STR Typing to the Identification of Aged, Degraded Skeletal Remains.” J. Forensic Sci. 52: 1322-1327.
Loreille OM, Diegoli TM, Irwin JA, Coble MD, Parsons, TJ. (2007). “High efficiency extraction of DNA from bone by total demineralization.” FSI:Genetics. 1: 191-195.
Parsons TJ, Huel R, Davoren J, Katzmarzyk C, Miloš A, Selmanović A, Smajlović L. (2007) “Application of novel ‘mini-amplicon’ STR multiplexes to high volume casework on degraded skeletal remains.” FSI:Genetics 1:175-179.
Miloš A, Selamanović A, Smajlović L, Huel R, Katzmarzyk C, Rizvić A, Parsons TJ. (2007). “Success rates of nuclear STR typing from different skeletal elements.” Croatian Med. J. 48:486-93.
Davoren J, Vanek D, Konjhodzić R, Huffine E, Parsons TJ. (2007). “A highly effective DNA extraction method for nuclear STR testing of skeletal remains from mass graves.” Croatian Med. J. 48:478-85.
Huel R, Bašić L, Madacki-Todorović K, Smajlović L, Eminović I, Berbić, Miloš A, Parsons TJ. (2007). “Variant alleles, triallelic patterns and point mutations observed in nuclear STR typing from populations of the Former Yugoslavia.” Croatian Med. J. 48:494-502.
Jodi A. Irwin, Jessica L. Saunier, Katherine A. Strouss, Toni M. Diegoli, Kimberly M. Sturk, Jennifer E. O’Callaghan, Carla D.Paintner, Heather R. Williams, Kimberly J. Watson, Rebecca S. Just, Carsten Hohoff, Bernd Brinkmann, and Thomas J. Parsons. (2007). “Mitochondrial Control Region Sequences from a Vietnamese Population Sample.” Int. J. Legal Medicine, in press. DOI 10-1007/s00414-007-0205-3.
Michael D. Coble, Jodi A. Irwin, Rebecca S. Just, Jessica Saunier, Toni M. Diegoli, Katharine Strouss, Kimberly Sturk, and Thomas J. Parsons. (2007). “Development and Expansion of High Quality Control Region Databases to Improve Forensic mtDNA Evidence Interpretation.” Forensic Sci. Int.: Genet 1:154-157.
Per G.P. Ericson , Cajsa L. Andersson , Tom Britton, Andrzej Elzanowski, Ulf S. Johansson, Mari Källersjö, Jan I. Ohlson, Thomas J. Parsons, Dario Zuccon, Gerald Mayr. “Phylogeny of Neoaves: integration of molecular sequence data and fossils.” (2006). Biol. Lett. 2:543-547.
Jodi Irwin, Balazs Egyed, Jessica Saunier, Gabriella Szamosi, Jennifer O’Callaghan, Zsolt Padar, and Thomas J. Parsons. (2006). “Hungarian mtDNA population databases from Budapest and the Baranya county Roma.” Int. J. Legal Medicine 121:377-83.
Niederstätter, H., Coble, M.D., Parsons, T.J., and Parson, W. (2006). “Characterization of mtDNA SNP Typing using Quantitative Real-Time PCR with Special Emphasis on Heteroplasmy Detection and Mixture Ratio Assessment.” Progress in Forensic Genetics 11:187-188.
Dixon LA, Dobbins AE, Pulker H, Butler JM, Vallone PM, Coble MD, Parson W, Berger B, Brubweiser P, Mogensen HS, Morling N, Nielsen K, Sanchez JJ, Petkovski E, Carracedo A, Sanchez-Diz P, Briōn M, Irwin JA, Just RS, Loreille O, Parsons TJ, Syndercrombe-Court D, Schmitter H, Gill P. (2006). “Analysis of artificially degraded DNA using STRs and SNPs – Results of a collaborative European (EDNAP) exercise.” Forensic Sci Int. 164:33-44.
Michael D. Coble, Peter M. Vallone, Rebecca S. Hamm, Toni Diegoli, and
Thomas J. Parsons. (2006). “Effective strategies for increasing forensic discrimination with the mtDNA coding region.” Int. J. Legal Medicine 120:27-32.
Harald Niederstätter, Michael D. Coble , Petra Grubwieser, Thomas J. Parsons, Walther Parson. (2006). “Characterization of mtDNA SNP typing and mixture ratio assessment with simultaneous real-time PCR quantification of both allelic states.” Int. J. Legal Medicine 120:18-23.
Leda Kovatsi, Thomas J. Parsons, Rebecca S. Just, and Jodi A. Irwin. (2006). “Genetic variation for 15 autosomal STR loci (PowerPlex 16) in a population sample from northern Greece.” Forensic Sci. Int. 159:61-63.
Leslie G. Biesecker, Joan Bailey-Wilson, Jack Ballantyne, Howard Baum, Frederick R. Bieber, Charles Brenner, Bruce Budowle, John M. Butler, George Carmody, P. Michael Conneally, Barry Duceman, Arthur Eisenberg, Lisa Forman, Kenneth K. Kidd, Benoît LeClair, Steven Niezgoda, Thomas J. Parsons, Elizabeth Pugh, Robert Shaler, Stephen T. Sherry, Amanda Sozer, Anne Walsh. (2005). “DNA Identification of Victims from the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center Attack: Scientific Challenges and Policy Implications" Science 310:1122-1123.
K. Praveen Karanth, Thomas Delefosse, Berthe Rakotosaminanana, Thomas J. Parsons, and Anne D. Yoder. (2005). “Ancient DNA from giant extinct lemurs confirms single origin of Malagasy primates. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 102:5090-5095.
Rebecca S. Just, Jodi A. Irwin, Jennifer E. O’Callaghan, Jessica L. Saunier, Michael D. Coble, Peter M. Vallone, John M. Butler, Thomas J. Parsons. (2004). “Research toward increasing the utility of mtDNA in forensic identifications.” For. Sci. Int. 146S s147-s149.
Hofreiter, M, Loreille, O., Ferriola, D., and Parsons, T.J. (2004). “Ongoing Controversy over Romanov Remains.” Science 306:407-408.
Michael D. Coble, Rebecca S. Hamm, Jennifer E. O’Callaghan, Ilona H. Letmanyi, Christine T. Peterson, Jodi A. Irwin, and Thomas J. Parsons. (2004). "Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms over the entire mtDNA Genome that Increase the Forensic Power of mtDNA Testing in Caucasians.” Int. J. Legal Med. 118:137-146
Peter M. Vallone, Rebecca S. Hamm, Michael D. Coble, John M. Butler, and
Thomas J. Parsons. (2004). “A Multiplex Allele Specific Primer Extension Assay for 11 Forensically Informative SNPs Distributed Throughout the Mitochondrial Genome.” Int. J. Legal Med. 118:147-157.
Suni M. Edson, James P. Ross, Michael D. Coble, Thomas J. Parsons, and Suzanne M. Barritt. (2004). “Naming the Dead: Confronting the Realities of the Rapid Identification of Degraded Skeletal Remains.” Forensic Science Review 16:63-90.
Anita Brandstätter, Christine T. Peterson, Jodi A. Irwin, Solomon Mpoke, Davy K. Koech, Walther Parson and Thomas J. Parsons. (2004) “Mitochondrial DNA Control Region Sequences from Nairobi (Kenya): Inferring Phylogenetic Parameters for the Establishment of a Forensic Database.” Int. J. Legal Med. 118:294-306.
Anita Brandstätter, Thomas J. Parsons, and Walther Parson. MtDNA Coding Region SNPs for Rapid Screening and Haplogroup Indentification of Forensic Samples (2004). International Congress Series 1261, Elsevier Press, pp 422-424.
Anita Brandstätter, Thomas J. Parsons, Harald Niederstätter and Walther Parson. (2003). “Rapid Screening of mtDNA Coding Region SNPs for the Identification of west European Caucasian Haplogroups.” Int. J. Legal Med. 117:291-298.
Levin, B.C., K.A. Holland, D.K. Hancock, M. Coble, T.J. Parsons, L.J. Keinker, D.W. Williams, M.P. Jones, K.L. Richie (2003). “ Comparison of the complete mtDNA genome sequences of human cell lines—HL-60 and GM10742A—from individuals with pro-myelocytic leukaemia and leber hereditary optic neuropathy, respectively, and the inclusion of HL-60 in the NIST human mitochondrial DNA standard reference material—SRM 2392-I. Mitochondrion 2:387-400.
Harshman, J. C.J. Huddleston, J.P., Bolback, T.J. Parsons, and Braun, M.J. (2003). “True and False Gharials: A Nuclear Gene Phylogeny of Crocodylia.” Systematic Biology 52:386-402.
Imaizumi, K., Parsons, T. J., Yoshino, M. and Holland, M. M. (2002). “A New Database of Mitochondrial DNA Hypervariable Regions I and II Sequences from 162 Japanese Individuals.” Int. J. Legal Med. 116:68-73.
Johansson, U.S., Irestedt, M., Parsons, T.J., and Ericson, P.G.P. (2002) “Basal Phylogeny of the Tyrannoidea Based on Comparisons of Cytochrome b and Exons of Nuclear c-myc and RAG-1 Genes.” The Auk. 119: 984-995.
Parsons, T. J. and M.D. Coble. (2001). “Increasing the Forensic Discrimination of mtDNA Testing through Analysis of the Entire mtDNA Genome.” Croatian Medical Journal 42:304-309.
Desmond, M.J., Parsons, T.J., Powers, T.O., and J. A. Savidge (2001). “An Initial Examination of mtDNA Structure in Burrowing Owl Populations.” Journal of Raptor Research 35: 274-281.
Irestedt, M., Johansson, US, Parsons, TJ, and Ericson, PGP. (2001). “Phylogeny of Major Lineages of Suboscine (Passeriformes) Analysed by Nuclear DNA Sequence Data.” Journal of Avian Biology 32:15-25.
Johansson, US, Parsons, TJ, Irestedt, M, and Ericson, PGP. (2001). “Clades within the “higher land birds,” evaluated by nuclear DNA sequences.” Journal of Zoological, Systematic, and Evolutionary Research 39:37-51.
Gabriel, M.N., Huffine, E. F., Ryan, J.H., Holland, M.M., and Parsons, T.J. (2001). Improved MtDNA Sequence Analysis of Forensic Remains Using a “Mini-Primer Set” Amplification Strategy, J. Forensic Sciences. 46:247-253.
Chinnery, P.F., Taylor, G. A., Brown, D. T., Howell, N., Parsons, T. J. and Turnbull, D. M. (2001). Mitochondrial DNA Control Region Point Mutations in Normal and Neurodegenerative Human Brains. American Journal of Human Genetics. 68:529-532.
Chinnery, P. F., Jones, S., Sviland, L., Andrews, R. M., Parsons, T. J., Turnbull, D. M., and Bindoff, L. (2001). Mitochondrial Enteropathy: the Primary Pathology may not be within the Gastrointestinal Tract. Gut 48:121-124.
Ericson, P.G. P, Parsons, T.J., and U. S. Johansson (2001). Morphological and Molecular Support for Nonmonophyly of the Galloanserae. In: New Perspectives on the Origin and Early Evolution of Birds. J. Gauthier and L. F. Gall, eds. Special Publication from the Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University, pp157-168.
Parsons, T. J. and Irwin, J.A. (2000). Questioning Evidence for Recombination in Human Mitochondrial DNA. Science. 288: 1931.
Per G.P. Ericson, Ulf S. Johansson and Thomas J. Parsons. (2000). Major divisions of oscine passeriforms revealed by insertions in the nuclear gene c-myc, a novel gene to avian phylogenetics. The Auk, 117:1077-1086.
Tully, L.A., Parsons, T.J., Steighner, R.J., Holland, M.M., Marino, M.A. and Prenger, V.L. (2000). A Sensitive DGGE Assay Reveals a High Frequency of Heteroplasmy in Hypervariable Region One of the Human Mitochondrial DNA Control Region. American Journal of Human Genetics. 67(2):432-43.
Pruess, K. P., Adams, B. J., Parsons, T. J., Zhu, X., and T. O. Powers. (2000). Utility of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase II gene for resolving relationships among blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 16: 286-295.
Holland, M. M. and Parsons, T. J. (1999). Mitochondrial DNA Sequence Analysis—Validation and Use for Forensic Casework. Forensic Science Review, 11: 22-50.
Parsons, T. J., and M. M. Holland (1998). Mitochondrial mutation rate revisited: hot spots and polymorphism. Reply to Jazin et al. Nature Genetics, 18: 110.
Parson, W., Parsons, T. J., Sheithauer, R., and M. M. Holland (1998). Population data for 101 Austrian Caucasian mitochondrial DNA d-loop sequences: Application of mtDNA sequence analysis to a forensic case. International Journal of Legal Medicine, 111: 124-132.
Hall, J. S., Adams, B., Parsons, T. J., French, R. C., Lane, L. C., and S. G. Jensen (1998). Molecular cloning, sequencing and phylogenetic relationships of a new potyvirus—sugarcane streak mosaic virus and a reevaluation of the classification of the Potyviridae. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 10: 323-332.
Koch, D. A., G. A. Duncan, T. J. Parsons, K. Pruess and T. O. Powers. 1998. Effects of preservation methods, parasites and gut contents of black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) on polymerase chain reaction products. Journal of Medical Entomology 35:314-318.
Parsons, T. J., Muniec, D. M., Sullivan, K., Woodyatt, N., Alliston-Greiner, R., Wilson, M., Berry, D. L., Holland, K. A., Weedn, V. W., Gill, P., & Holland, M. M. (1997). A high observed substitution rate in the human mitochondrial DNA control region. Nature Genetics 15: 363-368.
Ivanov, P. L., Wadhams, M. J., Roby, R. K., Holland, M. M., Weedn, V. W., and T. J. Parsons (1996). Mitochondrial DNA sequence heteroplasmy in the Grand Duke of Russia Georgji Romanov establishes the authenticity of the remains of Tsar Nicholas II. Nature Genetics 12: 417-420.
Parsons, T. J., Olson S. L., and M. J. Braun (1994). Hybrid zones and sexual selection. Science 265: 122-123.
Parsons, T. J., Olson S. L., and M. J. Braun (1993). Unidirectional spread of secondary sexual plumage traits across an avian hybrid zone. Science 260: 1643-1646.
Wilkerson, R.C., Parsons, T.J., Albright, D.A., Klein, T.A. and Braun, M.J. (1993). Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) Markers Readily Distinguish Cryptic Mosquito Species (Diptera: Culicidae: Anopheles). Insect Molecular Biology. 1: 205-211.
Bradshaw, H.D., Parsons, T. J., and Gordon, M.P. (1991). Wound-responsive Gene Expression in Poplars. Forest Ecology and Management. 43: 211-224.
Parsons, T. J., Bradshaw H.D. and Gordon, M.P. (1989). Systemic Accumulation of Specific mRNAs in Response to Wounding in Poplar Trees. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 86: 7895-7899.
Bradshaw, H.D., Hollick, J.B., Parsons, T. J., Clarke, H.R., and Gordon, M.P. (1989). Systemically Wound-responsive Genes in Poplar Trees Encode Proteins Similar to Sweet Potato Sporamins and Legume Kunitz Inhibitors. Plant Molecular Biology 14: 51-59.
Parsons, T. J., Sinkar, V.P., Stettler, R.F., Nester, E.W. and Gordon, M.P. (1986). Transformation of Poplar by Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Bio/Technology 4: 533-536.
Book Chapters
René Huel, Sylvain Amory, Ana Bilić, Stojko Vidović, Edin Jasaragić and Thomas J. Parsons, “DNA Extraction from Aged Skeletal Samples for STR Typing by Capillary Electrophoresis.” (in press) in DNA Electrophoresis Protocols for Forensic Genetics, Humana Press, New York.
Irwin JA, Just RS, Coble MD, and Parsons TJ (2007, in press). “Mitochondrial DNA Squencing in Forensics.” in: DNA Sequencing Protocols, Third Edition, M. Metzker, ed. Humana Press, Inc.
T. J. Parsons (2004). “A Convenient Number.” Invited opinion article on mtDNA mutation rates, in, Human Evolutionary Genetics, MA Jobling, ME Hurles, and C. Tyler-Smith, eds. Garland Publishing, NY and Oxford.
Parsons, T. J., Barritt, S. M., and M. J. Wadhams (2001). Forensic DNA Analysis of the Last Russian Royal Family. In: Encyclopedia of Genetics, E. Reeve, ed. Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers, London. pp 827-832.
Yoder, A. D., Rakotosamimanana, B., and T. J. Parsons. (1999). Ancient DNA in subfossil lemurs: methodological challenges and their solutions. in: New Directions in Lemur Studies, Rasaminanana, H., Rakotosaminanana, B., Goodman, S. and J. Ganzhorn (eds). Plenum Press.
Parsons, T. J. (1998). mtDNA Biology and the Interpretation of mtDNA Sequence Evidence, in Manual of Mitochondrial DNA Sequence Analysis in Forensic Casework: Methods and Issues. Promega Corporation, Innsbruck, Austria.
Holland, M. M. and T. J. Parsons (1998). mtDNA Databases, in Manual of Mitochondrial DNA Sequence Analysis in Forensic Casework: Methods and Issues. Promega Corporation, Innsbruck, Austria.
Parsons, T. J. and V. W. Weedn. (1997). Preservation and recovery of DNA in postmortem specimens and trace samples, in “Forensic Taphonomy: the Postmortem Fate of Human Remains,” W. D. Haglund and M. H. Sorg, eds. CRC Press, Boca Raton , FL.
Research Interests
2005. National Institute of Justice: “Enhancing the Size, Quality, and Sampling of Forensic mtDNA Databases.” 2 years, $1,891,390.00
2003. National Institute of Justice, 2000IJCXK010, Supplemental grant, $579,488.00. “Forensic SNPs over the entire mtDNA genome.”
2000. National Institute of Justice, 2000IJCXK01 $684,552.00. “Homogenous Fluorescent PCR Assays for Forensically-Informative Sites over the Entire mtDNA Genome: Increasing the Power of Discrimination, Ease, and Speed of Forensic mtDNA Testing.”
1999. American Registry of Pathology Research Award. $20,000. “Direct evaluation of the rate and pattern of mtDNA sequence substitution at various levels of genealogical divergence.”
Honors and Awards
- 2006: International Society of Forensic Genetics: Special Award for “Humanitarian Applications of Science.”
- 2005: My doctoral student Michael Coble received the 2005 Ralph Hill Brinton Award for work performed under my direction. This is the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology’s annual award for the most significant work published by a young investigator.
- 2002: One of the 10 finalists for the Frank Brown Berry Prize in Federal Healthcare.