February 2013 to July 2013
Target audience
Practitioners of forensic genetics – including reporting officers, forensic geneticians, lawyers, accreditation bodies – having a University degree (at least BSc) or an equivalent degree of a higher education programme
The course is given in English. However, exercises, discussions and one-to-one tutorial can be led in English, German or French.
Introduction
Given by recognized specialists in the field, this on-line course brings the essentials of evidence interpretation applied in the administration of justice. It is designed to train practitioners in the most up to date approaches to the evaluation and interpretation of DNA. The content is based on the use of likelihood ratios, an approach that is supported by the International Society of Forensic Genetics, the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes and the Association of Forensic Science Providers. The course lasts 6 months with a workload per week of 3 hours on the online platform and 1.5 to 2 hours of personal work (in total around 150 hours training).
For those wanting to specialize in Bayesian networks, we also offer the following on-line short course: Essentials of Bayesian networks in forensic science.
And, in addition to these two short courses, a Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Statistics and the Evaluation of Forensic Evidence is proposed to forensic practioners willing to acquire a comprehensive training (around 470 hours training).
Objectives
- To provide practioners with a theoretical and practical background in probabilistic and statistical reasoning without leaving their desk (on-line course)
- To enable practioners to address challenging DNA casework (e.g. low template DNA, mixtures)
- To help practioners explain their reasoning in Court and feel at ease with expert debate and the published literature on DNA interpretation
Topics
- Introduction to probabilistic inference in forensic science
- Laws of probability
- Hierarchy of propositions and the principles of forensic interpretation
- Analysing basic inference problems with Bayesian networks (BNs) and BNs software
- Essential population genetics
- Assigning match probabilities; multiple propositions
- Parentage testing and missing persons
- Solving interpretation challenges with various pedigrees (e.g. half siblings, nephew, children)
- Mixture analysis
- Value of evidence calculations when there are several contributors, taking into account population substructure and peak areas
- Low template level profiles
- Merits, limitations and potential ways to cope with LT DNA
- Non autosomal DNA
- Interpretation of haplotype sequences
- DNA for investigation
- Use of DNA for investigation (e.g. familial searching, ethnical inference, exploiting partial profiles) and database search
Instructors
- Professor Franco Taroni
- Professor Christophe Champod
- Dr Alex Biedermann
- Dr Tacha Hicks
The instructors have theoretical and practical experience with evaluation and interpretation from laboratory to courtroom. They have published over the years numerous scholarly papers and textbooks on the subjects of evaluation and statistics in forensic science.
Consultants:
- Prof. Aitken, University of Edinburgh, Scotland
- Dr Evett, United Kingdom
Organisation
Faculty of Law and Criminal Justice, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
Certification
Certificate of attendance, 5 ECTS
Course venue
On-line course
Registration
Send your CV and a duly filled in registration form to Formation Continue UNIL-EPFL.
Course fee: 3’500.- Swiss Francs
Registration deadline: January 4th, 2013
Contacts
For academic questions: sefe@unil.ch
For administrative questions:
Ms. Mary-Claire André Mollet
mary-claire.andremollet@unil.ch
