Dr. Julie Howenstine
| Forensic DNA Expert
Biological Evidence Examiner Crime Scene Investigation Forensic Veterinary Specialist |
 |
EDUCATION
Oakland University, MI No Degree 1977-78 Pre-Med.
Michigan State University B.S., M.S. 1978-81 Microbiology, Veterinary Science
Michigan State University D.V.M. 1980-84 Veterinary Medicine
EXPERIENCE
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (May 1984-Dec. 1985)
Doctor of veterinary medicine in clinical practice at Miller Animal Clinic and Waverly Animal Clinic, Lansing, MI. Practiced veterinary medicine and surgery in mixed animal clinics including clinical lab analyses using microscopy, spectrophotometry and radiology.
Michigan State Police Crime Lab (1985-1989)
Laboratory Scientist, Serology Unit. Trained and participated in crime scene investigation, documentation and evidence collection, serological evidence analysis, report writing, expert witness testimony, training of MSP and medical personnel.
Laboratory Scientist, DNA Unit (1989-1995).
Installed and calibrated equipment and instrumentation necessary for DNA RFLP & PCR typing. Designed and executed multiple validation studies on DNA typing methodology. Analyzed numerous known whole blood samples for purpose of creating population databases. Accepted and performed DNA typing analysis on forensic samples. Routinely engaged in report writing and expert testimony.
Michigan State Police Crime Lab (1995-1997)
Laboratory Scientist, Serology Unit, Michigan State Police, East Lansing Laboratory. Accept evidence and perform serological analysis on evidentiary samples. Crime scene investigation. Training of MSP and other personnel. Report writing and expert testimony.
Forensic Scientist Michigan State Police (1998-2010)
Job description as above including both DNA and Serology functions.
Speckin Forensic Laboratories (2011-present) Forensic Biology and DNA specialist, Forensic Veterinary expert. Crime scene investigation, documentation and evidence collection. Biological evidence analysis and sample collection for DNA analysis. DNA data review, report writing and expert witness testimony.
PROFESSIONAL
AFFILIATIONS
Member American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS), 1990-2002, 2007-present.
Member Midwestern Association of Forensic Scientists (MAFS), 1986-2007.
Molecular Biology Diplomat of the American Board of Criminalistics (ABC), 1994-2010.
FORMAL
EDUCATION
Bachelor & Master of Science degrees in Microbiology & Veterinary Science from Michigan States University, 1981
Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Michigan State University, 1984
TECHNICAL
EDUCATION
One year training program in Forensic Biology/Serology and crime scene evidence collection and preservation under the guidance of court-qualified Michigan State Police Forensic Analysts.
Two week training program with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Forensic hair and fiber analysis.
Four week training program with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Forensic DNA Analysis
Numerous continuing education seminars in Forensic Biology and DNA analysis methods including training in sample source attribution, blood spatter interpretation, population frequency statistics, DNA mixture interpretations, low copy number DNA analysis and emerging DNA technologies.
COURT QUALIFIED
Forensic Biological/Serological analyses and hair comparison
Forensic DNA analysis and statistical interpretation
ACTIVITIES Prior Teaching/Lecturing Experience/Other
Participated in development and validation projects to initially establish the Forensic DNA unit for the Michigan State Police Crime Lab.
Trained MSP recruit schools, homicide detectives and crime scene investigators in Biology evidence collection and preservation 1987-2006
Served as the MSP liaison and guest lecturer to the mid-Michigan SANE (sexual assault nurse examiner) programs from 1996-2010.
Guest lecturer at Lansing Community College and Michigan State University.
CONTINUING EDUCATION
Nov 1985 Advanced Hair and Fiber Comparison, Michigan state Police, Lansing, MI
March 1986 Crime Scene Search and Collection of Evidence, Michigan state Police, Houghton, MI
May 1986 Expert Witness Testimony Course, Michigan State Police Training Academy, Lansing, MI
July 1986 Forensic Microscopy, McCrone Institute, Chicago, Ill
August 1986 Law Enforcement Photography, Cadillac, MI
October 1986 Independent Computing, Automation Resource Corporation, Lansing MI
March 1987 Human Immunoglobulin Allotyping Genetic Testing, Inc., St Louis, MO
March 1987 Advanced Electrophoresis, The Serological Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI
Oct 1987 Mathematics in Serology, MAFS Workshop, Mackinaw, MI
Nov 1987 Isoelectric Focusing Workshop, FBI, Grand Rapids, MI
March 1988 Instructor Development, Michigan State Police, Lansing, MI
May 1988 Introduction to Hairs and Fibers, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Quantico, VA
July 1988 IEF/DNA Workshop, Memorial Blood Center of Minneapolis in Grand Rapids, MI
Nov 1988 Basic Techniques in Recombinant Nucleic Acid, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Jan 1989 Forensic Application of DNA Typing Methods, FBI, Quantico, VA
Jan 1989 Laboratory Application of DNA Typing Methods, FBI, Quantico, VA
March 1989 Polymerase Chain Reaction Lectures, Michigan Dept. of Public Health, Lansing MI
May 1989 Forensic RFLP Analysis, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
May 1992 Advanced Aspects of Forensic DNA Analysis, FBI, Quantico, VA
Aug 1992 AMPLITYPE HLA DQalpha Forensic DNA Amplification and Typing, The Perkin-Elmer Corp., Alameda, CA
Oct 1995 Introduction to Mitochondrial DNA Workshop, MAFS Mtg. Paducah, KY
May 1998 Florida DNA Training-STRs-The Next Generation
June 1999 DNA Statistics Workshop, MSP FSD, Lansing, MI
April 2000 Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Workshop, KBI, Lansing, MI
Oct 2000 Casework Guidelines & Complex Mixture Interpretation Workshop, Symposium on Human Identification, Biloxi, MS
Sept 2003 Basic Principles in Statistics, Symposium on Human Identification, Phoenix, AZ
April 2004 ABI Quantifies, Prism 3100, Identifier & gene Mapper Workshop, MSP Lab, Lansing, MI
Sept 2004 Supervisor Development, MSP Training Academy, Lansing, MI
June 2005 ABI Quantifier workshop, MSP Lab, Lansing, MI
Sept 2005 DNA Statistics workshop, Symposium on Human Identification, Grapevine, TX
Feb 2006 Advanced Topics in STR DNA Analysis Workshop, AAFS Seattle, WA
Feb 2008 Review of DNA Data Accepted at NDIS, On-line with DOJ
March 2008 A Comparison of STR Kits, Promega Corp., Madison, WI
May 2008 Advanced DNA Technical Workshop, Bode Tech., Captiva, FL
Dec 2008 Population Statistics and Forensic DNA Analysis, MSP Lab, Lansing
Jan 2009 Use of Plexor HY & AB 7500 Real-Time PCR System, MSP Lab, Lansing
Jan 2009 Review of DNA Data Accepted at NDIS, On-line with DOJ
June 2009 3130 Genetic Analyzer Training, MSP Lab, Lansing
July 2009 Forensic Y-STR Analysis, Sorenson Forensics, MSP Lab, Lansing
Aug 2009 DNA Audits, Maxwell 16, Powerplex 16, Y-STRs & Hamilton Robotics, MSP Lab, Lansing
Feb 2010 Y-STR Analysis, NFSTC, Schoolcraft College, Livonia, MI
Aug 2010 CODIS, Plexor HY, Interpreting DNA, AB 3500/Minifiler, Powerplex 16HS, MSP Mtg
INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUMS
June 1989 Forensic aspects of DNA Analysis, FBI Academy, Quantico, VA
Nov 1989 First International Symposium on Human Identification, Promega Corporation, Madison, WI
March 1991 The application of DNA Technology to Forensics, University of California, Riverside, CA
May 1992 Third International Symposium on Human Identification, Promega Corporation, Phoenix, AZ
Sept 1993 Fourth International Symposium on Human Identification, Promega Corporation, Phoenix, AZ
Oct 2000 Eleventh International Symposium on Human Identification, Promega Corporation, Biloxi, MS
Oct 2003 Thirteen International Symposium on Human Identification, Promega Corporation, Phoenix, AZ
Sept 2005 Fifthteenth International Symposium on Human Identification, Promega Corporation, Grapevine, TX
July 2010 Green Mountain DNA Conference, Burlington, VT
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION MEETINGS
FALL 1987 MAFS, Mackinaw, MI
FEB 1989 American Academy of Forensic Science, Las Vegas, NV
FEB 1990 American Academy of Forensic Science, Cincinnati, OH
FEB 1992 American Academy of Forensic Science, New Orleans, LA
OCT 1994 MAFS, Cleveland, OH –DNA Court Testimony Workshop
OCT 1995 MAFS, Paducah, KY
OCT 1996 MAFS, Dayton, OH
OCT 1998 MAFS, Ann Arbor, MI
FEB 2006 American Academy of Forensic Science, Seattle, WA
FEB 2009 American Academy of forensic Science, Denver, CO
PRESENTATIONS AT SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS
OCT 1992 "Effects of Anticoagulants on DNA" , MAFS, Grand Rapids, MI
OCT 1995 "Chemiluminescent Detection of RFLP Analysis" , MAFS, Paducah, KY
SEPT 1999 "Sexual Assault Evidence Collection", Sexual Assault Systems Response Task Force Meeting, Lansing, MI
JUNE 2005 "Evidence Collection & Preservation for CSC Exams", SANE Annual Conference, Holland, MI
PUBLICATIONS
1993 VNTR POPULATION DATA: A WORLDWIDE STUDY, published by the US Department of Justice
