Researcher Spotlight
Dr. Rachel Houston
Assistant Professor
Sam Houston State University
I'm particularly excited about the collaboration opportunities CARFS offers, especially with the IAB members. Working alongside these influential professionals not only strengthens my research but also provides my students with invaluable face time with key figures in the field.
Research Interests
- Genotyping degraded/challenging samples
- DVI and missing persons applications
- Improved DVI approaches in the field and laboratory (collection/preservation)
- Massively parallel sequencing applications
- HID from “touch” evidence, weapons and explosives
- Assay development for HID and intelligence purposes
- Improved DNA methods for sexual assault applications
- Alternate genomic markers
- Forensic investigative genetic genealogy
- INDEL panels for HID and ancestry estimation
- STR-SNP relationships to maximize source attribution in highly degraded substrates
- Population dynamics and behavioral consequences of STRs
- Probabilistic genotyping for complex mixtures
- Activity level
- Polygenic prediction of visibly observable characteristics
- Forensic application of pharmacogenomics
- Forensic botany
- Identification and individualization of plants
- Microbiome and microbial forensics
- Forensic entomology applications
- Forensic anthropology/taphonomy
- Cadaver dog and field recovery of human remains (STAFS)
Capabilities
- Next generation sequencing
- Mass disaster scenarios
- Mixture deconvolution
- Activity level propositions
- Assay development
Advanced Instrumentation
- MiSeq FGx
- Ion Torrent S5
- Nanopore MinION
Researcher Spotlights
Student Successes
News
CARFS Poster Reception at AAFS, February 18, 2025
Industry Advisory Board Meeting held January 14-16, 2025 at the Global Forensic and Justice Center offices in Largo, FL
CARFS Poster Reception at AAFS, February 21, 2024
CARFS Announces Poster Presentations During the American Academy of Forensic Sciences 2024, in Denver CO - Download the list of posters
CARFS hosts a Poster Session during the American Academy of Forensic Sciences 2023, in Orlando FL - Download the list of posters
FIU CARFS Hosts Miami-Dade College and Braddock Senior High School Faculty and Students - Read the article