Beto Chair Lecture Series:
Dr. Bruce Budowle

"Bioterrorism and Microbial Forensics"

Mon, Sep 15, 2014
from 9:30 - 11:00 am
Hazel B. Kerper Courtroom

The College of Criminal Justice will host Dr. Bruce Budowle, Professor and Executive Director of the Institute of Applied Genetics of the University of North Texas (UNT) Health Science Center's Institute of Investigative Genetics and Vice Chair of the Department of Forensic and Investigative Genetics.

Over the past decade, Dr. Budowle's research has focused on counterterrorism, specifically efforts involving microbial forensics and bioterrorism. He was involved directly in the scientific aspects of the anthrax letters investigation and is one of the architects of the field of microbial forensics.

As chair of the Scientific Working Group on Microbial Genetics and Forensics, which was hosted by the FBI, Dr. Budowle was charged with setting up quality assurance guidelines, developing criteria for biologic and user databases, setting criteria for a National Repository, and developing forensic genomic applications. He currently serves on other government working groups related to microbial forensics.

Before joining UNT, Dr. Budowle spent 26 years with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington, D.C., including as a senior scientist. Among his achievements are:

• The CODIS National Database, which maintains DNA profiles of convicted felons
• Principal advisor to identify victims of the World Trade Center attack in 2011
• The DNA-Prokids initiative to identify missing children on an international scale
• Expertise in analytical development, population genetics, statistical interpretation of evidence, and quality assurance

The presentation also will be streamed LIVE in room 110 in The Woodlands Center and on the web at www.cjcenter.org/live.

Beth Kuhles, Publications Officer
College of Criminal Justice
Sam Houston State University
(936) 294-4425