Episode 221 | Just Identifying Individuals with Forensic Genetic Genealogy

Dr. Heather McKiernan is currently a Research Forensic Scientist at RTI International. She serves as the Forensic Services Program Manager for the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) where she facilitates forensic genetic genealogy testing for unidentified human remains samples. She received her M.S. in Forensic Science from Arcadia University and her Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the University of Denver. Prior to joining RTI, Dr. McKiernan’s professional experience spanned academia, research, casework, and executive leadership. She has worked as the Director of graduate forensic science programs at Arcadia and Thomas Jefferson Universities, Director of a non-profit forensic laboratory, and a forensic genetics consultant. Dr. McKiernan is a former member of the Biology Data Reporting and Interpretation DNA subcommittee of the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science (OSAC) and current co-chair of the 2022 Congress of the International Society of Forensic Genetics (ISFG).

Ashley Rodriguez is a Research Public Health Analyst with RTI International, where she has primarily served as a Forensic Science Advisor on the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) Training and Technical Assistance program since 2021. Prior to joining RTI, Ms. Rodriguez spent over 12 years working at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The majority of her NCMEC career was spent serving as a Senior Forensic Case Manager, providing training and technical assistance to law enforcement and medical examiners/coroners working cases involving unidentified child remains. She has extensive experience collaborating with law enforcement to resolve highly sensitive cases using a variety of technical and forensic resources, including forensic genetic genealogy. In April 2022, Ms. Rodriguez planned and facilitated the U.S. Department of Justice – Bureau of Justice Assistance Forensic Genetic Genealogy Virtual Training. Ms. Rodriguez obtained a B.A. in Psychology and Cognitive Science in 2007 from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. She received an M.A. in Forensic Psychology in 2008 from Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia.