Dr. Julie Howenstine

Forensic DNA Expert, Biological Evidence Examiner
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Dr. Julie Howenstine

Forensic DNA Expert, Biological Evidence Examiner
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
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

1984-1985: 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.

1985-1989: Laboratory Scientist, Serology Unit, Michigan State Police, East Lansing Laboratory. Supervisors Curtis E. Fluker and Charles E. Barna. Trained and participated in crime scene investigation, documentation, and evidence collection, serological evidence analysis, report writing, expert witness testimony, and training of MSP personnel and community interest groups.

1989-1995: Laboratory Scientist, DNA Unit, Michigan State Police, East Lansing Laboratory. Supervisor Charles E. Barna. Installed and calibrated equipment and instrumentation are necessary for DNA RFLP typing. Designed and executed multiple validation studies on DNA typing methodology using Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of VNTRs. Analyzed numerous known whole blood samples for the purpose of creating population databases. Accepted and performed DNA RFLP typing analysis on forensic samples. Report writing and expert testimony.

1995-1997: Laboratory Scientist, Serology Unit, Michigan State Police, East Lansing Laboratory. Supervisor Marie Bard-Curtis. Accept evidence and perform serological analyses on evidentiary samples. Crime scene investigation. Training of MSP and other personnel. Report writing and expert testimony.

1998-2010: Forensic Scientist, Biology Unit, Michigan State Police, East Lansing Laboratory. Supervisors Charles Barna, Jeff Nye (since 2004), and Nibedita Mahanti (since 2008). The job description above includes both DNA (PCR STR) and Serology functions.

2011-present: Forensic Biology/DNA expert with Speckin Forensics, East Lansing, MI

2013-present: Quality Manager- Semen and Sperm Detection, Inc. & DNA Testing Centre, East Lansing, MI

COURTROOM EXPERIENCE
  • General Serology- approximately 67 opportunities.
  • Hair Comparison- approximately 5 opportunities.
  • DNA Analysis-122 opportunities.
PROFICIENCY TESTING

All completed successfully:

1986-2020: CTS Biological Fluids test has been taken annually

1991-2020: CTS DNA analysis test has taken annually

2014-present: CTS DNA Interpretation (autosomal & Y-STR) test taken annually

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
  • Member American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS), 1990-2002, 2007-present.
  • Member Midwestern Association of Forensic Scientists (MAFS), 1986-2006.
  • Molecular Biology Diplomate of the American Board of Criminalistics (ABC), 1994-2009.
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 (CONTRIBUTOR)

1993 VNTR POPULATION DATA: A WORLDWIDE STUDY, Published by

the U.S. Department of Justice.

NOV 1985 Advanced Hair and Fiber Comparison, Michigan State

Police, Lansing, MI

MAR 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

AUG 1986 Law Enforcement Photography, Cadillac, MI

OCT 1986 Independent Computing, Automation Resource Corporation,

Lansing, MI

MAR 1987 Human Immunoglobulin Allotyping, Allotype Genetic

Testing, Inc., St. Louis, MO

MAR 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

MAR 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

MAR 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

OCT 1999 Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Workshop, MSP FSD, Lansing, MI

APR 2000 Advanced 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

APR 2004 ABI QuantifilerTM, Prism7000 & 7900HT, 3100 & 3100-Avant, IdentifilerTM & GeneMapperTM Workshop, MSP Lab, Lansing, MI

SEPT 2004 Supervisor Development, MSP Training Academy, Lansing, MI

JUNE 2005 ABI QuantifilerTM Workshop, MSP Lab, Lansing, MI

SEPT 2005 Understanding 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

MAR 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, FBI at MSP Lab, Lansing

JAN 2010 Review of DNA Data Accepted at NDIS, On-line with DOJ

FEB 2010 Y-STR Analysis, NFSTC, Schoolcraft College, Livonia, MI

OCT 2013 DNA Mixture Interpretation Theories Workshop, MAFS Dayton, OH

OCT 2014 DNA Mixture Interpretation: A Casework Perspective, MAFS St Paul, MN

OCT 2014 How TrueAlleleWorks, Cybergenetics Webinar

OCT 2016 Y-STR Analysis and Interpreting Y-STR Evidence, MAFS, Branson, MO

DEC 2016 ASCLD DNA Mixtures Webinar Series: Technical Overview, FTCOE

JAN 2018 From Training to Trial: A Reflection on Nearly Three Years of Probabilistic Genotyping, Promega Webinar

SEPT 2018 Cutting-Edge Research in Forensic DNA Analysis from Early-Career Scientists, FTCOE Webinar

SEPT 2018 Systems Thinking and DNA Mixtures Workshop, International Symposium on Human Identification, Phoenix, AZ

MAY 2019 FTCOE/NIJ webinar series on Probabilistic Genotyping

SEPT 2020 Arguing the Case for DNA Evidence Based on PG Workshop, International Symposium on Human Identification, Virtual Meeting

JULY 2021 DNA Mixtures: A NIST Scientific Foundation Review, NIST Webinar

SEPT 2021 Lawyer Proof Your Lab, International Symposium on Human Identification, Virtual Meeting

DEC 2022 Interlab Comparison of SpermX and Conventional Differential Extractions, FTCOE webinar series

FEB 2023 NIJ R&D Symposium, Virtual Meeting

OCT 2023 AAFS Webinar, Cognitive Bias in Forensic Decisions

FEB 2024 NIJ Research & Development Symposium – Virtual Meeting

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

MAR 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 Thirteenth International Symposium on Human Identification,

Promega Corporation, Phoenix, AZ

SEPT 2005 Fifteenth International Symposium on Human Identification,

Promega Corporation, Grapevine, TX

MAY 2008 Bode Advanced DNA Technical Workshop-East, Captiva, FL

JULY 2010 Green Mountain DNA Conference, VT

SEPT 2018 Twenty-ninth International Symposium on Human Identification, Promega Corporation, Phoenix, AZ

JULY 2019 Green Mountain DNA Conference, VT

SEPT 2020 Thirty-first International Symposium on Human Identification, Promega Corporation, Virtual Meeting

SPET 2021 Thirty-second International Symposium on Human Identification, Promega  Corporation, Virtual Meeting

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION MEETINGS

1987 FALL MAFS, Mackinaw, MI

1989 FEB American Academy of Forensic Science, Las Vegas, NV

1990 FEB American Academy of Forensic Science, Cincinnati, OH

1992 FEB American Academy of Forensic Science, New Orleans, LA

1994 OCT MAFS, Cleveland, OH – DNA Court Testimony workshop

1995 OCT MAFS, Paducah, KY

1996 OCT MAFS, Dayton, OH

1998 OCT MAFS, Ann Arbor, MI

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION MEETINGS

2006 FEB American Academy of Forensic Science, Seattle, WA

2009 FEB American Academy of Forensic Science, Denver, CO

2011 FEB American Academy of Forensic Science, Chicago, IL

2012 FEB American Academy of Forensic Science, Atlanta, GA

2013 OCT MAFS, Dayton, OH

2014 OCT MAFS, Saint Paul, MN

2015 FEB American Academy of Forensic Science, Orlando, FL

2016 OCT MAFS, Branson, MO

2017 FEB American Academy of Forensic Science, New Orleans, LA

Download CV (pdf format)

Dr. Julie Howenstine – Forensic DNA Expert, Biological Evidence Examiner, Crime Scene Investigation, Forensic Veterinary Specialist