Second forensic scientist to join CSI: Penn State

Second forensic scientist to join CSI: Penn State

University Park, Pa. -- Mitchell M. Holland, one of the nation's leading forensic DNA scientists, is joining the faculty of Penn State's new forensics major program as associate professor of biochemistry and molecular biology.

"I'm excited to work with program director Bob Shaler, formerly of New York City's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, to help launch the University's program," said Holland. "Penn State offers a great opportunity to develop a fully comprehensive program that will train future leaders in the field of forensics science."

This fall, Penn State undergraduate students can enroll in the forensics major, administered by the Eberly College of Science, but the major is a University-wide, interdisciplinary program incorporating basic science courses with courses from anthropology; entomology; veterinary science and toxicology; crime, law and justice; ethics; statistics; and psychology. Seminars in other topics also will be developed, including forensics business and management and mass fatality management. Additionally, the forensics faculty will be involved in the University's outreach program and will offer summer courses to Penn State students and professionals in the field.

Founder of Forensic DNA Consultants, Holland recently served in executive positions at The Bode Technology Group, Springfield, Va., a nationally prominent research, development and DNA forensic analysis firm specializing in all aspects of DNA identification. Bode has been the primary private forensic lab involved in the 9/11 World Trade Center DNA identification effort. In addition, the professional scientific staff at Bode has assisted medical examiners with victim identification by analyzing victim and reference samples from such recent mass fatality incidents as the Alaska Airlines Flight 261 and the American Airlines Flight 587 aircraft disasters.

From 1991 to 2000, Holland was employed in a variety of leadership roles by the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL), Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner, the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. At AFDIL, Holland was responsible for the laboratory that identified the remains of 1st Lt. Michael Blassie (The Vietnam Unknown Soldier) and Nicholas Romanov (the last Russian Tsar). The focus of the work at AFDIL was the identification of U.S. military personnel killed in Vietnam, Korea and as a result of conflicts during World War II. In addition, all U.S. military service members killed in currant conflicts or mishaps are identified by AFDIL using DNA analysis.

A Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, Holland has been a member of the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods, for the FBI; a lecturer in forensics science at George Washington University, Washington, D.C.; adjunct assistant professor, University of Maryland at Baltimore, Md.; and associate graduate faculty, Marshall University, Huntington, W.V.

Currently, Holland is an editorial board member for the Journal of Forensics Sciences and has published dozens of academic journal articles and book chapters. He has served as an expert witness and has been honored by the FBI Laboratory for 10 years of excellence in DNA. He earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry at Hobart College and a doctorate from University of Maryland at College Park.

Graduates of this new major will be able to pursue employment as scientists in federal, state or private crime laboratories associated with law enforcement or other governmental agencies. Career opportunities also are available in other areas of both private and public sectors as scientists associated with insurance companies, homeland security agencies or the judicial community.

More information on Penn State's new forensics major is at http://live.psu.edu/story/11000 and the story on Shaler's appointment is at http://live.psu.edu/story/12178 online.