Netherlands Forensic Institute

Netherlands Forensic Institute
Laan van Ypenburg 6
62490 The Hauge
The Netherlands

www.forensicinstitute.nl

Scientific Lead

Dr. ir. Titja Sijen
Phone: +31 (0) 70 888 6666

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Project Staff

Prof. Ate Kloosterman
Phone: +31 (0) 70 888 6666

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Institute Presentation

The NFI (Netherlands Forensic Institute), formerly known as Gerechtelijk Laboratorium has a long tradition in the Netherlands as the main institute that provides forensic services to the criminal justice chain. In addition, the NFI provides services to authorities, such as the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, the Immigration and Naturalisation Service, foreign police or justice authorities, or to special investigative services such as the General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD) and the Fiscal Information and Investigation Service (FIOD). The R&D team of the department human biological traces currently holds three PhD students. Their research focuses on the optimization of forensic DNA-analysis including typing of samples with low DNA content, on RNA for forensic identification of body fluids and tissues and on methods to analyse degraded DNA. In addition a post-doctoral fellow is working on the development of probabilistic methods for the interpretation of complex DNA profiles.

TS dedicated both her Ph.D. research and two post-doc periods on RNA silencing processes in plants and nematodes. Since March 2007 she changed to forensic research and is coordinating the research and development activities of the department human biological traces at the NFI. This has resulted in numerous publications and the development and implementation of various forensic methods. Major achievements relate to methodology to analyse and interpret complex and low level DNA profiles, the development of a rapid DNA profiling service to obtain investigative leads and RNA-based approaches to assess the cellular origin of biological evidence.

ADK joined the NFI in 1979 and became involved in blood group serology and immunoglobulin allo-typing. In 1989 he became responsible for the implementation of the forensic genetic technology, and he contributed actively to the approval of this technology in the Netherlands. He is a member of the International Society of Forensic Genetics (ISFG), the European DNA Profiling Group (EDNAP) and the DNA working group of the ENFSI (European Network Forensic Science Institutes). His work resulted in a number of scientific papers on the forensic use of DNA. ADK is qualified as an expert witness (under permanent oath) in forensic biology, forensic serology and forensic DNA-analysis. He is an expert in the application of DNA typing in the forensic identification of human remains. His academic activities (2005-present) at the University of Amsterdam are as follows: Teaching in the MSc forensic science curriculum. Design of the courses Chain of Evidence I and II. These cover lectures and practical work on forensic biology and the application of DNA in present day forensic technology. He is responsible for the organization and supervision of the final examination of the students. In April 2008 ADK was appointed Professor by Special Appointment in Forensic Biology in the Faculty of Science UvA.