Robert Bever, Ph.D.
Education
Undergraduate Education: Frostburg State College // B. Sc in Biology
Graduate Education: Ph. D. in Microbiology from University of Maryland, College Park, Md.
Postgraduate Education
A.
1985-1986-Oregon Health Science University: Cystic Fibrosis Postdoctoral Research
Fellowship.
This research fellowship focused on the molecular pathogenesis of bacterial lung infections.
Specifically the research identified and characterized genes involved in the production of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa elastase.
B.
1986-1988-University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry: Cystic Fibrosis
Postdoctoral Research Fellowship. The fellowship continued research on the molecular
pathogenesis of lung infections.
Professional Experience:
A. Mitotyping Technologies/ Fairfax Identity Laboratory
Laboratory Director-Nov. 2014 to Present
Directs the scientific, operational, and technical aspects of the forensic and paternity testing
laboratory. Establishes the goals and objectives for the laboratory. Manages the daily
operations of the laboratory. Establishes and directs the maintenance of laboratory procedures,
policies, and protocols. Directs the validation and implementation of new laboratory
procedures. Directs the training of laboratory staff by supervising the Technical Leader and
Parentage Testing Manager. Interacts with QA Manager to assure the the forensic laboratory
meets the ASCLD-LAB, ISO, and NYS DOH standards. Directs and manages the purchasing of
equipment, supplies and reagents. Reviews and signs paternity casework. Reviews and
provides technical guidance for forensic casework. Plans the future technical and scientific
growth of the laboratory.
B. Noblis, Falls Church Virginia
Senior Principal- August 2012 to October 2014
Provided Subject Matter Expert guidance in the areas of forensics and counter biological
warfare to federal government organizations.
C. The Bode Technology Group, Inc., Springfield, Virginia
Laboratory Director, Vice President of Research - April 1997 to August 2012
Directs scientific, procedural and technical aspects of the DNA Typing laboratory. Review
and approves forensic casework associated with kinship analysis and mixture analysis.
Serves as NYS Laboratory Director for Forensic DNA analysis. Directs research programs
relating to Human Identity, Mixture Deconvolution, Low Template analysis, Next
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Generation Sequencing, Laboratory Automation, Forensic Botany, Microbial Forensics
and Geosourcing
D. Laboratory Corporation of American
Laboratory Director - January 1997 to April 1997
Directs the technical operations of the Felon DNA Databanking Laboratory. Review,
interprets, and signs paternity casework.
E. Genetic Design, Inc.
Director; Senior Director, DNA Typing Laboratories - 1989 - 1997
Directs the technical operations for the DNA typing laboratories for parentage and
forensic casework (Laboratory caseload average is 50,000 trios per year). Reviews,
interprets and signs case reports utilizing RBC, protein, HLA, and DNA testing. Provides
expert witness testimony. Directs Research and Development program.
Academic Appointments:
A. University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry: Assistant Professor in the
Department of Microbiology and Immunology. Research faculty position. 1986 to 1988.
Specialty Certification
A. New York State Department of Health. Certified as a Laboratory Director in the area of
Forensic Identity. CQ Code : BEVER1 from 2004 - 2012
B. NYS Dept. of Health. Certified as Laboratory Director in the Area of Parentage Testing from
1992 - 1997
C. Qualified as a Laboratory Director for the American Association of Blood Banks audits of
Genetic Design Inc. in the area of Parentage Analysis from 1990 - 1997.
Memberships in Professional Organizations:
 American Academy of Forensic Science (2015)
 American Association of Blood Banks (1989 to 1997)
 American Society of Microbiology (1980 -1988, and 2012)
Training:
Training in Relationship Testing ( 1989 to 2002)
1.
Parentage Testing Training: Initial practical training from Dr. James Geyer and Dr. Lynn
Ryals associated with Human Leukocyte Antigen testing, RBC/Serum antigen testing, DNA
typing, and statistical interpretation of results. This training included reading of scientific
literature, working in the laboratory, statistical interpretation of results, writing and review of
case-reports, and competency testing. Training in DNA methods was obtained during my postdoctoral studies and through discussions with scientists engaged in the early development of
DNA typing protocols (Scientists from Life-Codes, Cell Mark, Promega Corp, and the FBI).
Additional training in understanding paternity calculations and validation of DNA databases
occurred during the initial audits of the DNA laboratory by the AABB (Jeff Morris, Myrna
Travers, and Richard Walker were lead auditors).
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2.
Reading and comprehension of the book Inclusion Probabilities in Parentage Testing
edited by R. Walker.
3.
Conference on DNA for Parentage Testing: Current State of the Art. American
Association of Blood Banks, Leesburg, VA, April 17 - 18, 1989. This was the AABB’s first
conference dedicated to presenting the science, technology, laboratory protocols and statistical
interpretation of results associated with using DNA typing to resolve disputed parentage. The
objective was to provide information about current DNA typing methods (Multilocus probes,
single locus probes, RFLP methods) used to perform paternity testing.
4.
The International Symposium on Human Identification 1989. Madison, WI, December 13, 1989. This was the first International Symposium on Human Identification. The conference
presented current research and methods used to perform human identification using DNARestriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) technology for forensic and relationship
testing. The objective of the meeting was to learn about new methods in RFLP DNA testing and
to learn about appropriate methods to validate protocols, parentage testing calculations, and
local DNA databases.
5.
Parentage Testing Forum American Association of Blood Banks, Baltimore, MD,
November 12, 1991. The forum provided scientific presentations relating to laboratory
methods, interpretation of results, and calculations used in parentage casework. The objective
was to provide information about laboratory protocols and policies associated with parentage
testing.
6.
International Seminar on the Forensic Applications of PCR Technology. FBI Academy,
Quantico, VA, May 29 - 31, 1991. Two day seminar presenting the science, technology,
instrumentation, and application of PCR technology. The objective of the meeting was to
educate the forensic community on PCR technology and present genetic systems that can be
used to analyze evidence. The second objective was to discuss methods to reduce
contamination in the laboratory setting.
7.
Statistics and Population Genetics for Forensic Science. North Carolina State University,
Raleigh NC, June 16-18, 1996. Three day workshop presenting the statistics and population
genetics used in forensic science. The workshop included lectures, statistical software
laboratories, and case-studies. The objectives of the workshop were to provide theoretical and
practical knowledge of population genetics and statistics in order to analyze forensic and
paternity casework.
8.
Parentage & Mixture Statistics Workshop, 13th International Symposium on Human
Identification, Phoenix, AZ, October 7, 2002. The workshop provided information on basic
genetics and statistics used to determine the likelihood of individual being related to each
other. Additionally the workshop educated the audience on basic mixture interpretation
statistics. The objective of the workshop was to teach the attendee on basic statistics to
determine the likelihood of kinship between two individuals.
9.
Statistics II-Forensic Mixture Interpretation and Analysis. October 8, 2002. Phoenix
Arizona. The workshop (8 hours) provided methods and statistical calculations used to
interpret complex forensic mixtures. The objective was to provide the audience with
knowledge of how to interpret DNA mixtures from two and three individuals and provide
statistical calculations to interpret the mixtures.
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10.
Additional training occurred through attendance and participation in the annual
International Symposium of Human Identification. I attended the meetings in 1989 -1996,
1998-2011.
11.
Attendance and participation in the Annual AABB parentage testing forums 1989-1996.
Continuing education for the past five years:
1.
Advancing Human Forensic DNA with Next Generation Sequencing Technologies
Workshop; 25th International Symposium for Human Identification, Phoenix AZ; Sept. 29, 2014.
The workshop provided an overview of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology and how
it may apply to forensic casework. Lectures were presented on targeted sequencing of Short
Tandem Repeat (STR) loci, NGS analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), comparison of NGS
instruments, bioinformatics, and commercial NGS human identity kits. The objectives of the
workshop were to obtain knowledge of NGS technology, understand how to interpret NGS
results, understand the role of bioinformatics, and understand the advantages and limitations
of NGS for forensic applications.
2.
25th International Symposium for Human Identification, Phoenix Arizona; Sept. 30- Oct
2, 2014. The symposium provides scientific presentations associated with current and future
technologies utilized in the field of Human identification. Additionally topics related to DNA
policy, Quality Assurance, and laboratory automation are presented. Seminars on
implementation of NGS technology, interpretation of complex mixtures, use of Sing Nucleotide
Polymorphisms (SNPs) to predict facial phenotypes, implementation of rapid DNA technology,
and use of STRs and SNPs to identify ancient artifacts were highlights of the meeting. The
objective of the meeting was to provide practical and theoretical information related to the
analysis of novel STR and SNP systems, practical information on the implementation and
development of NGS systems, and updates on national and international quality assurance
programs.
3.
Advancing Human Forensic DNA with NGS Technologies Workshop; 24th International
Symposium for Human Identification, Atlanta, GA; October 2, 2013. The workshop provided an
overview of Next Generation Sequencing technology and how it may apply to forensic
casework. Topics were presented on whole genome sequencing, targeted sequencing, NGS
sequencing of mtDNA genome, NGS sequencing of STR loci, and a comparison of NGS
instruments. The objectives of the workshop were to gain knowledge of NGS technology, gain a
basic understanding of bioinformatics, and understand the advantages and limitations of NGS
technology for forensic applications.
4.
24th International Symposium for Human Identification, Atlanta, Ga. Seminars and
posters were presented associated with the analysis and interpretation of STRs, SNPs, and DNA
sequencing for identification of human remains. Additionally information was provided
associated with international DNA policy, updates on national DNA legislation, quality
assurance issues, and product updates from laboratory vendors. The objective of the meeting
was to provide practical information on the analysis of biological material for the application of
paternity testing, forensic analysis, or identification of human remains.
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5.
Workshop on Forensic Statistics and use of DNAView; presented by Charles Brenner at
Bode Technology, Lorton, VA; April 2012. Initial part of the workshop reviewed the basic
principles of population genetics, forensic statistics, and kinship statistics. The remainder of the
workshop instructed the participant on how to use DNAview; this was accomplished through
lectures and case-studies. Examples of case-studies included full family trios, single parent
cases, sib ship cases, grand-parent/grand-child cases, and uncle-nephew cases. The objective
was to learn how to use DNAview to calculate statistics for forensic and kinship casework.
6.
22nd International Symposium for Human Identification, Washington DC October 2011.
Seminars and posters were presented associated with the analysis and interpretation of
autosomal STRs, Y STRs, mtDNA, and SNPs, and DNA sequencing for identification of human
remains. Additionally information was provided associated with international DNA policy,
updates on national DNA legislation, quality assurance issues, and updates from laboratory
vendors. Highlights of the meeting included posters and presentations direct amplification of
biological stains, development of genetic systems to predict ancestry, use of mRNA to
determine source of biological fluid, novel methods to analyze DNA from aged specimens,
updates of rapid DNA systems, and implementation of Sigma Six QA system. The objective of
the meeting was to provide practical information on the analysis of biological material for the
application of paternity testing, forensic analysis, and identification of human remains.
7.
Relationship Testing I: New Directions in Forensic Medicine. American Association of
Blood Banks Annual Meeting. October 2010. Overview of novel techniques used in forensic
medicine. These techniques included the use of novel SNPs to predict ancestry of an individual,
use of SNPs to predict visible phenotypes, and the use of laser capture microdissection to
resolve complex mixtures. The objective of the meeting was to provide information associated
with genetic systems to predict visible phenotypes, predict ancestry, novel methods to resolve
forensic mixtures, the 2009 Annual Report from the AABB, novel kinship calculations, and
modification to relationship testing QA guidelines.
Relevant Papers and Presentations:
 Latiolais J and Bever R. High Sensitivity Detection and Typing of Mixed Contributor DNA
Samples Using Massively-Parallel Deep Amplicon Pyrosequencing. Presented at the
Sequencing, Finishing and Analysis in the Future Meeting. June 5-7, 2012. Santa Fe, NM.
 Bever RA, Latiolais J, Feldman A, Lin J, Demirgy P, Siyakumar I, and Mehoke T. 2011. High
Sensitivity Detection and Typing of Mixed Contributor DNA Samples Using MassivelyParallel Deep Amplicon Pyrosequencing. 2011. Proceedings of the American Academy of
Forensic Sciences. A114: pg.81.
 Bever R, Plaza D, and Driscoll R. Physical Separation and STR Analysis of Forensic Mixtures
using Laser Microdissection and Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization. Presented in Relationship
Testing I: New Directions in Forensic Medicine. American Association of Blood Banks Annual
Meeting. October 2010.
 Driscoll R and Bever R. Identification and Separation of male/female cell mixtures of same
cell morphology using laser microdissection and fluorescent insitu hybridization. Presented
at The NIJ Conference 2008: Arlington, VA. June 2008.
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 Bever R. Laser Microdissection as a Technique to Isolate Sperm Cells and Improve the
Analysis of Touch Evidence. Presented at The NIJ Conference 2007. Arlington, VA July 2007.
 Driscoll R., Plaza D, Slack D, and Bever R. The Screening of Buccal Swab Samples with
Ninhydrin Solution Results in Improved Cell Collection and STR Success Rates. The 18th
International Symposium on Human Identification. Promega Corporation. Hollywood, CA
October 2007.
 Bever RA. Resolution of Mixtures through Cloning of Human mtDNA hypervariable region.
Workshop #3 Human Mitochondrial DNA Analysis. Annual Meeting of the American
Academy of Forensic Science. Dallas TX. February 2004
 Bever RA. DNA Typing Analysis from Chemically Processed Fingerprints. The 13th
International Symposium on Human Identification. Phoenix Az. October 2002.
http://promega.com/geneticidproc/ussymp13proc/default.htm
 Bever R. DNA analysis from Chemically Processed Fingerprints. Presented at the Extracting
DNA Profiles from Challenging Sample Materials Workshop #2. Annual Meeting of the
American Academy of Forensic Science. Chicago, IL, 2003.
 Bever RA. Molecular Characterization of Botanical Trace Evidence. Presented at Workshop
on Non-Human DNA Typing: Methods and Casework Applications. Workshop #23. Annual
Meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Science. Chicago, IL, 2003.
 Blecha D, Bridgeford AN, and Bever RA, Extraction of mtDNA from Whole Blood using
QIAamp DNA Mini Kit from Qiagen. Proceedings of the American Academy of Forensic
Sciences. B31: p33. 2000.
 Bever, R. A., Karjala J., and D. Blecha. Validation and implementation of Mitochondrial DNA
Sequence Analysis for Forensic Casework. Proceedings of the American Academy of
Forensic Sciences. B98. P73. 1999. Ann M. Lins, Katherine Micka, Cynthia Sprecher, Jennifer
Taylor, Jeffrey Bacher, Dawn Rabbach, Robert Bever, Steven Creacy, and Jim Schumm.
Development and Population Study of an Eight-locus Short Tandem Repeat (STR) Multiplex
System. Journal of Forensic Science. Vol. 43 Number 6. November 1998.
 Bever R.A. , Jarvis D.A. , DiPierro D., and McElfresh K. Implementation of Laboratory
Automation for the Analysis of STR Loci. Proceedings from the Seventh International
Symposium on Human Identification, Promega Corporation, 1997.
 Creacy S.D., Kelly C.M., and Bever R.A. Application and Utilization of STR Multiplexes for
Parentage Casework. Proceedings from the Sixth International Symposium on Human
Identification, Promega Corporation, 1995.
 Bever, R. A. and Creacy, Steve. Validation and Utilization of Commercially Available STR
Multiplexes for Parentage Analysis. Proceeding from the Fifth International Symposium on
Human Identification, Promega Corporation, 1994.
 Bever, R. A., DeGuglielmo, M. A., and Creacy, S. Utilization of Buccal Cells for Paternity
Testing. Proceedings from the Fourth International Symposium on Human Identification,
Promega Corporation, 1993.
 Bever, R. A. and DeGuglielmo, M.A. Development and Validation of Buccal Swab Collection
Method for DNA Testing for Paternity Testing. Advances in Forensic Haemogenetics, 1993.
 DeGuglielmo, M.A., Rader, J. M., and Bever, R. A. Evaluation of AMP-FLP Markers and
Summary of PCR-Based Forensic Casework. Advances in Forensic Haemogenetics, 1993.
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 Bever, R. A. Development and Validation of Buccal Swab Collection Method for DNA Testing
for Paternity Testing. Proceedings from DNA Databanks and Repositories, Armed Forces
Institute of Pathology, 1993.
 Staub, R.W. and Bever, R.A. A Comparison of Regional VNTR RFLP Racial Databases.
Proceedings from the Third International Symposium on Human Identification, 1992,
Promega Corporation, pp. 191-198.
 Bever, R. A., Staub, R.W., and Meehan, B. W. Characterization of Five VNTR Loci by Hae III
RFLP Analysis: Application to Paternity Testing. Proceedings from the Second International
Symposium on Human Identification, 1991, Promega Corporation, pp. 103-128.
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