Kelly Meiklejohn

Kelly Meiklejohn is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Population Health and Pathobiology at North Carolina State University, joining in January 2018 as part of the Chancellor’s Faculty Excellence Program cluster in Forensic Sciences. Her research integrates molecular biology, taxonomy, and forensic DNA analysis to advance wildlife forensics and forensic casework protocols.

• Education: B. of Biotechnology Advanced (Hons Class 1) and Ph.D. from the University of Wollongong (Australia)
• Postdoctoral Training: University of Florida (2013), FBI Laboratory (2017)

Meiklejohn’s work focuses on applying massively parallel sequencing (MPS) to forensic scenarios, improving mitochondrial DNA recovery from challenging samples, and developing molecular protocols for non-human biological material. Her recent publications highlight expertise in DNA metabarcoding, non-destructive sampling methods, and forensic geology.

• Affiliations: Member of Australian and New Zealand Forensic Science Society, American Academy of Forensic Sciences, Society for Wildlife Forensic Science

She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses, mentors forensic science students, and leads the Meiklejohn Lab, which specializes in wildlife forensics and environmental DNA analysis.