Dennis McNevin

Professor Dennis McNevin is a leading academic in forensic genetics at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), where he has held the position since 2018. He previously served at the Australian National University and the University of Canberra, progressing through roles from Lecturer to Associate Professor. His expertise spans forensic DNA analysis, biogeographical ancestry prediction, and the application of cutting-edge technologies like nanopore sequencing and machine learning in forensic science. McNevin's research addresses challenges in human remains identification, missing persons investigations, and DNA phenotyping. He is affiliated with UTS's Centre for Forensic Science and contributes to national initiatives like Australia's National DNA Program for Unidentified and Missing Persons. His work integrates interdisciplinary approaches, combining genetics, proteomics, and forensic anthropology to advance investigative capabilities. McNevin has received grants from agencies like the Australian Research Council and collaborates internationally on forensic training programs for law enforcement agencies in countries like Indonesia and Thailand. His teaching focuses on forensic genetics and criminalistics, and he has supervised numerous postgraduate students now employed in forensic laboratories across Australia. Key research themes include optimizing DNA recovery from challenging samples, developing forensic tools for ancestry and phenotype prediction, and enhancing DNA database interoperability for familial searching.

• Education: PhD (Chemical Engineering, University of Sydney, 1998), Graduate Diploma in Education (University of Western Sydney, 1991), Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical Engineering, University of NSW, 1989)
• Affiliations: Faculty of Science at UTS, Centre for Forensic Science
• Research Focus: Forensic genetics, DNA sequencing technologies, biogeographical ancestry, kinship inference, and forensic intelligence

McNevin's funded research includes projects on ultrasensitive microRNA detection, forensic DNA phenotyping frameworks, and the operationalization of advanced DNA kits for missing persons investigations. He is a member of professional societies such as the Australian Academy of Forensic Sciences and the International Society for Forensic Genetics. His contributions to forensic science have led to advancements in disaster victim identification, DNA preservation techniques, and the ethical use of genetic data in law enforcement.

Recent articles highlight his work on identity-informative markers, kinship inference using SNP panels, and proteomic approaches for body fluid identification. These studies underscore his commitment to bridging technological innovation with practical forensic applications to resolve cold cases and humanitarian identification challenges.