معرفی
Mark Barash is an Associate Professor in the Department of Justice Studies at San Jose State University's College of Social Sciences. His research integrates molecular biology, anthropology, microbiology, human genetics, genomics, bioinformatics, statistics, and machine learning to advance forensic DNA analysis capabilities.
- University: San Jose State University
- College: College of Social Sciences
- Department: Justice Studies
- Email: mark.barash@sjsu.edu
Barash's primary research focuses on developing novel forensic DNA panels using massively parallel sequencing technology and machine learning pipelines to create molecular identikits for criminal investigations. His work addresses critical challenges in DNA recovery from firearms/ammunition and genetic/epigenetic trait prediction for cold cases, missing persons, and counter-terrorism.
Key research trends include:
- Enhancing forensic DNA recovery techniques from challenging surfaces
- Machine learning applications in DNA phenotyping
- Development of the "Genetic Witness" tool for appearance prediction
- Interdisciplinary collaborations with forensic industry partners
- Validation of probabilistic genotyping systems
- Microbial profiling for forensic identification
His work impacts criminal investigations by addressing declining police clearance rates for homicides (66%) and sexual assaults (32%) in the U.S., aiming to resolve over 250,000 accumulated cold cases.
Barash combines his academic work with practical forensic experience, having served over nine years as a forensic DNA officer (Chief Inspector) in the Israel Police, analyzing evidence in approximately 600 criminal cases.
