DNA Expert Liaison- Post Conviction Testing of DNA Evidence Technical Assistance, Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

Posted Job Title

DNA Expert Liaison- Post Conviction Testing of DNA Evidence Technical Assistance, Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice

Job Profile Title

Associate Director E, Research

Job Description Summary

The University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School is one of the nation’s oldest and most distinguished law schools. The School offers a unique approach, incorporating cross-disciplinary legal education, a distinctly collaborative environment, and an innovative curriculum to enrich student learning. The small and highly interdisciplinary faculty achieves scholarly excellence while emphasizing a shared effort to advance understanding of the law. The result is an intellectual community that bridges traditional boundaries and disciplines within a renowned internal culture of collegiality, making the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School an extraordinarily supportive academic community for all its members.

Reporting to the Project Manager for the Post-Conviction Testing of DNA Evidence Technical Assistance, the DNA Expert Liaison will serve as a DNA Subject Matter Expert (SME) and advise grantees under the direction of the Project Manager; the Liaison will connect individual grantees with other relevant Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to help them evaluate the potential for DNA testing on individual cases and guide grantees through testing selection and evaluation. The DNA Expert Liaison will ensure the appropriate SME is connected to the Grantee based on the complexity of the case and the DNA testing needs. Areas of SME focus may include, but are not limited to, probabilistic genotyping, mixture analysis, forensic genetic genealogy, and general examination of evidence.

Job Description

Specific responsibilities include Direct Assistance with Grantees

• Serve as in-house DNA Subject Matter Expert (SME) to work directly with grantees
• Identify network of appropriate SMEs to work with grantees directly and connect grantees with SMEs for individual case consultation. Subject Matter Experts should have over 10 years of experience performing DNA testing in a forensic laboratory setting and be familiar with emerging DNA testing protocols.
• Follow up with grantees after a Subject Matter Expert consultation to evaluate the experience and determine if additional assistance is necessary.