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As we mark the 35th anniversary of the International Symposium on Human Identification (ISHI), we are excited to announce the nominees of the ISHI Superlative Awards! This special campaign celebrates the incredible talents and unique contributions of forensic professionals who have made significant impacts in their field. These awards are a fun and meaningful way to recognize the dedication and ingenuity of our colleagues.
If I could select multiple categories for Connie I would. I would select: Gene Genius, Sequencing Superstar, data detective, tech trailblazer, and validation superhero. However, since I can only choose one, I went with validation superhero. Dr. Connie Bormans obtained her Ph.D in Genetics from Texas A&M University where she developed STR marker panels for plant breeding. She's been involved with various large-scale projects to identify genes related to cardiovascular disease before joining Gene by Gene. Dr. Bormans spent 16+ years creating policies and procedures that enabled Gene by Gene to acquire multiple accreditations, which include AABB, NYSDOH and CLIA/CAP. She has extensive expertise in assay design, regulatory requirements, high throughput DNA analysis including STR, SNPs and DNA sequencing, relationship testing, clinical diagnostic testing. In addition, Dr. Bormans has been involved with Forensic Investigative genetic Genealogy (FIGG) use in law enforcement cases since its inception. She had a key role in helping the FBI with the Golden state Killer case, which opened the doors to what is now known as FIGG or simply IGG. In 2022, she was selection as one of the top 25 women leaders in biotechnology and continues to be a phenomenal mentor and colleague. Today, she is the chief scientific officer at RGEN Forensics, where she is implementing innovative technology and validation processes to build out our lab facilities.
Nominated by: Lisa Kalisek, RGEN Forensics
Dr Ballard deserves to be nominated as ISHI Mentor of the Year due to his unfailing guidance and support for all the students he has mentored over the last few years. He is effectively growing the next generation of forensic DNA superheroes! From the lab, to all that NGS data analysis, all the way through to the conferences and finally PhD graduation-he is always there for us!
Nominated by: Laurence Devesse, King's College London
Sabrina has this amazing ability to think logically and come up with a solution or an explanation for a finding while everyone else is still scratching their heads. This is fantastic to watch and brilliant for our team.This also mean sthat whenever we have a mystery to solve - Sabrina is your woman! Apart from that we value her hard working attitude and amazing labortory talents!
Nominated by: Marielle Vennemann, Institute of Legal Medicine Münster
Mandi was the driving factor that led to the first accepted admissibility hearing for NGS in a US criminal court case. She persuaded many different people, including her small staff at the crime lab, the DA's office, and several different supporting technical experts to adopt this technology and make this event happen. She created collaborations, made connections, gathered resources, and pushed people to do their best and created a precedent that can be used for all crime labs in the US. It's not very often that something so big and so new happens in the world of government and legal proceedings, and she spearheaded this movement. She is an amazing example of perseverance and dedication and deserves to be recognized for this monumentous task.
Nominated by: Kameran Wong, QIAGEN
I would like to nominate Anna Barbaro as Mentor of the Year for her activity related to infusing her passion for forensics to students through her work at WAWFE (Worldwide Assosication of Women Forensic Experts).
Nominated by: Talia Missen Tremori, Forensic Med Vet
Ulla has a fantastic eye for finding the "unfindable", for example the one sperm cell present in a vaginal swab - if she can't see it, it is not there! She is also the one you want by your side if you are wading through a mass of items and have to chose the right area to find this single very important trace that makes all the difference to a case.
Foto by: UK Münster
Nominated by: Marielle Vennemann, Institute of Legal Medicine, Münster
Kristina is the one that makes everybody laugh. She sees a funny side in all sorts of situations. Just an example: Kristina's comment on the fact that many people find partners through work in a lab. "Yeah, sure, it's like the 'parship' slogan: every eleven PCR cycles, a single scientist falls in love" - we nearly had to leave the restaurant because the whole group just couldn't hold it together.
Apart from being a brilliant forensic scientist, Kristina is always the one getting people together to watch a silly movie or have an after work beer! She is the one you want in your lab to make sure that you don't forget how funny and beautiful life is , even if you are simply swamped by swabs...
Nominated by: Marielle Vennemann, Institute of Legal Medicine, Münster
He's been my guide for past 6 months and has been very helpful, he has also guided me in my masters and have always believed in my work, respecting my opinion at each and every step unlike other faculty members.
He encourages us and supports our growth not only in academics or in our career, but to also be a better person in life. He dedicates himself fully to the betterment of students, and thinks that today's students are future of our country. To make our country powerful, he thinks nurturing them in initial days is much needed. He is soft spoken, and a fun-loving professor.
Nominated by: Anjali Vishwakarma and Shashank Kaushik, Amity Institute of Forensic Sciences
Olivia's brain simply works different from ordinary peoples' brains-she sees data and starts "playing". Out come the most amazing discoveries. For example: there is a data set on DNA methylation for age estimation and what she finds that the first thing to do is think about gender rather than age. She mumbles "let me try a few tests here..." and walks away. The next this you know, she presents results and beautiful diagrams and all I can do is trust her mathematical brain... again!
Nominated by: Marielle Vennemann, Institute of Legal Medicine Münster
Alyse's deep understanding and passion for forensic science allows her to impart practical knowledge and unique teaching styles to ensure the new generation of scientists are beyond prepared. Alyse leads by example, demonstrating unwavering commitment, integrity, and resilience in all endeavors, always available to offer solutions and lend a helping hand to reach individual or group goals. Alyse is constructive and encouraging and has not only grown as a mentor and technical expert, but also as a leader. Alyse's ability to cultivate a growth mindset and encourage continuous learning has to lead increased morale and team performance. Alyse's impact is not only felt by those she has trained in the laboratory but also those she has worked alongside. Despite her busy schedule, professionally and personally, she has continued to assist others to move forward and work towards a goal of excellence.
Nominated by: Stacie Brenner, Raleigh/Wake City-County Bureau of Identification (CCBI)
This may qualify her for the sequencing superstar award as well, but Rachel led the effort of validating not one, not two, but *three* NGS kits all at the same time. I'm exhausted just writing that sentence. At a time when the support for validating and accrediting NGS technologies was still being built, Rachel validated mtDNA, STRs, and SNPs all at once and got them under the scope of their accreditation, ensuring that technologies and standards were supported and enforced.
Nominated by: Kameran Wong, QIAGEN
Marianne simply knows everything there is to know about forensic DNA typing. She was here when PCR technology was first introduced into forensics and she helped implementing this technology in Germany. She showed many, many people from all over the world the tricks of getting the best poissible results from any kind of sample. All the way through the different methods of analysis, from gels to capillaries to massively parallel sequencing, from mtDNA to autosomal and Y-chromosomal markers, she is the one you want in your lab!
Nominated by: Marielle Vennemann, Institute of Legal Medicine Münster
