|
 National Institute of Justice's
Technical Assistance Program
The NIJ Technical Assistance Program (NIJ-TAP) at
Marshall
University
provides selected laboratories with a unique opportunity to be assigned one or more specifically trained graduate students ready to perform validation studies in your laboratory. Prior to a May arrival, the “Technical Assistant” undergoes intensive training at the MU
Forensic
Science
Center
(August through April) based on your laboratory’s validation specifications. This is at no-cost to the participating laboratory. The Technical Assistant will arrive in your laboratory in May and perform validation studies of your design for a 10-12 week duration.
The Marshall University Forensic Science Center (MUFSC) is home to an accredited CODIS and caseworking laboratory and a FEPAC-accredited forensic science graduate program. This unique blend of educational programs and forensic DNA testing laboratories makes the MUFSC an ideal organization to provide technical assistance, free of charge, to state and local laboratories.
Host-Laboratory Selection Process
To prepare Technical Assistants for host-laboratory placement, it is necessary to first ascertain if the MUFSC has in-house technologies complimentary to the host-laboratory requesting technical assistance. This is accomplished by the requesting laboratory’s completion of the NIJ TAP Survey.
Once a correct “fit” is determined, we work with the selected laboratory’s contact person or team to design and implement a unique training program specifically suited to your laboratory’s validation needs. In this way, the Technical Assistant arrives in your laboratory ready to perform validation studies.
Validations Available at MUFSC
Completion of the NIJ TAP Survey allows the host-laboratory to select from a menu of instrumentation, kits, and software programs available at the MUFSC that include:
Laboratories will also be asked to prioritize their validation needs.
STR Instruments
- Applied Biosystems 310
- Applied Biosystems 3100
- Applied Biosystems 3130
- Applied Biosystems 3130 XL
RT-PCR Instruments
- Applied Biosystems 7000
- Applied Biosystems 7500
|
Kits
- Applied Biosystems Identifiler®
- Applied Biosystems Cofiler®
- Applied Biosystems Profiler Plus®
- Promega Powerplex 16®
- Applied Biosystems Quantifiler®
- Applied Biosystems DNA IQ®
- Applied Biosystems Yfiler®
- Promega Powerplex Y®
- Applied Biosystems AmpFℓSTR® MiniFiler™
|
Robots
- Beckman Biomek 2000
- Beckman Biomek 3000
- Promega Maxwell 16
|
Expert Systems
- Applied Biosystems GeneMapper ID® Version 3.2.1
- FSS FSS-i3 ™ Version 4.3
- Cybergenetics True Allele® System 2 Version 2.9
|
Technical Assistants
Technical Assistants are carefully selected graduate students currently enrolled in
Marshall
University
’s, FEPAC-accredited, M.S. Forensic Science Program. Each has a minimum of a 3.5 Grade Point Average, has successfully completed a MUFSC background check, and is completing an emphasis in forensic DNA analysis. Once selected, the student also enrolls in the accelerated Technical Assistance Program here at MUFSC in preparation for their host-laboratory assignment.
Anticipated Timeline
| August - November |
MUFSC communicates with requesting laboratories to establish host laboratory validation needs and to develop validation training programs based on host laboratory specifications. |
| August - December |
Technical Assistants receive education and training in a wide range of DNA technologies. Assignment of Technical Assistants to specific host-laboratories begins. |
| December - April |
Technical Assistants receive education and training in host laboratory-defined technologies. |
| May |
Technical Assistants arrive in their host laboratories to perform validation studies. |
| August |
Technical Assistants return to MUFSC. |
How To Apply
Complete the NIJ TAP Survey and press the Submit by Email button to send the information.
For More Information
To obtain more information regarding the NIJ Technical Assistance Program at
Marshall
University
contact:
Dr.
Pamela Staton
, Program Coordinator
Telephone: 304-690-4363, ext 202
Email: staton1@marshall.edu
Program Sponsorship
The Technical Assistance Program is supported by Award Number 2005-MU-BX-K020 awarded by the National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, US Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice.
|
|
|
