Forensic DNA Scientist & NGS Expert

Specialties & Experience of this Expert Witness

Additional Information

Forensic DNA Expert | Former Deputy Director, Armed Forces DNA Lab | NGS • Whole Genome Sequencing • SNPs • mtDNA • ISO 17025 • FBI Quality Assurance Standards Summary: Charla Marshall, Ph.D., is an award-winning forensic geneticist with over 15 years of experience in human identification. Formerly, as Deputy Director of DNA Operations and Chief of Emerging Technologies at the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL), she led the validation and implementation of next-generation sequencing (NGS), single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) kinship inference, and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) methods for some of the most challenging forensic cases in history including the identification of Korean War and WWII unknowns. She has authored more than 30 peer-reviewed publications and is an editorial board member of two premier journals in forensic genetics. Dr. Marshall is the Founder and Principal Consultant of DNAID Services, where she supports international forensic laboratories and technology developers with validation, accreditation, and implementation of novel DNA methods. She is also a Scientific Advisor at the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education and an Adjunct Professor of Forensic Science at Penn State University, where she mentors graduate students in forensic biology and genetics. Areas of Expertise: • Forensic DNA testing: NGS, WGS, SNPs, STRs, mitochondrial DNA, qPCR and quantification • Human remains identification (degraded, historical, and mass disaster cases) • Validation and accreditation: ISO 17025, ANAB AR 3125, FBI-QAS • Kinship inference, population genetics, complex case interpretation • Technical report writing Awards & Recognition: • ISFG Scientific Excellence Prize (2022) • DPAA Director’s Meritorious Civilian Service Award (2025) • Defense Health Agency Innovation Award (2025) Selected Publications: • 30+ peer-reviewed publications in forensic genetics, including leading studies on forensic SNP and NGS methods. • Gettings, KB, Tillmar A, Sturk‐Andreaggi K, and Marshall C. Review of SNP assays for disaster victim identification. Journal of Forensic Sciences 69, no. 5 (2024). • Zavala, EI, Thomas JT, ... & Marshall, C. (2022). Ancient DNA methods improve forensic DNA profiling of Korean War and World War II unknowns. Genes, 13(1), 129. • Tillmar A, Sturk-Andreaggi K, Thomas J, Marshall C. The FORCE panel: an all-in-one SNP marker set. Genes 12 (2021). • Marshall C, et al. Performance evaluation of mitogenome capture using case-type skeletal samples. FSI: Genetics 31 (2017). Education: • Ph.D., Anthropology (Ancient DNA), Indiana University, 2011 • B.A. (Honors), Anthropology, The Ohio State University, 2003 Professional Affiliations: • SWGDAM (Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods), NGS Committee Subject Matter Expert • National Technology Validation and Implementation Collective (NTVIC) Validation Working Group • International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP), Panel of Experts • Adjunct Professor, Penn State University • Editorial Board Member: Forensic Science International: Genetics, Journal of Forensic Sciences • International Society for Forensic Genetics • American Academy of Forensic Sciences Links: • Website: https://www.dnaidservices.com/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charla-marshall-242a8367/ • Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=uqp9R6EAAAAJ&hl=en