Forensic biology experts

Our researchers are analysing the DNA of prehistoric humans and animals to better understand the past. Forensic biology is relevant to border protection, wildlife conservation, controlling the poaching of native fauna and to the identification of both victims and perpetrators of crime.

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James Haile

Dr James Haile

Extinction Dynamics, Wildlife Forensics, Dietary Reconstruction, Environmental Paleontology, Ancient DNA, Phylogenetics

Dr James Haile is currently part of Murdoch University's aDNA Research Laboratory. His work involves the use of DNA extracted from a variety of substrates to gain an understanding into different biological processes of the past. He is currently working on a variety of projects including:

Australian Cave and Arctic permafrost sediments: dating back tens of thousands of years. From these samples Dr Haile can discover what species of plant and animals lived at different times in different places. Research includes investigating the extinction of megafauna such as Woolly Rhino, Woolly Mammoth, and Australian Sthenurine Kangaroos.

Elephant Bird Phylogenetics: Using eggshell from the extinct Madagascan Elephant Birds, Dr Haile is research how these birds were related to each other and to other ratites (such as Emu, Ostrich, Cassowary etc.) and how they became extinct following human settlement of the island.

Stick-Nests Rats: These rodents, which are almost extinct on mainland Australia, collect sticks, grasses and other vegetative matter from their environments, cementing it with urine and faeces. These middens therefore provide a wealth of information about past climate changes in Australia, and the impact of introduced species. DNA analysis is being used to help elucidate these changes.
Bob Mead

Associate Professor Bob Mead

Plant-derived toxins; biochemistry and molecular biology of disease states

Associate Professor Bob Mead is a metabolic biochemist, toxicologist and Chair of Murdoch’s Forensic Biology and Toxicology program.

He examines plant-derived toxins and the biochemistry and molecular biology of disease states. He also researches the molecular biology of disease states with hospital-based research teams.

Associate Professor Mead lectures in forensic toxicology, crime scene investigation and biochemistry.
Mike Bunce

Dr Mike Bunce

Ancient DNA, forensics, past biodiversity and molecular evolution

Dr Mike Bunce is an ARC Future Fellow and a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology.

Dr Bunce is an expert in the retrieval and characterisation of DNA from a variety of ‘old’ substrates including bone, ice cores, sediments, hair and eggshell.

His research expertise is used in a variety of fields including; forensics, conservation biology, paleontology and archaeology.

To reach these experts for media enquiries, contact:

Rob Payne
Media & Communications Coordinator
Phone: 08 9360 2491
r.payne@murdoch.edu.au		 Candice Barnes
Media & Communications Coordinator
Phone: 08 9360 2474
c.barnes@murdoch.edu.au		 Pepi Smyth
Media & Communications Coordinator
Phone: 08 9360 1289
p.smyth@murdoch.edu.au

For all other enquiries, please ring reception on 08 9360 6000.