Alumni

Dr Jack Ballantyne (BSc 1976), Director of the National Centre for Forensic Science and Professor of Chemistry at the University of Central Florida, has been named to the STRmix Advisory Board.

A regular invited guest at the FBI’s Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods (SWGDAM), Dr Ballantyne is a former casework forensic scientist in Scotland, Hong Kong, and New York, where he provided expert testimony in criminal cases.

Dr Ballantyne currently teaches and conducts research in forensic molecular genetics, using biochemistry, molecular biology, and genomics to help forensic scientists retrieve more information from biological traces transferred during the commission of a crime.

Prior to entering academia, Dr Ballantyne served as Chair of the New York State DNA Sub‑committee. He was also a full‑time DNA technical leader in Suffolk County, New York. In addition, he worked as a part‑time consultant DNA technical leader for the states of Mississippi and Delaware, the city of Dallas, and Sedgwick County, Kansas.

The STRmix Advisory Board supports the STRmix team, which is responsible for conducting cutting-edge scientific research, developing award-winning forensic software, and delivering training and support.  As an Advisory Board member, Dr Ballantyne will provide independent advice and guidance based on his expertise.

The STRmix team’s software tools help interpret complex mixed DNA profiles, analyse raw DNA data, support kinship analysis, fast database searches, and more. Together, these tools cover the full workflow from DNA analysis to interpretation and database matching.

Björn Sutherland, Manager of the STRmix Team, says;

“Dr. Ballantyne’s extensive background in casework, provision of expert testimony, and forensic research represents a vitally important addition to the skills and experience the members of the STRmix Advisory Board already bring to their work.”

You can find out more about Dr Jack Ballantyne's appointment here. 

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First published: 10 March 2026