Kelly Meiklejohn
Bio
Dr Meiklejohn joined the Department of Population Health and Pathobiology in January 2018, as a Chancellor’s Faculty Excellence Program Cluster hire in Forensics. Dr Meiklejohn completed her doctoral work in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Wollongong (Australia) on the systematics and taxonomy of the forensically important Australian flesh flies. Prior to joining NC State, Dr. Meiklejohn was most recently a Post Doctoral Research Fellow with the Counterterrorism and Forensic Science Research Unit (CFSRU) of the FBI Laboratory, in Quantico, VA (sponsored by ORISE). In this position, Dr Meiklejohn directed several research and development projects in the area of DNA forensics, spanning the utility of massively parallel sequencing for human identifications and investigative leads, along with developing capabilities to molecularly identify non-human biological materials encountered in casework. In her first Post Doctoral position at the University of Florida, Dr. Meiklejohn looked at resolving relationships among galliform birds using ultraconserved elements (UCEs) in the genome. She has taught both graduate and undergraduate level courses in biochemistry, anatomy and bioinformatics at the University of Wollongong, and has mentored interns and forensic science masters students.
AFFILIATIONS
American Academy of Forensic Sciences
Society for Wildlife Forensic Science
Australian and New Zealand Forensic Science Society
CERTIFICATIONS
Ph.D (Examiners’ Commendation for Outstanding Thesis), University of Wollongong
B Biotechnology Advanced (Honors – Class I), University of Wollongong
Area(s) of Expertise
GENETICS, GLOBAL HEALTH
Dr Meiklejohn’s research is centered in DNA forensics, where she looks to apply new technologies (such as massively parallel sequencing) to scenarios where additional information could prove vital to an investigation. As non-human biological material is currently underutilized in forensic casework, her research seeks to examine reliable and accurate methods for its identification. Additionally, Dr Meiklejohn plans on harnessing the partnerships she has with government, industry and within the CVM, to address ongoing challenges in animal and wildlife forensics.
Publications
- Carrion-breeding flies of Australia and New Zealand: A review and key to adults , AUSTRAL ENTOMOLOGY (2025)
- DNA Metabarcoding Using Indexed Primers: Workflow to Characterize Bacteria, Fungi, Plants, and Arthropods from Environmental Samples , DIVERSITY-BASEL (2025)
- Evaluating non-destructive sampling methods of parchment for genomic sequencing , NPJ HERITAGE SCIENCE (2025)
- Evaluation of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus RNA contamination on swine industry transportation vehicles , PREVENTIVE VETERINARY MEDICINE (2025)
- Utilizing eDNA from bacteria, fungi, plants, and arthropods associated with mock geologic evidence for sample-to-sample comparisons and study site separation: A feasibility study , FORENSIC SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL-GENETICS (2025)
- Bed bugs, Cimex lectularius: Undercover agents in forensic investigations , JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES (2024)
- Ophthalmomyiasis Case Caused by Two Blow Fly (Diptera: Calliphoridae) Species in North America , The Scientific World Journal (2024)
- The development of non-destructive sampling methods of parchment skins for genetic species identification , PLOS ONE (2024)
- Assessing three soil removal methods for environmental DNA analysis of mock forensic geology evidence , JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES (2023)
- Using FastID to analyze complex SNP mixtures from indoor dust , JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES (2023)