Robin W. Cotton, PhD

Associate Professor, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Biography

Dr. Cotton is the Director of the Biomedical Forensic Sciences Program and teaches courses in Forensic DNA Analysis. She is an expert in the fields of DNA identification and analysis of biological evidence, whereby she has testified in over 200 cases – including numerous high profile cases – around the country. In October of 2006 Dr. Cotton joined the faculty at the Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine to be the Director of the Biomedical Forensic Sciences Program. Dr. Cotton comes to the University from the Orchid Cellmark Laboratories in Germantown, Maryland where she was the Laboratory Director. She received her Ph.D in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry from the University of California at Irvine and then she completed post-doctoral research with Dr. Roger Chalkley at the University of Iowa.

Her Expertise include: Forensic DNA testing of evidence in criminal cases; DNA extraction methods and DNA separation via capillary electrophoresis; Interpretation of forensic DNA data when only small amounts are available.

Publications

  • Published 3/30/2022

    Bemelmans EA, Cotton RW, Brodeur AN. Effects of decomposition on the recoverability of biological fluid evidence. Int J Legal Med. 2022 Sep; 136(5):1201-1210. PMID: 35355113.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 9/13/2018

    Lynch PC, Cotton RW. Determination of the possible number of genotypes which can contribute to DNA mixtures: Non-computer assisted deconvolution should not be attempted for greater than two person mixtures. Forensic Sci Int Genet. 2018 11; 37:235-240. PMID: 30261423.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 3/16/2015

    Cotton RW, Fisher MB. Review: Properties of sperm and seminal fluid, informed by research on reproduction and contraception. Forensic Sci Int Genet. 2015 Sep; 18:66-77. PMID: 25817211.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 3/28/2013

    Hennekens CM, Cooper ES, Cotton RW, Grgicak CM. The effects of differential extraction conditions on the premature lysis of spermatozoa. J Forensic Sci. 2013 May; 58(3):744-52. PMID: 23550664.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 11/6/2012

    Bregu J, Conklin D, Coronado E, Terrill M, Cotton RW, Grgicak CM. Analytical thresholds and sensitivity: establishing RFU thresholds for forensic DNA analysis. J Forensic Sci. 2013 Jan; 58(1):120-9. PMID: 23130820.

    Read at: PubMed

View All 17 Publications:   View Full Profile in BUMC

Other Positions

  • Member, Genome Science Institute
    Boston University
  • Graduate Faculty (Primary Mentor of Grad Students)
    Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Graduate Medical Sciences

Websites

Education

  • University of California, Irvine, PhD
  • Southern Methodist University, MS
  • Southern Methodist University, BS

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