Rate My Professor Brendan Chapman

Associate Professor Brendan Chapman serves as Chair of the School of Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences at Murdoch University, where he holds the position of Senior Lecturer in Forensic Science and Academic Chair of Postgraduate Forensic Science. He earned a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Molecular Biology from Murdoch University, conducting honours research in ancient DNA, and completed his PhD there in 2024 on techniques for the advancement of unsolved and cold cases. Before entering academia full-time in 2016, Chapman worked in a state molecular diagnostics laboratory and transitioned to forensic biology following the introduction of the Western Australia DNA database. From 2011 to 2015, he was a civilian scientist and major crime forensic officer with the Western Australia Police, investigating thousands of serious crime scenes, including assaults and homicides. His practical experience informs his teaching and research, bridging laboratory analysis with real-world crime scene applications.

Chapman's research focuses on forensic genetics and DNA analysis, homicide and sexual assault investigations, clandestine grave site recovery, cold case reviews, and enhancing molecular capabilities for national security using advanced DNA sequencing and high-sensitivity techniques. He leads the Cold Case Review at Murdoch (CCR@Murdoch), directing forensic science and criminology students in analyzing open-source intelligence for unsolved homicides and missing persons cases to suggest new investigative avenues. Key publications include "Bacterial transfer during sexual intercourse as a tool for forensic detection" (2025), "An Environmental DNA Approach to the Isolation of Human Intra- and Extra-Cellular DNA from Large Volumes of Water from Crime Scenes" (2023), "Joining forces: Combining police and external expertise for cold case reviews" (2024), "Death and Disposal Locations of Serial Homicides: The Effect on Recovery Timeframes" (2022), "Face similarity linkage: A novel biometric approach to sexually motivated serial killer victims" (2020), and "Meta-analysis of the secondary transfer of DNA" (2019). In education, he teaches hands-on undergraduate and postgraduate courses featuring mock crime scene reconstructions, evidence collection, and laboratory work, fostering practical forensic skills among diverse students. His contributions advance forensic intelligence, support law enforcement collaborations, and address persistent challenges in unsolved cases.