Dr Julie Roberts
School of Biological and Environmental Sciences
Faculty of Science
Email: J.A.Roberts@ljmu.ac.uk
Telephone: 0151 904 6567
ORCID
1. Disaster Victim Identification (DVI)
- Achieving positive identifications in highly disrupted, burnt and commingled remains. Analysis of factors that influence DNA success rates in mass fatality incidents / fatal fires, including recovery methods at the scene, environmental influences, tissue types, and mortuary processes
- Improving protocols for recovery of fragmented and burnt remains
- Multidisciplinary approaches to improve identification rates of large population groups including victims of war crimes and unidentified deceased migrants
- Post-conflict analysis of the deceased: Using multiple datasets to identify patterns relating to demographic profiles of victims, cause of death, geographical location of crimes and burial sites
2. Strengthening the links between higher education and commercial forensic science
3. Presentation of forensic anthropology evidence in expert witness statements and the courtroom, and how this impacts on the bereaved.
Chapters
Roberts J. 2023. Recovery and identification of burnt remains in a military theatre of operations The warrior six Ellingham S, Adserias-Garriga J, Zapico SC, Ubelaker DH. Burnt Human Remains: Recovery, Analysis, and Interpretation :383-405 Wiley 9781119682608 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Smith C, Roberts JA. 2016. The Animal Remains from Stonehall and Crossiecrown The Development of Neolithic House Societies in Orkney :485-494 Oxbow Books DOI Publisher Url
Márquez‐Grant N, Roberts J. 2012. Introduction Forensic Ecology Handbook :1-5 Wiley DOI
Cook G, Márquez-Grant N, Roberts J, Beckett S. 2012. Other Scientific Methods Related to Victim Identification Forensic Ecology Handbook: From Crime Scene to Court :99-110 DOI Publisher Url
Litherland S, Márquez-Grant N, Roberts J. 2012. Forensic Archaeology Forensic Ecology Handbook: From Crime Scene to Court :23-48 DOI Publisher Url
Roberts J. 2012. Forensic Anthropology Roberts J, Marquez-Grant N. Forensic Ecology Handbook: From Crime Scene to Court :49-69 Wiley-Blacwell DOI Publisher Url
Roberts J, Marquez-Grant N, Litherland S. 2012. European Perspectives and the Role of the Forensic Archaeologist Dirkmaat DC. A Companion to Forensic Anthropology :598-626 Wiley-Blackwell DOI Publisher Url
Roberts J, Battley N, King S, James H, Yeoman P. 2008. Human Remains Carragain TO. Excavations at St Ethernan's Monastery, Isle of May, Fife 1992-7 83 :83-91 Antiquity Publications Ltd
Roberts J, Brayne K. 2003. Human Skeletal Remains, 1993-2001 Lightfoot C. Amorium Reports II Research Papers and Technical Reports 2 British Archaeological Reports Oxford Limited
Márquez-Grant N, Webster H, Dussault M-C, Harris M, Roberts J, Errickson D, Medina CS. Identifying blast trauma in the human skeleton: Crimes in the Past: Archaeological and Anthropological Evidence :206-243 Archaeopress Publishing Ltd DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Journal article
Blau S, Roberts J, Cunha E, Delabarde T, Mundorff AZ, de Boer HH. 2023. Re-examining so-called ‘secondary identifiers’ in Disaster Victim Identification (DVI): Why and how are they used? Forensic Science International, 345 :111615 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Errickson D, Carew RM, Collings AJ, Biggs MJP, Haig P, O’Hora H, Marsh N, Roberts J. 2022. A survey of case studies on the use of forensic three-dimensional printing in England and Wales International Journal of Legal Medicine, 136 :1605-1619 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
de Boer HH, Roberts J, Delabarde T, Mundorff AZ, Blau S. 2020. Disaster victim identification operations with fragmented burnt or commingled remains: experienced based recommendations Forensic Sciences Research, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Sharman P, Clarke A, MacSween A, Roberts J, Alldritt D, Photos-Jones E. 2007. Excavation of a Bronze Age funerary site at Loth Road, Sanday, Orkney Scottish Archaeological Internet Reports, 25 DOI Publisher Url
Lightfoot CS, Arbel Y, Böhlendorf-Arslan B, Roberts JA, Witte-Orr J. 2004. The Amorium Project: Excavation and Research in 2001 Dumbarton Oaks Papers, 58 :355-355 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
MacGregor G, Miller J, Roberts J, Donnelly M, Tompsett G, Evans C. 2003. Excavation of an urned cremation burial of the Bronze Age, Glennan, Argyll and Bute Scottish Archaeological Internet Reports, 8 DOI Publisher Url
Goodwin W, McFarlane J, Roberts J. 2003. The identification of a US serviceman recovered from the Holy Loch, Scotland. Science & justice : journal of the Forensic Science Society, 43 :45-47 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Brown G, Roberts JA. 2000. Excavations in the Medieval Cemetery of the City Churches, Nethergate, Dundee Tayside and Fife Archaeological Journal, 6 :70-86 Publisher Url
Johnstone L, Roberts JA. Human Remains from the Gardens of Colonsay House Scottish Archaeological Journal, 23 :67-73 DOI Publisher Url
Atkinson JA, Photos-Jones E, Roberts J, Rutherford A, Smith C. Excavation of 10th-century burials at Chapelhall, Innellan, Argyll, 1994 Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 130 :651-676 DOI Publisher Url
James HF, Lorimer DH, Roberts J. Excavations of a medieval cemetery at Skaill House, and a cist in the Bay of Skaill, Sandwick, Orkney Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 129 :753-777 DOI Publisher Url
Moloney C, Hastie M, Holden T, Roberts J, Franklin J, Henderson D. New evidence for the origins and evolution of Dunbar: excavations at the Captain's Cabin, Castle Park, Dunbar, East Lothian Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 131 :283-317 DOI Publisher Url
MacGregor G, Roberts J, Cox A, Donnelly M, Evans C, Arthur J. Excavation of an Iron Age burial mound, Loch Borralie, Durness, Sutherland Scottish Archaeological Internet Reports, 9 DOI Publisher Url
Lelong O, Pollard T, Roberts JA, Shepherd IAG. Excavation of a Bronze Age ring cairn at Cloburn Quarry, Cairngryffe Hill, Lanarkshire Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 128 :105-142 DOI Publisher Url
Marquez-Grant N, Roberts J. Redefining forensic anthropology and its role in mass fatality investigations (forensic anthropology and DVI in the 21st century) European Journal of Anatomy, Publisher Url Public Url
Roberts J, Baldry A. Disposal of a Homicide Victim by Dismemberment and Burning: The Contribution of Forensic Anthropology and Archaeology in Reconstructing the Crime Archaeological and Environmental Forensic Science, 2 :39–48-39–48 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Roberts J, Fyles C, Hall D. Watching Brief on environmental improvements around St Johns Kirk, Perth Tayside and Fife Archaeological Journal, 11 :19-46
Scholarly edition
Roberts J, Hackman L, Delabarde T, De Boer HH. 2022. Forensic Anthropology: A primer for courts
Report
Angiolini E. 2016. Report of the National Cremation Investigation Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Books (authored)
Márquez-Grant N, Roberts J. 2012. Forensic Ecology Handbook: From Crime Scene to Court Márquez‐Grant N, Roberts J. :1-250 Wiley DOI Publisher Url
O'Sullivan J, Hallissey M, Roberts J. 2002. Human Remains in Irish Archaeology: Legal, Scientific, Planning and Ethical Implications O'Sullivan J, Hallissey M, Roberts J. The Heritage Council
Thesis/Dissertation
Roberts J. 2011. An Anthropological Study of War Crimes against Children in Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina in the 1990s Huggett J, Black S.
External collaboration:
International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP), PhD Research. 2025
Netherlands Forensic Institute and Netherlands Police, Forensic Anthropology Lead and Netherlands DVI Commander. 2024
https://www.cellmarkforensics.co.uk/, Cellmark Forensic Services, DNA Laboratory Manager. 2023
Alecto Forensic Services / Forensic Access, Scientists in Histology and Anthropology. 2023
Interpol, Interpol DVI Pathology and Anthropology Sub-Working Group. 2018
Academy of Forensic Medical Sciences, Director, Professor Peter Vanezis OBE. 2009
https://dviresilience.com/, DVI Resilience, Director, Mr Howard Way, OBE.
Media Coverage:
Expert evidence reported in BBC and Sky News, and the Biography "April". The book was co-authored by the parents of April Jones, a 5 year old child who was abducted and murdered in 2012. I was lead forensic anthropologist for the prosecution and gave expert witness testimony at the trial of Mark Bridger. 2015
www.bbc.co.uk (opens in a new tab)
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news.sky.com (opens in a new tab)
Filmed and Interviewed for the television programme Donal McIntyres Killer Evidence. Featuring my work as a forensic anthropologist in estimating the living age of a convicted killer. To be shown in May 2025 on ITV
Television Series Two Men in a Trench. Appeared in two episodes as the osteoarchaeologist investigating battlefields at Flodden and Shrewsbury. Presented by Tony Pollard and Niel Oliver, A book accompanied the series
Other Professional Activity:
Attended meeting at Amsterdam Police HQ. Invited by Netherlands police to assist with producing new SOPs for recovery and identification of human remains at disaster sites, and proposed national training event. 2024
Provided specialist Disaster Victim Identification Training (theory and practice) for medico-legal professionals and CSIs in Estonia, as part of two week course run by DVI resilience. 2024
Annual Guest Lecturer, Victorian Institute for Forensic Medicine CPD course: The Analysis and Interpretation of Skeletal Trauma. Title- The Principles of Blast Injuries and the Effects on Bone, https://www.vifm.org/wp-content/uploads/Skeletal_Trauma_Flyer.pdf.
Areas of Specialisation • Human skeletal biology • Anthropological methods of human identification • Interpretation of trauma and thermal damage to bone • Complex forensic anthropology and archaeology casework • Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) • Professional Standards in Forensic Anthropology • Expert Witness Practising forensic anthropologist and archaeologist with professional certification at the most senior level (RAI Cert FA-I). Over 20 years of experience in the location, recovery and identification of human remains from scenes of crime, war zones and mass fatality incidents, specialising in the recovery, examination and interpretation of burnt and highly fragmented remains. Expertise includes assistance with devising search strategies for human remains; examination of the deceased using anthropological techniques to determine identity; disaster victim identification; advising on and collecting post-mortem DNA samples; setting-up and managing workflow through temporary and permanent mortuaries; the production of expert witness statements and specialist reports. Involved in developing professional standards in forensic anthropology in collaboration with the RAI and BAFA. Author of numerous field, mortuary and laboratory Standard Operating Procedures relating to identification of the deceased from individual and mass fatality incidents, and contributor to a number of mass fatality resilience plans..
Development and Provision of CPD training in Forensic Anthropology and Archaeology for Military and Civilian Police, Medico-legal professionals and Forensic Practitioners from 2001 to present date.
RAI FA I Mentor for 2 Cert FA II and 4 Cert FA III forensic anthropologists. Appointed mentor at various dates since 2015. Mentorship involves assisting mentees to progress in forensic anthropology, within the remits of the RAI professional certification scheme.
Registered as an Expert Advisor in Forensic Anthropology and Archaeology with the National Crime Agency.
Conference presentation:
Human Identification: Forensic Casework and Research, FORRI Symposium, LJMU / Online, Oral presentation. 2024
Human Identification: International Training and Knowledge Exchange, FORRI Symposium, LJMU / Online, Poster presentation. 2024
Bridging the Gap between Academia and Practice: Keeping it Real, Forensic Research in a Commercially Agressive Landscape, Research and Knowledge Exchange Conference: Future Solutions, LJMU, Oral presentation. 2024
Keeping it Real: Forensic Research in a Commercially Agressive Landscape, British Association for Forensic Anthropology Winter Conference 2024, Oxford University, Oral presentation. 2024
Disaster Victim Identification: Personal Reflections, British Association for Human Identification 2024 Conference, Oral presentation. 2024
Factors affecting DNA preservation in disrupted, burnt and commingled remains, International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) International DNA meeting, Warsaw, Oral presentation. 2024
A Breath of Fresh Air: Collaborative Approaches between Forensic Odontology and Anthropology, British Association for Forensic Odontology Autumn Conference (invited speaker), Bristol, Oral presentation. 2023
Bridging the Gap between Academia and Practice, Future of Forensic Science Conference, Canterbury Christchurch University (invited speaker), Oral presentation. 2023
Traumatic Injuries and Forensic Anthropology: Case Types, Description and Interpretation, British Association for Forensic Anthropology Spring Conference 2023, Coventry, Oral presentation. 2023
Operation Logan: DVI Investigations and Mortuary Examinations, 32nd Interpol DVI Conference, Singapore, Oral presentation. 2023
Disaster Victim Identification and Forensic Anthropology, Royal Society of Medicine: Disaster Victim Identification, Royal Society of Medicine, London (invited speaker), Oral presentation. 2023
Forensic Anthropology and Disaster Victim Identification, HM Coroners' DVI Conference, Oxford, Oxford Spires Hotel, Oral presentation. 2023
Mental Health in Forensic Anthropology, British Association for Forensic Anthropology Winter Conference and AGM, Online, Oral presentation. 2022
Factors affecting DNA success rates in disrupted and commingled remains, 31st Interpol Disaster Victim Identification Conference, Interpol General Secretariat Lyon, Oral presentation. 2022
Forensic Anthropology in the United Kingdom: The evolving landscape and professional certification of the discipline, 74th AAFS Annual Scientific Conference, Seattle, Washington, Oral presentation. 2022
Forensic Anthropology in the United Kingdom, 14th Congress of Association of Anthropologists and Ethnologists of Russia, Tomsk / Hybrid, Oral presentation. 2021
Forensic Anthropology in the United Kingdom, Association of Forensic Medical Experts International Congress: Topical Issues of Forensic Medicine and Expert Practice 2021, Moscow / Hybrid, Oral presentation. 2021
The Identification and Recovery of Burnt and Fragmented Remains, British Association of Human Identification Summer Conference, Moreton-In Marsh, Fire College, Oral presentation. 2019
Forensic Anthropology in the 21st Century, The 20th Annual Confernece of the British Association for Biological Anthropology and Osteoarchaeology, Cranfield University, Oral presentation. 2018
Achieving a Positive Identification: Factors affecting DNA success rates in highly disrupted and commingled remains, British Association for Human Identification: Migration and Identification, Manchester, Oral presentation. 2017
The identification of unknown persons: A multidisciplinary approach, Second International Academic Conference on Missing Children and Adults, Belgium, Oral presentation. 2015
Forensic Anthropology: Multidisciplinary Approaches to Complex Investigations in the UK, 3rd International Conference on Forensic Research and Technology, San Antonio, Texas, Oral presentation. 2014
DVI: Collaboration and communication- A Forensic Service Providers Perspective, Euroscicon: 3rd International Forum for Disaster Victim Identification, Cineworld, London, Poster presentation. 2014
Forensic Anthropology and the Recovery of Human Remains from Scenes of Crime, British Association for Forensic Odontology Annual Conference, Exeter, Oral presentation. 2013
Research Grants Awarded:
LJMU QR PSF, Factors Affecting DNA Success Rates in Disrupted and Commingled Human Remains, Rita Faria, Alecto Forensic Services; Rob Howard, Cellmark Forensic Services; Alex Wilshaw, Liverpool John Moores University, Grant value (£): £9,850.00, Duration of research project: 2 years. 2024
Conference organisation:
British Association for Forensic Anthropology AGM and Winter Conference, Chair of British Association for Forensic Anthropology; convener and co-organiser. 2023
UK DVI Forensic Anthropology and Archaeology Team Meeting and Workshop, Coordinator and presenter. 2023
BAFA Summer Conference and Workshop on Skeletal Trauma, Chair, convener, co-organiser, presenter and Lead for workshop. 2023
British Association for Forensic Anthropology AGM and Winter Conference, Chair; convener and co-organiser. 2022
BAHID Workshop on Burnt and Fragmented Remains, Summer Conference, Organiser and presenter. 2019
BAFA Conference and Workshop, Chair. 2018
BAFA conference and Workshop: Ancestry, Chair. 2017
Other invited event:
Forensic Anthropology Society for Europe 20th Anniversary Symposiun, Marseilles / Hybrid, Invited speaker at round table discussion on professional certification in Forensic Anthropology in Europe. 2023
CPD event for faciomaxillary surgeons at the Royal Hampshire Hospital Winchester, Winchester, Invited speaker. Oral presentation given on Forensic Anthropology. 2023
Forensic Anthropology and Radiography, Virtual CPD Summer School, University of Cardiff, Invited speaker at University of Cardiff Virtual CPD Summer School, organised during Covid 19 Pandemic. Hosted by School of Radiography. 2020
EU Twinning Project: Disaster Victim Identification in Natural and Man-made Disasters and Terrorism Acts, Forensic Science Centre, Ministry of the Interior, Zagreb, Croatia., As part of EU funded twinning project, I provided a week-long series of lectures and practical sessions on the recovery, examination and identification of fragmented commingled and burnt remains following a mass fatality incident. Output included contribution to SOPs and DVI Guide for Croatia. 2017
Membership of professional bodies:
Member of the Chartered Institute for Archaeology, Chartered Institute for Archaeology. 2023
Chair, British Association for Forensic Anthropology (BAFA). 2017
Committee Member, Royal Anthropological Institute Forensic Anthropology Committee. 2017
Fellow, Royal Anthropological Institute (RAI). 2014
UK DVI Forensic Anthropology and Archaeology National Coordinator, UK DVI. 2012
Member, British Association for Human Identification. 2004
Award:
Member of the Chartered Institute for Archaeology, Chartered Institute for Archaeology. 2023
Certificate of Recognition and Commendation, Thames Valley Police. 2022
Chief Constable's Certificate of Commendation, Dyfed-Powys Police. 2019
Industrial connections:
Alecto Forensic Services, Scientific Advisor, http://www.alectoforensics.com/. 2021
Cellmark Forensic Services, Consultant; Research collaborator. 2019
Public engagement:
Museum and Gallery exhibitions/education, school children, local adults and family groups, Participant, World Museum Liverpool, World Museum Event 'Being Human', Collaborative activity with faculty from RCEAP: Organised and presented a stand on human identification and mock criminal investigation. 2019
External PGR examinations performed:
University of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, PhD, The Identification of Cut Marks Inflicted on Bone by Machetes and Katanas and the Survivability of those Marks when Subjected to Fires. 2019
External committees:
Interpol DVI Pathology and Anthropology Sub-Working Group, Interpol, Member of group representing UK Forensic Anthropologists. 2018
British Association for Forensic Anthropology Steering Committee, British Association for Forensic Anthropology, Chair. 2017
Forensic Anthropology Committee, Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, Member of Committee and Examination Board. 2017
Fellowships:
Fellow of the Royal Anthropological Institute, Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, https://www.therai.org.uk/. 2014