Greg Hampikian

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Greg Hampikian is a prominent American biologist and the founder and director of the Idaho Innocence Project. He is considered one of the foremost forensic DNA experts in the United States.[1][2][3][4] He also assisted in the establishment of various scientific projects such as the Georgia Innocence Project, the Irish Innocence Project, and the Innocence Project France. He is currently a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences in Boise State University. Currently, Dr. Hampikian is a DNA Expert on the Georgia Innocence Project Board. Further, Professor Hampikian is a prolific writer who has published in numerous scientific journals, including Nature and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Additionally, Dr. Hampikian gives lectures across the state of Idaho as well as nationwide.[5] He is most noted for his independent forensics research and findings in the Amanda Knox case.

Life and Work

Greg Hampikian, PhD. is of Armenian descent. He received a Masters Degree and a PhD. from the University of Connecticut in 1986 and 1990, respectively. He has worked with many attorneys on cases which involved DNA forensics investigation.[3] He established the Idaho Innocence Project which analyzes wrongful conviction claims and assists those who have been falsely charged.[3]

Hampikian is a contributor to scientific journals, newspapers and magazines. He has been featured on television numerous times in news networks such as CNN and BBC. He is also the co-author of the "Exit to Freedom" which documents the life of Calvin C. Johnson Jr., a wrongfully convicted criminal who spent seventeen years in prison.[6]

Prof. Hampikian is also an accomplished amateur folk singer and songwriter.[7]

Amanda Knox

During the high profile case of Amanda Knox, on May 23, 2011, Greg Hampikian announced that, based on its independent investigation and review, DNA samples taken at the crime scene all pointed to African drifter Rudy Guede and excluded Knox and Sollecito.[8] Upon reexamination of the DNA, he concluded that the evidence is unreliable and contaminated.[3] Hampikian's findings are one of the main reasons that Amanda and Raffaele were set free.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "Hampikian to return to CCSU for Forensic Science Day". The Citizen. Apr. 13, 2005. Retrieved 17 April 2013. 
  2. ↑ Hoffman, Nathaniel (June 24, 2009). "Greg Hampikian". Boise Weekly. Retrieved 5 April 2013. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "Top Forensic DNA Expert Dr. Greg Hampikian to Speak at Armenian Medical World Congress". Asbarez. April 2, 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2013. 
  4. ↑ Atlanta Magazine (Emmis Communications) 45 (10): 83. February 2006. ISSN 0004-6701 http://books.google.com/books?id=lQ8AAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA83&dq |url= missing title (help). Retrieved 5 April 2013. "Greg Hampikian, an Innocence Project board member and forensics expert." 
  5. ↑ "Selected Works of Greg Hampikian". Boise State University. Retrieved 13 May 2013. 
  6. ↑ Johnson, Jr., Calvin C.; Greg Hampikian (2003). Exit to Freedom. University of Georgia Press. ISBN 0820325597. 
  7. ↑ "Dr. Greg Hampikian Talks Pearl Harbor, Ex-mas". Boise Weekly. Retrieved 13 April 2013. 
  8. ↑ Sewell, Cynthia. "Boise expert: DNA shows Amanda Knox isn’t guilty", Idaho Statesman, 27 May 2011.

External links

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