Centre for Forensic Research
11th Annual Symposium
December 3, 2025
Register here
Mission
The Centre for Forensic Research (CFR) creates and maintains an interdisciplinary and international hub dedicated to advancing and achieving excellence in research, training, and service that support medicolegal death investigations. The Centre is committed to improving the recovery and identification of the deceased and advancing scientific methods to determine the cause, manner, and time of death. All CFR activities are guided by principles of scientific rigor and integrity, critical thinking, and ethical responsibility.
The Centre for Forensic Research (CFR) is a Research Institute at Simon Fraser University, which brings together scientists from the Department of Archaeology, the School of Criminology, and the Department of Biological Sciences. Through its interdisciplinary structure, the Centre advances forensic science in support of medicolegal death investigations locally, nationally, and internationally.
CFR researchers contribute expertise across a broad spectrum of forensic specializations—entomology, bone chemistry, biological anthropology, DNA analysis, isotopic analysis, and forensic botany. The Centre provides direct assistance in identifying human remains, estimating the postmortem interval, and interpreting circumstances of death. This applied mandate, combined with diverse research specializations and long-standing collaborations, drives innovative forensic research and practical impact.
The Centre includes six core SFU members from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Environment, and Faculty of Science, as well as approximately twenty associate members from forensic laboratories, police agencies, government organizations, and academic institutions across Canada and around the world.
The Centre for Forensic Research operates within one of the most specialized and secure forensic research environments in Canada. Its facilities support both scientific research and casework, while meeting the strict security and chain-of-custody standards required for judicial proceedings. Key facilities include a variety of secure forensic laboratories equipped for the analysis of human remains, entomological specimens, botanical materials, DNA samples, and chemical or isotopic data, including an autopsy suite. These facilities ensure forensic exhibits are stored and handled at or above the level required for presentation in court. This includes restricted-access rooms, monitored storage, and secure evidence procedures.
Spaces include dedicated areas for student research, hands-on training, and case-based learning, as well as shared spaces that facilitate interdisciplinary work among Criminology, Archaeology, and Biological Sciences researchers. These facilities allow CFR members to conduct cutting-edge forensic research, train students in real-world forensic methods, and provide high-quality forensic service to external agencies.
Directors / Core Leadership
- Dr. Gail Anderson – Co-Director, Forensic Entomology, School of Criminology
- Dr. Hugo Cardoso – Co-Director, Forensic Anthropology, Department of Archaeology
Core SFU Researchers
- Dr. Rolf Mathewes – Forensic Botany, Department of Biological Sciences
- Dr. Dongya Yang – DNA Analysis, Department of Archaeology
- Dr. Lynne Bell – Bone Chemistry, School of Criminology
- Dr. Michael Richards – Isotopic Analysis, Department of Archaeology
Associate Members (Non-SFU)
Approximately twenty associate members contribute to the CFR as collaborators. They represent a wide range of forensic science professions and institutions across the Lower Mainland, across Canada, and internationally. Associate members are not core researchers but play a critical role in expanding the reach and impact of CFR research and casework