Dr. Robert Bever
Vice President, Research and Development

Robert Bever, Ph.D., is the Vice President of Research at Bode Technology. He leads the company’s research and development program, overseeing a number of federally funded projects related to the development of laser microdissection techniques for forensic needs, the development of methods related to Low Copy Number (LCN) DNA and touch evidence, recovery and analysis of DNA from exploded objects, forensic botany, and non-human species identification. Additionally he has led research efforts related to forensic microbiology, related to the development of highly sophisticated tools to detect, extract, and evaluate DNA found in soil, water, and other physical surfaces.

Before joining Bode, Dr. Bever had more than a decade of experience managing laboratory operations in the human identity market and directing the validation testing and implementation of many technologies that are now used as standard protocols for routine DNA testing. He has testified as an expert in the field of disputed paternity and criminal cases in more than 150 court appearances across the United States and has co-written dozens of articles and abstracts and conducted numerous seminars on the use of DNA typing for forensic applications.

Dr. Bever earned his Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of Maryland. He completed two post-doctoral fellowships at the University of Rochester.

Mike Cariola
Senior Vice President, Director of Operations

Mike Cariola is the Senior Vice President, Director of Operations at Bode Technology. He has ten years of DNA analysis experience, and has been responsible for the completion of over 350,000 offender profiles and more than 40,000 forensic cases. In 2006, he oversaw the design and build-out of the current 39,000 square foot state-of-the-art Bode facility, ensuring compliance with all quality assurance standards and exceeding international requirements in terms of design, construction and security. Under his leadership, Bode’s casework section has grown from three analysts and one client to over twenty (20) trained DNA analysts serving clients across the country. He has been instrumental in the implementation of automation in the laboratory and the development of an internally-developed LIMS to increase efficiency for forensic casework. Mr. Cariola holds a Master of Forensic Sciences from The George Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences from Cornell University. Prior to Bode, Mr. Cariola was employed at the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) where he performed mitochondrial DNA testing and supervised the Quality Control section.

Dr Angela Williamson is an Assistant Vice President, Director of Forensic Casework, and supervisor of our Customized Casework and Humanitarian teams. Dr. Williamson received her doctorate specializing in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry in 2002 from The Dept of Microbiology at The University of Queensland, Australia and is a co-inventor on the patent for the first vaccine developed against the human hookworm Necator americanus (work conducted at The George Washington University in conjunction with the Sabine Vaccine Institute). Prior to joining Bode, Dr Williamson worked at the Queensland State Crime Laboratory in Australia for three years as a Reporting Forensic Scientist where she performed serology and DNA analysis on hundreds of cases including sexual assaults, complex homicides, paternities, and cold cases. Since joining Bode, Dr Williamson has successfully grown the Customized Casework section; implemented new best practices for sampling which have resulted in improved results from articles of clothing; and helped expand our serology section. Dr Williamson regularly provides training seminars to attorneys and law enforcement officials, and also works with federal agencies, particularly on cold case reviews. Dr Williamson has worked on numerous cases at Bode, including the high-profile West Memphis 3 post-conviction work, and the JonBenet Ramsey case.

Manzar Ahmed, Assistant Vice-President, Director of DNA Databanking, leads Bode’s forensic training services and Bode’s DNA Databanking team of scientific analysts and technologists. Mr. Ahmed brings a decade of management, bio-scientific research, and DNA Databanking experience. Mr. Ahmed has played a key role in supporting the President’s National DNA Initiative to reduce DNA processing backlogs across the United States. Mr. Ahmed and his team have been responsible for processing over one million DNA Databanking samples, which represents over 15% of the national DNA database. Mr. Ahmed has successfully acquired, led, and completed projects for multiple state, federal, and international agencies. In addition, Mr. Ahmed also has extensive hands on experience processing various DNA substrates, implementing robotic methodologies, and effectively using LIMS software for high throughput DNA Databanking. Mr. Ahmed received his Master of Science in Biochemistry and his Bachelor of Science in Biology from The George Washington University.

Jon Davoren, Director of Core Facility and Applied Research, oversees the analysts and technicians operating high-throughput laboratory equipment and performing validation work for lab operations. Mr. Davoren has experience heading multiple laboratories including The International Commission on Missing Persons for five years. In his over eleven years of experience, Mr. Davoren has been responsible for successfully obtaining DNA profiles from thousands of highly challenged samples. Over the past seven years Mr. Davoren has overseen the testing of skeletal samples from a number of mass fatality incidences including the break up of Yugoslavia, the Thailand tsunami, hurricane Katarina, and the World Trade Center. Mr. Davoren received his Master of Science in Molecular Biology and his Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from the University of Lethbridge in Canada.