Dr. Dean Hildebrand received his Ph.D. in 1996 from the University of British Columbia’s (UBC) Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. His knowledge of molecular biology stems from his graduate research, including training in the laboratory of Dr. Michael Smith (Nobel laureate, 1993). He gained additional experience as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Research Associate.
Dr. Hildebrand began his forensic career in 1997 at UBC's Bureau of Legal Dentistry where he was responsible for the forensic DNA testing, validation and research. Dr. Hildebrand joined British Columbia Institute of Technology’s (BCIT) Forensics Department in 1999 where he lead the development of the educational program, now the largest in Canada. He also established the institute’s forensic DNA laboratory, equipped with the latest technology and techniques for human identification, the facility is the only academic forensic laboratory accredited by the Standards Council of Canada to the same level as the RCMP Laboratory. The Laboratory provides expert services on challenging cases for local, national and international coroner and police agencies.
Currently Dr. Hildebrand is the Dean of the School of Computing and Academic Studies at BCIT, a role that also includes technical leadership and management of the Forensic DNA Laboratory. He is also a consultant to the BC Coroner’s Service (Special Identification Unit) where he developed and manages the provincial unidentified human remains and missing persons DNA database. Additionally, as a private consultant, he assists legal counsel on civil and criminal matters where DNA evidence is prevalent and has been qualified as an expert witness in BC, Ontario and Namibia.
