Professor James Michael Curran

Head of Department

In: Statistics » Faculty of Science

Research | Current

My main interests are in statistical problems in forensic science. I consult with forensic agencies in New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom, and produce and maintain expert systems software for the interpretation of evidence. I have experience as an expert witness for DNA and glass evidence, appearing in courts in the United States and Australia.

In addition to my forensic interests, I have very strong interests in statistical computing, and in automation projects.

Committees/Professional groups/Services

Director, University of Auckland Bioinformatics Institute

Selected publications and creative works (Research Outputs)

Andersen, M. M., Curran, J., de Zoete, J., Taylor, D., & Buckleton, J. (2018). Modelling the dependence structure of Y-STR haplotypes using graphical models. Forensic science international. Genetics, 37, 29-36. 10.1016/j.fsigen.2018.07.014
Gittelson, S., Berger, C. E. H., Jackson, G., Evett, I. W., Champod, C., Robertson, B., ... Coble, M. D. (2018). A response to “Likelihood ratio as weight of evidence: A closer look” by Lund and Iyer. Forensic Science International, 288, e15-e19. 10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.05.025
Taylor, D., Curran, J., & Buckleton, J. (2018). Likelihood ratio development for mixed Y-STR profiles. Forensic science international. Genetics, 35, 82-96. 10.1016/j.fsigen.2018.03.006
Other University of Auckland co-authors: John Buckleton
Gupta, A., Curran, J. M., Coulson, S., & Triggs, C. M. (2017). Comparison of intra-day and inter-day variation in LIBS spectra. Forensic Chemistry, 3, 36-40. 10.1016/j.forc.2016.12.002
Other University of Auckland co-authors: Christopher Triggs, Anjali Gupta
Curran, J. M. (2017). The Frequentist Approach to Forensic Evidence Interpretation. In M. M. Houck (Ed.) (pp. 317-323). ACADEMIC PRESS LTD-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD. 10.1016/B978-0-12-802214-6.00040-8
Taylor, D., Curran, J. M., & Buckleton, J. (2017). Importance sampling allows Hd true tests of highly discriminating DNA profiles. Forensic Science International: Genetics, 27, 74-81. 10.1016/j.fsigen.2016.12.004
Other University of Auckland co-authors: John Buckleton
Fernando, M. A. C. S., Curran, J., & Meyer, R. (2016). Performance and Limitations of Likelihood based Information Criteria and Leave-one-out Cross-validation Approximation Methods. Paper presented at 18th International Conference on Statistics and Analysis, Singapore. 21 November - 22 November 2016. Related URL.
URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2292/32582
Other University of Auckland co-authors: Renate Meyer
Curran, J. M. (2016). Admitting to uncertainty in the LR. Science and Justice, 56 (5), 380-382. 10.1016/j.scijus.2016.05.005