Dr. Hirak Ranjan Dash is an Assistant Professor of Forensic Biotechnology at the National Forensic Sciences University, Delhi Campus, India. He obtained his PhD degree in Life Science from the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, India. Previously, he served as a DNA expert at Forensic Science Laboratory, Madhya Pradesh, India. His research interests include forensic microbiology, microbial phylogeny, forensic DNA analysis, genetic markers, and next generation sequencing. He has published 50 research papers and 9 books. He has previously received a research fellowship from the Indian Academy of Science. He is a pioneer in India working on NGS-based forensic DNA analysis. He is a life member of the Association of Microbiologists of India, International Society of Forensic Geneticists, and Asian Federation of Biotechnologists.

• Part IModule I: Conventional forensic DNA analysis1. Fundamentals and principles of forensic DNA analysis2. Autosomal short tandem repeat analysis and its usefulness in forensic DNA analysis3. Detection and identification of forensically relevant body fluids4. Analysis of mitochondrial DNA and its aid in forensic investigation5. Law and practice of forensic DNA profiling in India: Perspectives and challengesPart IIModule II: Technological advancements in forensic DNA analysis6. Understanding Rapid DNA and its application7. Rapidly mutating Y-short tandem repeats in forensic DNA analysis8. The use of biallelic genetic markers in forensic DNA analysis9. Epigenetics and its application in forensic analysis10. Microbial DNA in forensic science: a tool for predicting postmortem interval11. Probabilistic genotyping techniques and their applications12. Applications of genetics in archaeological investigations: exploring human migration and genetic evolution in Indian subcontinent13. Digital polymerase chain reaction: a revolution in forensic DNA analysis14. Role of nanotechnology in forensic DNA analysis15. Advancements in wildlife forensics16. Usefulness of microsatellite markers in forensic botany17. DNA barcoding as a useful tool in the identification of endangered plants18. Prenatal paternity testing and forensic applications of noninvasive prenatal paternity testing technology19. Secondary transfer and its involvement in forensic investigationPart IIIModule III: Predictive forensic DNA analysis20. Molecular autopsy for analysis of sudden unexplained death cases21. Artificial intelligence and machine learning in forensic DNA analysis22. Prediction of Y-chromosome lineages from Y-SNPs and Y-STRs for generating investigative leads23. Prediction of externally visible characteristics and its role in forensic investigation24. The advent of investigative genetic genealogy25. Application of next-generation sequencing techniques in generating investigation leadsPart IVModule IV: Challenges and concerns in forensic DNA analysis26. Quality assurance and quality control in forensic science: from evidence collection to laboratory analysis27. Ethical issues in forensic DNA analysis28. DNA profiling and databases in criminal investigations: privacy-related issues and challenges29. Challenges in interpretation of compromised cases by DNA profiling30. Challenges of DNA fingerprinting in mass disaster victim investigations31. Forensic implications of polymerase chain reaction inhibitors32. Assessment of the reliability and reproducibility of forensic DNA profiling results33. Applications of digital polymerase chain reaction in environment and forensic chemistry