Michael L. Baird

Michael L. Baird is the Chief Science Officer, Laboratory Director, and DNA Technical Leader at DNA Diagnostics Center. Baird was among the first DNA testing experts to testify in a US court and has testified more than 400 times in the US and abroad. Baird was appointed the DNA expert in the highly publicized paternity case of Dannielynn Hope Marshall Stern.
In January 2008, Baird was appointed Chair of the AABB.

Baird received a Bachelor of Arts in biology from Drew University in 1971, a Master of Arts in biology from the State University of New York in 1973, and a Doctor of Philosophy in genetics from The University of Chicago in 1978.

Baird appeared on NBC as a media consultant on the O. J. Simpson case. He recently served as the DNA testing expert in the paternity case that named Larry Birkhead as the biological father of Anna Nicole Smith’s daughter, Dannielynn. Upon announcement of Birkhead’s paternity of Dannielynn, Baird was interviewed by national and local media personalities, including Larry King, Nancy Grace, and Greta Van Susteren.

Baird is a member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Association of Blood Banks, and seven other professional societies. He was president of the Human Identity Trade Association.

Baird has held leadership positions at the DNA Diagnostics Center, Orchid Diagnostics, and Lifecodes Corporation. From 1986-1992, he was an adjunct assistant professor at the New York Medical College.

Baird is the author of approximately 50 scientific publications.