Rivaldo Mockson

Forensic geneticist, wildlife forensics researcher, developer, tutor and writer.

I research wildlife forensic DNA, build digital products and websites, teach Life Sciences, and write about what I am learning.

View my work

Forensic Genetics & Wildlife Forensics

My research examines degraded wildlife evidence, DNA barcoding, microsatellite profiles and processed animal products.

Research & Academic Writing

I write about my MSc research, forensic genetics and the process of completing postgraduate work.

Digital Products & Web Systems

I am building GradWise and Muzica, along with websites for researchers, creators and service businesses.

Public Learning & Writing

I share notes on research, coding, design, discipline, faith and the lessons I learn along the way.

Who I Am

I work across forensic genetics, education, software and writing.

My main field is forensic genetics. Alongside my research, I build software, teach Life Sciences and write about the work.

Academic background

I studied forensic science and genetics, and my MSc research focuses on degraded wildlife DNA.

Digital products

I build products around problems I know from research, studying, publishing and working with service businesses.

Wildlife forensics

I study what happens to wildlife DNA after exposure to different surfaces, weather, processing and mixtures.

Public learning

I write to think more clearly and to share useful lessons from my research and projects.

Conference

SAWMA 2025 speaker

I spoke about wildlife forensic genetics at the Southern African Wildlife Management Association conference in 2025.

2025Conference attendee and speaker

SAWMA 2025

I attended and spoke at the Southern African Wildlife Management Association conference in 2025, sharing wildlife forensic genetics work with a conservation and research audience.

Featured Research

MSc Wildlife Forensics: DNA degradation and species identification

My MSc research examines blesbok DNA in exposed blood traces and processed wildlife products, including what the results can support in a forensic investigation.

Research Snapshot

The project examines blesbok DNA in exposed blood traces and processed products using species identification, microsatellite profiling and targeted assay development.

Environmental blood evidence across metal, wood, cotton, soil, grass, and rubberized car mat substrates

Indoor, semi-covered outdoor, and fully exposed outdoor conditions

COI barcoding for wildlife species identification

Microsatellite marker recovery for individual-level comparison

NanoDrop DNA concentration and purity assessment

Species-specific qPCR assay development for targeted blesbok detection in processed and mixed samples

Processed wildlife products, mixed samples, and dominant-template effects

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Featured Projects