Professor Sevil Atasoy
President, International Narcotics Control Board
Vice-Rector, Üsküdar University
Head, Department of Forensic Sciences
Istanbul, Türkiye
Prof. Dr. Sevil Atasoy is an internationally recognized forensic scientist whose career has brought together forensic science, criminalistics, drug policy and criminal justice. She is Vice-Rector of Üsküdar University and Head of the Department of Forensic Sciences, and currently serves as President of the International Narcotics Control Board.
Over several decades, Prof. Atasoy has played a major role in the development of forensic science education and practice in Türkiye, while also contributing extensively to international scientific cooperation and United Nations drug-control policy. Her work has addressed forensic toxicology, crime scene investigation, DNA analysis, illicit drugs, drug-related crime and the application of scientific evidence within criminal justice systems.
Biography
Prof. Atasoy studied chemistry and biochemistry at Istanbul University, where she later completed her doctorate and pursued an academic career in biochemistry and forensic sciences. She held senior positions at the Council of Forensic Medicine of the Ministry of Justice of Türkiye and subsequently served for many years as Director of the Institute of Forensic Sciences at Istanbul University.
Her international academic and professional experience includes research, teaching and collaboration with institutions such as the University of California, Berkeley, Stanford University, Emory University, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the California Criminalistics Institute, the German Federal Criminal Police Office, and the United Nations Drug Laboratory in Vienna.
Prof. Atasoy has also had a longstanding role in international drug policy through the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), the independent expert body established under the United Nations international drug control conventions. She has served several terms as a member of the Board and has held senior leadership positions, including the presidency.
Her academic and professional work has focused on forensic science, criminalistics, forensic toxicology, crime scene investigation, DNA analysis, illicit drug markets and drug-related crime. She has an extensive record of scientific publication, postgraduate supervision and international teaching in forensic sciences and related disciplines.
Prof. Atasoy is also the Founding President of the Turkish Society of Forensic Sciences and has been actively involved in international forensic and criminological organizations throughout her career.
Through her work in forensic science, criminal justice and international drug policy, Prof. Atasoy has contributed to strengthening the role of scientific evidence in the understanding of crime, the development of public policy and the administration of justice.