Converus Announces the Passing of Dr. John Kircher, Pioneer in Credibility Assessment

The scientific community has lost a giant, and Converus has lost a dear friend.

LEHI, Utah – Nov. 20, 2025 – It is with profound sadness that Converus announces the passing of Dr. John Kircher, Chief Scientist and Emeritus Professor at the University of Utah, on November 18, following a courageous battle with cancer.

Dr. John Kircher

John’s work did not just advance the field, it revolutionized it, setting standards of accuracy and integrity that will guide the industry for generations to come. While his professional accolades are world-renowned, those fortunate enough to know him personally mourn the man behind the science. John was a kind, gentle man and a friend. His brilliance was matched only by his generosity of spirit and his willingness to mentor, guide, and support those around him.

A Legacy of Innovation

Dr. Kircher’s impact on credibility assessment cannot be overstated. He approached his work with an unwavering commitment to empirical evidence and scientific rigor. Interestingly, when Dr. Kircher first arrived at the University of Utah in 1977, he had little initial interest in lie detection. However, his path shifted when he began applying his self-taught computer programming skills to psychophysiology. This pivot led to a historic milestone in 1991 when he and Dr. David Raskin introduced the world’s first computerized polygraph system, fundamentally digitizing a previously analog field.

Decades later, his visionary thinking struck again in an unexpected setting. During a road trip to climb Mt. Rainier in 2002, Dr. Kircher and Dr. Doug Hacker conceived the idea for an ocular-motor deception test. That spark of inspiration eventually became EyeDetect, a technology that confirmed his belief that the eyes could provide a faster, non-invasive window into the truth. A few years later, John invented the Multi-Issue Comparison Test (MCT), the first credibility assessment to classify examinees as guilty or truthful on a question-by-relevant question basis.

John enjoyed research more than anything. He worked on a new lab study scoring algorithm until the day of his passing.

Converus extends its deepest condolences to his family, his close colleagues, and the countless individuals he inspired throughout his remarkable career. He will be greatly missed