Forensic Anthropology

The Injury Biomechanics Research center is comprised of qualified forensic experts that serve the Ohio community by assisting law enforcement agencies in searching for, recovering, and identifying human remains. These individuals have thoroughly studied and trained professionally to get experience in forensic anthropology, forensic archaeology, skeletal biology, human anatomy, and injury biomechanics to create an interdisciplinary approach to forensics. The work done by the forensic experts have contributed to prehistoric, historic, and modern investigations involving human and non-human remains.

Search and Recovery

Archaeological field methods are applied to outdoor sites ranging from small surface searches to mass disasters (e.g. aircraft crash site).

Determination of human vs. non-human remains

Macroscopic and microscopic osteological methods are utilized to aid in the determination of human or non-human skeletal remains.

Anthropological Analysis: formulating the biological profile

Determination of age, sex, stature, and ancestry, as well as traits of individuation of unidentified skeletal remains. Histological analysis can be used to determine the age at death.

Trauma Analysis

An assessment of trauma timing (ante-mortem, peri-mortem, or post-mortem) and interpretation of type of trauma

• Amanda M. Agnew, PhD, Director, Forensic Anthropologist
  • Director, Skeletal Biology Research Laboratory
  • Associate Professor, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
• Angela L. Harden, Team Leader, Forensic Anthropologist
  • BA, Maritime Studies, Nautical Archaeology, Texas A&M, 2011
  • MA, Forensic Anthropology, California State University, Los Angeles, 2014
  •  PhD candidate, Anatomy, The Ohio State University
• Aubrie Sanchez, Forensic Anthropologist
  • BA, Anthropology, Boston University, 2014
  • MPH, Northeastern University, 2017
  • MS, Forensic Anthropology, Boston University School of Medicine, 2019
  • PhD student, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State University

• Nicole Fye
  • BS, Microbiology, The Ohio State University - 2021
• Rhea Saha
  • BS, Medical Anthropology, The Ohio State University - 2021