ISU professor researching ways to better identify human remains

An Idaho State University anthropology professor has received a $510,409 grant to help develop new sex and age identification techniques in people younger than 25.

The grant money will go toward purchasing 2,500 micro-CT scans of human remains from medical examiners in Albuquerque and Baltimore.

Dr. Kyra Stull, along with a graduate student and other researchers at Mercyhurst University in Pennsylvania, will analyze growth and development markers from the micro-CT scans. This research will go on to create a first-of-its-kind database of human remains of this age group, which will help create the new identification techniques.

Stull said there’s a lack of identification techniques suited for America’s modern and diverse population.

“Working with that modern group from all across the United States is really able to capture what American children look like and how they grow,” she said.

With new identification techniques, forensic anthropologists have a better chance at identifying remains when found. That could decrease the amount of people on missing persons lists.

“This is giving justice to that individual and closure to that family,” Stull said.

The project will take two years to complete, Stull said research will begin on Jan. 1.