Dana Austin

Adjunct Assistant Professor of Anthropology

Education:

Diplomate, 2003, American Board of Forensic Anthropology

Ph.D., 1996, Physical Anthropology, University of Florida

M.A., 1989, Anthropology, University of Florida

B.S., 1986, Biochemistry and Anthropology, University of Maryland, College Park

Research Interests:

Dr. Austin is currently investigating fracture incidence rates of the hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage in asphyxial death cases. She has developed a specialized radiographic imaging technique that permits more precise examination of these small structures in the neck.
She is collaborating with colleagues at Southern Methodist University in studying the rates of decomposition of various fabrics in test situations which replicate forensic anthropology case settings. This information is needed for the North Texas area and will greatly add to the data regarding postmortem interval estimation.

Undergraduate Courses:

ANTH 4306 Human Osteology

ANTH 4307 Forensic Anthropology

ANTH 4308 Advanced Forensic Anthropology

Graduate Courses:

ANTH 5349 Human Osteology

ANTH 5349 Forensic Anthropology

ANTH 5349 Advanced Forensic Anthropology

Selected Publications:

Austin, Dana and Laura Fulginiti, 2008. "The Forensic Anthropology Laboratory in a Medical Examiner Setting." In: The Forensic Anthropology Laboratory. Warren MW, Walsh-Haney H and Freas LE(eds.). Boca Raton, Fla.: Taylor & Francis/CRC Press.

Crowder, Christian and Dana Austin, 2005. "Age Ranges of Epiphyseal Fusion in the Distal Tibia and Fibula of Contemporary Males and Females." Journal of Forensic Sciences, 50(5):1-7

Austin, Dana, 1999. "Video Superimposition at the C.A. Pound Laboratory, 1987 to 1992."Journal of Forensic Sciences, 44(4): 695-699.

Austin-Smith, Dana, 1998. Review of Craniofacial Identification in Forensic Medicine, Clements, J.G. and D.L. Ranson, eds. Canadian Society of Forensic Sciences Journal, 31(3)

Austin-Smith, Dana, 1996, "Ancestral Assessment of Skulls Using Anthropometric Measures in the Jaws." American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 99(4) abstract

Austin-Smith, Dana and William R. Maples, 1994. "The Reliability of Skull/Photograph Superimposition in Individual Identification." Journal of Forensic Sciences, 39(2):446-455

Papers Presented at Professional Meetings:

"Resolution of Cold Identity Cases: Resources, Methodology, and a Review of Some Success Stories." Paper presented at the 60th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, Seattle, WA, February 23, 2008 (with Paul Coffman)

"Unidentified Bodies: Resources for Identification." Paper presented at the 92nd Annual Meeting of the International Association for Identification, San Diego, CA, July 23, 2007

"Forty-one Years of Mystery: Identifying Kenneth Glaze." Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the International Association for Identification, Boston, 2006 (with Suzanne Baldon)

"Incidence of Laryngeal and Hyoid Fractures in Hangings and Strangulations Using Enhanced Examination Procedures." 58th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, Seattle, 2006 (with Marc Krouse)

"The Differential Diagnosis of Skullbase Osteomyelitis Secondary to Necrotizing Otitis Externa." 58th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, Seattle, 2006 (with Stephanie Child)

Information for students interested in careers in forensic sciences

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