Texas State > Department of Anthropology > Forensic Anthropology Center > Researchers

Researchers

The FACTS strives to assist national and international scholars in conducting quality scientific research that will benefit the medico-legal and anthropological communities. We have a large outdoor decomposition facility called the Forensic Anthropology Research Facility, and a growing documented human skeletal collection housed in the well-equipped Grady Early Forensic Anthropology Research Laboratory. If you are interested in conducting research at Texas State University, please contact Dr. Daniel Wescott (dwescott@txstate.edu or 512-245-1900). Please complete the appropriate request form below and email, mail, or fax to Dr. Wescott for approval. FACTS will make reasonable efforts to help facilitate your research. Fees may be charged for some services. In addition, researchers must agree to:

proper saftey and handling proceedures,
providing FACTS with a copy of all photographs and data collected, and
providing FACTS with a copy of all or any results in manuscript or reprint form.
acknowledge FACTS in publications resulting from data collected at Texas State University

Protocol for research requests (PDF, 179.2 KB)

FACTS tissue sampling policy (PDF, 156.6 KB)

Biological tissue sampling request form (PDF, 155.4 KB)

FARF Research Request

The Forensic Anthropology Research Facility (FARF) is a 26-acre outdoor human decomposition research laboratory at Texas State’s Freeman Ranch that is used to conduct studies related to forensic taphonomy. Also located on Freeman Ranch is the Osteology Research and Processing Laboratory that includes cold storage, radiography and photographic stations, and a skeletal processing suite. Anthropologists, archaeologists, odontologists, botanists, entomologists, chemists, and others in disciplines that study human decomposition can propose to conduct research at FARF. Please contact Dr. Daniel Wescott if you are interested in conducting research at FARF.

FARF research request form (PDF, 152.9 KB)

Donated Skeletal Collection Research Request

The Grady Early Forensic Anthropology Research Laboratory (GEFARL) houses the Texas State Donated Skeletal Collection. This is a rapidly growing collection that includes skeletons with documented deomographic, occupation, and health information. The GEFARL includes a photography studio, microscopy and histology equipment, and basic osteometric equipment. Please contact Dr. Daniel Wescott for an updated list of the demographic structure of the Texas State Donated Collection and for information about anthropometric, photographic, and other information available.

Skeletal Collection Research Request Form (PDF, 138.6 KB)