HuCS-ID Lab - Research - School of Biomedical Sciences

Interests and expertise

Human Identification, Skeletal Identification, Forensic Anthropology, Physical Anthropology, Skeletal Analysis, Osteology, Anatomy, Human variation, Radiographic Comparison, Osteometric Sorting, Mass Graves, Sex estimation, Age estimation, Ancestry estimation, Stature estimation, Trauma, Craniofacial Identification, Skull, Face, Facial approximation, Craniofacial superimposition.

Shape Analysis, Morphometrics, Anthropometry, 3D Scanning, Stereophotogrammetry, Geometric Morphometrics, Elliptical Fourier Analysis.

Medical Imaging, Ultrasound, Radiography, X-Rays, Optics, Photography.

R, Biostatistics, Mechatronics.

Facilities

The HuCS-ID Lab is well-equipped with the usual precision instruments of osteometric boards, callipers and other standard anthropometry devices and we use only internationally recognized manufacturers (such as GPM, Mopec). Instruments are routinely performance checked in-house under an annual quality assurance program and using an array of calibrated test artefacts to ensure measurement validity for scientific studies and casework.

The laboratory holds a broad range of 3D scanning devices to include: Artec Spider, Einscan, Next Engine, and Di3D Stereophotogrammetry. The Di3D equipment, used for instantaneous 3D acquisition of human faces, is operated in a separate dedicated video green-room.

Professional-grade camera equipment is used throughout the laboratory, including Canon 6D and Nikon D780 full-frame DSLRs, mounted on copy stands for detailed skeletal photography.

Being on UQ St Lucia Campus, we are only just down the road (200m) from the UQ Centre for Advanced Imaging (CAI), which offers a large array of medical imaging technology and is where we undertake our CT and MRI scans for research.

The HuCS-ID Lab works closely with the SBMS Gross Anatomy Facility (GAF) and its anatomical resources, so much so, that our forensic anthropology lab is physically embedded in the GAF to ensure seamless workflow under the Transplantation and Anatomy Act, Qld (1979). The UQ School of Anatomy is one of the largest anatomy Schools in Australia and it is the only school of its kind in the country to operate a whole-of-body skeletisation program for eligible indefinite donors.

Introduction

Anthropological instruments

Scan capabilities

Collaborators

Our collaborators are best identified from joint authored research publications. They span across the globe to include: USA, France, Belgium, Germany, Turkey, UK and Australia.

Students in the HuCS-ID Lab gain major benefits of networking with these experts as and when opportunities arise.

We routinely undertake collaborative joint work team members from the USA Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, and in particular, Dr John Byrd and Susan Jaques.

Prospective students

The HuCS-ID Lab offers higher degree research (HDR) training in a small group/lab environment.

PhD students are accepted on an ongoing basis. The HuCS-ID Lab typically accepts 1-2 honours students each year. Mid-year Honours intakes are considered, but only if the laboratory is not already at capacity.

Higher Degree Research projects

The HuCS-ID Lab has multiple projects available on:

structural anatomy of the skull and face, esp. that relevant to craniofacial identification;
anatomy of the skeleton useful for identification purposes.

Projects can be prescribed, but Associate Professor Stephan’s preference is to work with students to jointly tailor projects to the student’s particular area(s) of interest. Project discussions should be initiated with Associate Professor Stephan well in advance to submitting degree enrolment applications. Projects must, of course, fall within the laboratory’s areas of research expertise.

Stipends and tuition scholarships

For research higher degrees (Doctor of Philosophy and Masters), students are encouraged to apply for and be successful in obtaining tuition and living expense scholarships. Scholarship rounds are conducted in research quarters 1 and 3. Learn more about these scholarships and postgraduate studies at UQ. Applicants should note that scholarships are extremely competitive. Only the highest achieving students are typically successful. At the PhD applicant level, an in-hand authored publication is viewed very positively.

Scientific Meetings

As part of HDR training, we routinely fund our Honours and Higher Degree Researchers to attend international conferences to make scientific presentations (and/or to other labs for data collection). See ‘Lab News’ for examples.

Intakes

PhD & Masters

Applications can be made at any time of the year. Start times are agreed with Associate Professor Stephan and begin by research quarter.

Honours

Applications are made directly to the School of Biomedical Sciences. Start times are 1^st week of Feb (start of S1) and 3^rd week of July (mid-year intake / S2). Applications must be made prior to 5-Jan and 5-July respectively.

All applications for research projects to be conducted in the HuCS-ID Lab must carry Associate Professor Stephan’s endorsement.

View Past and Present PhD Projects Conducted in the HuCS-ID Lab