FL Institute of Forensic Anthropology & Applied Science

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FL Institute of Forensic Anthropology & Applied Science

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Forensic Anthropology Laboratory, University of South Florida We bring unique skills and resources to medical examiners, law enforcement, and state attorneys.

The USF Forensic Anthropology Laboratory, under the director Dr. Erin Kimmerle, provides a range of services for families and victims of violent crime. We also provide training, education and innovative research opportunities for students and visiting scholars. Specifically, we assist by providing the following services:

- Human Identification
- Clandestine Grave Search and Recovery
- Burial Excavation and Crime Scene Recoveries
- Trauma Analysis
- Facial and Clothing Approximations & Forensic Art
- Forensic Isotopes for Georeferencing
- Expert Testimony

We Educate:
By providing a range of Workshops for Law Enforcement, Crime Scene Technicians, Students, and other Professionals

We run the USF Human Donation Program for research in Forensics and Florida's only outdoor decompositional facility, the USF-FORT (aka. Bodyfarm).

10/19/2026

MEET OUR TEAM!

Lauren Nichols is a second-year PhD student in the Applied Anthropology program. She completed her BA in Anthropology from Mississippi State University and her MA in Applied Anthropology with a concentration in archaeological and forensic science at USF. Lauren currently serves as the volunteer coordinator at IFAAS. She works with students to assist their academic journey by gaining hands on experience in the lab. Lauren’s research interests include skeletal pathology, specifically the spinal condition called diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, human rights violations, and historical archival research.

We are so happy to have Lauren on our team!

10/07/2026

Dr. Erin Kimmerle and Dr. José Pablo Baraybar's book, Skeletal Trauma: Identification of Injuries Resulting from Human Rights Abuse and Armed Conflict, is available for purchase now!

https://www.routledge.com/Skeletal-Trauma-Identification-of-Injuries-Resulting-from-Human-Rights-Abuse-and-Armed-Conflict/Kimmerle-Baraybar/p/book/9781466571792

10/05/2026

MEET OUR TEAM!

Lyndsey Hornagold is a fourth year Applied Anthropology PhD studying skeletal trauma caused less-lethal police weapons. She obtained her B.S. in human anatomy and minor in forensic science from North Carolina State University, where she developed a passion for forensic anthropology. She then earned her M.S. in biomedical anthropology and a graduate certificate in genocide and mass atrocity prevention from Binghamton University. In Lyndsey's free time, she enjoys and cares for her menagerie of pets, including 4 cats, 2 horses, reptiles, and several parrots.

We are so excited to have Lyndsey on our team!

10/01/2026

MEET OUR TEAM!

Verna Peddi is currently a MA student (Cultural Track) in the Applied Anthropology program at USF. She has a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Social Science with concentrations in Anthropology and Sociology. As a graduate student specializing in historic cemetery studies, her education and research focus on documenting, mapping, and restoring aging burial grounds and historic grave markers. She is engaged in academic projects that apply conservation techniques alongside archaeological and historical approaches to safeguard and interpret cultural heritage sites. Her research aims to advance best practices in cemetery conservation and deepen the understanding of historic landscapes.

We are so happy to have Verna on our team!

09/28/2026

MEET THE TEAM!

Aiden Eylward is in the final year of his MA in Applied Anthropology at the University of South Florida. His work with IFAAS focuses on forensic anthropology and taphonomy, particularly how the human skeleton changes after death and the ways Florida’s unique environment influences those processes. Beyond his taphonomic research, Aiden is passionate about using digital tools to find new and engaging ways to study, document, and teach forensic anthropology. Outside of the lab, he enjoys exploring new places and has an appreciation for anything with a good story behind it.

We are so happy to have Aiden on our team!

09/23/2026

MEET OUR TEAM!
Savon is in her final year pursuing an MA degree in Biological Anthropology from the University of South Florida. She acquired her B.A. from the University of Kentucky with a degree in Anthropology, where she became fascinated with the human skeletal system. She interned for a summer at the Forensic Anthropology Center at the University of Tennessee, and it solidified her interests in the skeletal system and forensic case work. Her academic focus is centered on the study of secular change in skeletal remains and what that can say about health and society throughout time. She became passionate about how skeletal collections came to be, how they influence education, and how they can be more inclusive and representative of diverse populations.

We are so excited to have Savon on our team!

09/21/2026

MEET OUR TEAM!

Joanelis Pagán Soto is originally from Puerto Rico, and she is a first-year M.A. student in Applied Anthropology at USF, specializing in Biological Anthropology. Joa received her B.S. in Forensic Science from Inter American University of Puerto Rico (Ponce Campus). During her undergraduate studies, Joa interned with the Human Identification Unit at the Puerto Rico Institute of Forensic Sciences, where she gained experience in the forensic anthropology field. This experience allowed her to combine my passion for human anatomy with helping others through the investigative process, ultimately confirming her passion for forensic anthropology. Joa’s research interests include forensic anthropology, human identification, skeletal biology, skeletal trauma, and taphonomy.

We are so excited to have Joa join our team!

09/18/2026

MEET OUR TEAM!

Kayla Haigh is a first-year M.A. student at USF. She received her B.A. in Anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley. After finishing her undergraduate degree, Kayla worked as an Archaeology Field Tech in Southern California. She has research interests in forensic anthropology, skeletal pathology, skeletal trauma analysis, Medico-legal Death investigation (MDI), Disaster Victim Identification (DVI)/human identification, and mass fatality management/humanitarian action. She says, “It is a privilege to collaborate with Dr. Kimmerle and work alongside such a talented group of fellow student researchers at IFAAS.”

We are so excited to have Kayla join our team!

03/13/2026

Huge congratulations to our newest Ph.D. graduate, Dr. Tuesday M. Frasier! She successfully defended her dissertation, “Vulture Scavenging in West Central Florida: A Differential Diagnosis of Perimortem Trauma and Scavenging”, and we couldn't be more thrilled for her. Best wishes for a stellar career, Dr. Frasier!!

02/19/2026

We are so proud of our graduate students! Six of our students (both MAs and PhDs) presented their research at the 78th annual conference for the American Academy of Forensic Sciences in New Orleans last week! Congrats ladies!

Address

4202 E Fowler Avenue SOC 21
Tampa, FL
33620

Telephone

(813) 974-4219

Website

http://usf.edu/forensics

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