Forensic Anthropology Postdoc Fellow, 2025-2026

Position Description

About Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences:

Mission

The Mission of the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences is to provide medical examiner and crime laboratory services of the highest quality in an unbiased manner with uncompromised integrity.

Vision

To provide consistent, quality death investigation and laboratory analysis for the benefit of the entire community.

• To create a technological strongpoint for legal agencies to facilitate justice in criminal and civil proceedings.

• To establish an academic environment for training in the field of Forensic Science.

Forensic Anthropology PostDoc Fellow Overview:

The Forensic Anthropology PostDoc Fellow will be trained in the fundamental philosophy, skills, and knowledge needed to carry out proper anthropology analyses in a Medical Examiner context, conducting all aspects of supervised anthropological casework, following established protocols and best practices, including autopsy consults, identification of unknown decedents, biological profile estimation, osseous/cartilaginous trauma analysis, scene response, pediatric skeletal examinations, and postmortem radiography.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Assists with routine daily casework under the supervision of staff anthropologists involving skeletal remains and autopsy specimens, including: trauma analyses, determination if skeletal remains are human or non-human, determination if skeletal remains are of forensic or historical significance, development of biological profiles of human remains, and assessment of human remains for the presence of pathological conditions or traumatic injury

• Prepares reports on anthropological casework, and submits reports and bench notes to supervising forensic anthropologist for review

• Assists in the processing of unidentified decedents including taking identification quality radiographs, collecting and submitting DNA samples, submitting fingerprint cards, constructing and disseminating unidentified decedent descriptions, and reviewing unidentified decedent case files for completion

• Responds to death scenes with staff anthropologists to document, recover, and identify human/non-human remains, collects and preserves physical and biological evidence, excavates or supervises excavation of human remains

• Other duties as assigned

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer

https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx

If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email ADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net.

This position is subject to a criminal history check.

Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.

Requirements

Attachments:

• A FULL CV MUST BE ATTACHED*

Education:

• Doctoral degree (by employment start date) from an accredited college or university in Anthropology, Forensic or Biological Anthropology, or related field

Licensure:

• Maintain a valid Texas Driver's License and ability to safely operate a motor vehicle

Additional Requirements:

• Must pass criminal background check and drug / alcohol screening (prior to and randomly after employment)

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Advanced knowledge and in-depth understanding of anthropological theory, principles, procedures, and techniques as they relate to identification of human remains and bone pathology/ trauma analysis

• Ability to apply knowledge of anthropological and forensic theory, principles, procedures, and techniques to practical analysis and curation of human remains

• Advanced writing, analytical, and problem resolution skills

• Basic computer skills including Microsoft Office

• Ability to communicate effectively with law, technical, medical and legal audiences, and to work independently with minimal supervision, prioritizing and handling multiple tasks simultaneously

NOTE: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.

General Information

Position Type and Typical Hours of Work:

• This is a one-year, time-limited position

• Hours may vary based on needs of Department, weekend and holiday rotation as needed

Start Date:

• July 1, 2025

Physical Demands:

• Requires physical strength to push, pull, and lift up to 30 pounds frequently and repeatedly

Work Environment:

• Must be available to work during severe weather events or other emergencies if necessary

Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards.

Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.

BENEFITS

Harris County offers a competitive benefits program, including comprehensive group health and related benefits plan as well as defined benefit retirement plan.

The following list of benefits is offered only to employees in regular (full-time) positions:

• Medical Coverage

• Dental Coverage

• Vision Coverage

• Wellness Plan

• Life Insurance

• Long-term disability

• Employee Assistance Program

• Ten (10) days of vacation each year for the first five (5) years of service

• Accrual rates increase based on years of service

• Eleven (11) County-observed holidays and one (1) floating holiday

• Professional development opportunities

• Dependent Care Reimbursement Plan

• Healthcare Reimbursement Account

• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan

The following benefits are also available to regular (full-time) employment and may be available to part-time employees:

• Retirement Pension (TCDRS)
• Flexible schedule (varies by department)
• Transportation Assistance (Metro RideSponsor Program)

In accordance with the Harris County Personnel Regulations, Group Health and related benefits are subject to amendment or discontinuance at any time. Commissioners Court reserves the right to make benefit modifications on the County's behalf as needed.

For plan details, visit the Harris County benefits website:

https://benefitsathctx.com/

01

Do you have a doctoral degree from an accredited college or university in Anthropology, Forensic or Biological Anthropology, or related field?

• I have obtained a doctorate in a related field of study

• I will have obtained a doctorate in a related field of study by start date

• None of the above

02

How would you rate your knowledge and in-depth understanding of anthropological theory, principles, procedures, and techniques as they relate to the identification of human remains and bone pathology/ trauma analysis?

• High: Confident/Competent

• Medium: Somewhat confident/knowledgeable

• Low: Basic knowledge/understanding

• I do not possess this knowledge/understanding

03

How would you rate your ability to apply knowledge of anthropological and forensic theory, principles, procedures, and techniques for practical analysis and curation of human remains?

• High: Confident/Competent

• Medium: Some areas of strength

• Low: Limited ability

• I do not possess this ability

04

How would you rate your skills in problem resolution, writing, and analyzing?

• High: Confident/Competent

• Medium: Some areas of strength

• Low: Limited skills

• I do not possess this skill

05

How would you rate your ability to communicate effectively with law, technical, medical, and legal audiences?

• High: Confident/Competent

• Medium: Some areas of strength

• Low: Limited ability

• I do not possess this ability

06

How would you rate your ability to work independently with minimal supervision, prioritize and handle multiple tasks simultaneously?

• High: Confident/Competent

• Medium: Some areas of strength

• Low: Limited ability

• I do not possess this ability

07

Which of the following describes your level of proficiency using a personal computer and common office software such as MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook). Please select your level of proficiency based on the following descriptions: Advanced: A person with this level of skills is able to produce very large, complex formal documents that require a table of contents, footnotes, endnotes, bookmarks, and other special elements; a wide range of graphic effects, and use advanced techniques for analyzing and manipulating data. Has full mastery of Macro commands and skills to tie the objects together into a cohesive system by using Macros and Visual Basic for Applications code. Makes interactive presentations by using hyperlinks and action buttons. Intermediate: A person with this level of skills is able to customize toolbars, import and insert graphs, embed Excel data, and elaborate reports. Understands the concepts of databases and is able to work with charts and to use the list management capabilities of Excel. Able to use complex query techniques, create efficient forms and reports, and create Macros to automate these forms. Makes interactive presentations by using hyperlinks and action buttons. Basic: A person with this level of skills is able to use basic formatting, editing, printing functions, and understands the document page setup. Has the ability to enter and correct data, modify a workbook, format a worksheet, and use printing functions. Understands the different database concepts and structures and is familiar with data validation and is able to create a simple presentation in PowerPoint, run it, and print it. Entry Level: A person with this level of skills has the ability to open, create, save and modify documents in Word, send and receive email in Outlook and create spreadsheets in Excel. Format documents for printing, comfortable using the printer menu to preview documents. Has ability to change the font, the margins, insert or delete pages and use the built-in spellchecker and grammar check.

• Advanced

• Intermediate

• Basic

• Entry Level

• Not proficient

08

This position requires possession of a valid Texas-issued driver's license. Do you meet the above requirement? (Please be sure to include all related details in the Certificates and Licenses section of your application.)

• Yes, I have a Valid Texas Driver's License

• Yes, I have a Valid Driver's License but understand I must obtain a Valid Texas Driver's License prior to start date

• No, I'm not interested

Required Question

Agency Harris County

Address 1111 Fannin St

Ste. 600

Houston, Texas, 77002

Phone 713-274-5445

Website https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/harriscountytx