april 9, 2026 Monthly Meeting
Improving Biological Profile Estimation in Forensic Anthropology
Guest Speaker: Kate M. Lesciotto
Abstract: Forensic anthropologists are often asked to assist medicolegal death investigations with the identification of unknown skeletal remains. An initial step in this process is the creation of a ‘biological profile’, which consists of an estimation of the individual’s age-at-death, sex, population affinity (i.e., ancestry), and stature. Under current practices, each of these biological profile parameters is estimated separately, using a variety of methods that are typically limited by data type and skeletal element. However, the field lacks guidance on best practices for combining these results into a single estimate to aid law enforcement in identification efforts. This presentation will provide a broad overview of current methods and ongoing research using artificial intelligence and machine learning models to break down this compartmentalized approach and standardize biological profile estimation. In-person attendees will have the opportunity to examine standardized bone casts used for biological profile estimation.
Speaker Bio
Kate M. Lesciotto is an Assistant Professor of Anatomy at the University of North Texas Health Science Center. She is board-certified through the American Board of Forensic Anthropology and serves as the Consulting Forensic Anthropologist for the Montgomery County Medical Examiner’s Office. Her research interests focus on the intersection between forensic anthropology and the US legal system and improving methods for estimating a biological profile from unidentified skeletal remains. Her research is funded by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Justice. Dr. Lesciotto received her BS from Colorado State University, JD from Washington University in St. Louis, MS from Mercyhurst University, and PhD from the Pennsylvania State University. Prior to joining UNT Health, she was the Assistant Director at the Southeast Texas Applied Forensic Science Facility at Sam Houston State University.