DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY

Does not accept graduate students

 

RESEARCH AND TEACHING INTERESTS

Biological and forensic anthropology, skeletal biology, human variation.

 

BIOGRAPHY

I am a biological anthropologist and board certified (D-ABFA) forensic anthropologist whose research focuses on human diversity and skeletal variation. I am currently a Diplomate and President of the American Board of Forensic Anthropology. My background in forensic applications of anthropology stems from graduate training at the C. A. Pound Human Identification Lab at the University of Florida and post-doctoral experience as a Visiting Scientist in Forensic Anthropology at the New York City Medical Examiner’s Office. Presently, I serve as the Forensic Anthropologist for Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office and numerous Coroner’s offices throughout Illinois. As a Research Associate at Chicago’s Field Museum of Natural History, I have collaborated with undergraduate and graduate students on repatriation projects consisting of analyzing and cataloguing Native American human remains in accordance with NAGPRA guidelines.

 

RECENT COURSES TAUGHT

Anth 213 - Human Origins

Anth 275 – Introduction to Forensic Anthropology

Anth 309 – Human Osteology

Anth 375 – Advanced Methods in Forensic Anthropology

Anth 398 – Senior Seminar

 

PUBLICATIONS

Waxenbaum EB, Garvin H. (editors). Proposal approved. Special Issue: 50 Years of the ABFA. Forensic Anthropology Journal.

Waxenbaum EB, Tersigni-Tarrant, MT, Langley NR, Bartelink EJ, Boyd D, Austin D, France D. In prep. External Catalysts for Change: How the NAS Report and FSAB Accreditation Shaped the Modern ABFA. Special Issue: 50 Years of the ABFA. Forensic Anthropology Journal.

Waxenbaum, EB, Trammell LH, Gauer AL. In submission. A Comparison of Forensic Anthropology Casework Across Two Urban, Midwest Medical Examiner Offices, 2013-2022. Journal of Forensic Sciences.

Waxenbaum EB, Kim JJ, Goliath JR, George RL, Litavec H, Reeves VC. In submission. Evaluation of the Forensic Anthropology DEIB Peer Engagement Program. Journal of Forensic Sciences.

 Waxenbaum EB, Pope K. 2025. Normalizing discussions of mental health in forensic anthropology. Journal of Forensic Sciences: Special Issue on Vicarious Trauma in Forensic Scientists. https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70238

Borgelt T, Goliath J, Waxenbaum EB. 2025 Overcoming systemic barriers in U.S. forensic anthropology education: considering underlying barriers to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in forensic anthropology. American Journal of Biological Anthropology. American Journal of Biological Anthropology 187(2):e70069. DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.70069

Goliath J, Waxenbaum EB, Borgelt T. 2023. Vulnerabilities for marginalized groups in forensic anthropology education: Paths to engagement and belonging. Humans: contemporary concerns and considerations in Forensic Anthropology. https://doi.org/10.3390/humans3020011

Waxenbaum EB, Grauer AL. 2022. Forensic anthropology casework at the Cook County Illinois Medical Examiner’s Office, Chicago, IL, 2012-2022. Journal of Forensic Sciences. http://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.15130.

Waxenbaum EB, Feiler ME. 2021. Influence of climatic stress on nonmetric sexually dimorphic features of the skull and pelvis. American Journal of Human Biology 2021;e23559. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.23559

Waxenbaum EB, Warren MW, Holliday TW, Byrd JE, Cole TM. 2019. Ecogeographical patterning in fetal limb proportions. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 169:93-103.

Waxenbaum EB, Sirak KA. 2016. Developmental patterns of bilateral asymmetry in Ancestral Puebloans. American Journal of Human Biology 28:421-430.

Waxenbaum EB, Stock MS. 2016. Metric assessment of the human bicondylar angle. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 160:334-340. 

Waxenbaum EB, Hunt DR, Falsetti AB. 2010. Intercondylar eminences and their effect on the maximum length measure of the tibia. Journal of Forensic Sciences 55(1):145-148.

 

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

Waxenbaum EB, Pope KC. 2026. Normalizing discussions of mental health in forensic anthropology. Annual meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Anthropology. February 9-14; New Orleans, LA.

 

Soler A, Waxenbaum EB (Co-Chair). 2026. The American Board of Forensic Anthropology Presents: How Forensic Anthropology Contributes to Trauma Analyses - A Primer for Medical Examiners, Medicolegal Death Investigators, Law Enforcement, and the Legal Community. Annual meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Anthropology. February 9-14; New Orleans, LA.

 

Waxenbaum EB, Kim JJ, Goliath JR, George RL, Litavec H, Reeves VC. 2025. Evaluation of the Forensic Anthropology DEIB Peer Engagement Program. Annual meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. February 17-22; Baltimore, MD.

 

Waxenbaum EB, Trammell LH, Grauer AL. 2024. A Comparison of Forensic Anthropology Casework Across Two Urban, Midwest Medical Examiner Offices, 2013-2021. Annual meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. February 19-24; Denver, CO.

 

Goliath JR, Waxenbaum EB, Dwyer I, Borgelt T. 2023. Structural and systemic barriers to entry in forensic anthropology: our history and our future. Invited presentation. Annual meeting of the American Association of Biological Anthropologists. April 19-22; April Reno, NV.

 

Waxenbaum EB, Grauer AL. 2022. Forensic Anthropology Casework at the Cook County Illinois Medical Examiner’s Office, 2012-2020. Annual meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. February 21-25; Seattle, WA.

 

Feiler, ME, Waxenbaum EB, Schrader SA, Byrrell CL, Hoogland M. 2021. Variation in the sexual dimorphism of nonmetric skeletal traits due to settlement style: a study of hunter-gatherer, rural, and urban populations. Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists. April 7; Baltimore, MD; Virtual.

 

Waxenbaum EB. 2021. Group-specific label use in anthropology: a review of the Journal of Forensic Sciences, 2010-2019. Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. February 17; Virtual.

 

Feiler, ME, Waxenbaum EB, Schrader SA, Byrrell CL, Hoogland M. 2020. Variation in sexual dimorphism across differing Köppen-Geiger climate classifications. Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists. April 15-18; Los Angeles, CA.

 

Feiler ME, Waxenbaum EB. 2019. Variation in sexual dimorphism due to climatic stress. Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists. March 27-30; Cleveland, OH.

 

Waxenbaum EB, Diaz-Albertini L. 2018. Testing the accuracy of the correlation between the condyles of the distal femur and proximal tibia: A validation study. Annual Meeting of the Academy of Forensic Sciences. February 19-23; Seattle, WA.

 

Waxenbaum EB, Sirak KA. 2017. Developmental limb element asymmetry across three Native North American populations. Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists. April 19-22; New Orleans, LA.

 

Waxenbaum EB, Tipton JK. 2014. The influence of thermal stress on sexual dimorphism. Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists. April 8-12; Alberta, Calgary Canada.

 

Waxenbaum EB, Erickson B. 2013. Fluctuating and Directional Asymmetry: skeletal evidence for life history theory and human evolutionary ecological variation in an archaeological South Dakota Arikara population. Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists. April 9-13; Knoxville, TN.

 

Waxenbaum EB, Siddall KG. 2013. Metric versus nonmetric: accuracy in sex assessment using the greater sciatic notch. Annual Meeting of the Academy of Forensic Sciences. February 18-23; Washington, DC.

 

Waxenbaum EB, Sirak K. 2012. An analysis of limb element asymmetry in an Ancestral Puebloan population. Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists, April 10-14; Portland, OR.

 

Waxenbaum EB, Siddall KG. 2011. Sexual dimorphism of the greater sciatic notch in a circumpolar population. Annual Meeting of American Association of Physical Anthropology. April 13-16; Minneapolis, MN.

 

Siddall KG, Waxenbaum EB. 2011. The Greater Sciatic Notch Index as a Designator of Sex: Implications for LB1/7 (Homo floresiensis). Annual Meeting of the Paleoanthropology Association. April 12-13; Minneapolis, MN.

 

Waxenbaum EB, Linney K. 2011. The condyle connection: forensic implications for the association between the condyles of the femur and tibia. Annual Meeting of the Academy of Forensic Sciences, February 21-26; Chicago, IL.

 

Waxenbaum EB, Stock MK, Hunt DR. 2010. Metric assessment of the human bicondylar angle. 79th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists, April 14-17; Albuquerque, NM.

 

Waxenbaum EB, Falsetti. 2009. Developmental and ecogeographic limb variation among subadults of three Native North American populations. Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists; March 31-April 4; Chicago, IL.

 

Shea BT, Waxenbaum EB. 2009. Invited abstract. Microevolution of size, shape and timing changes in human pygmies. Proceedings of the 78th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists; March 31-April 4; Chicago, IL.

 

Waxenbaum EB, Shea BT. 2008. Skeletal variation among African pygmies. Annual Meeting of the Midwest Bioarchaeology and Forensic Anthropology Association; November 8; Allendale, MI.

 

Waxenbaum EB, Falsetti AB. 2008. Morphological limb variation in three eco-geographically distinct Native North American populations. Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists; April 7-13; Columbus, OH.

 

Waxenbaum EB, Falsetti AB, Hunt DR. 2007. Morphological variation of the human knee: Implications for sex and ancestral designations. Annual Meeting of American Academy of Forensic Sciences; February 19-24; San Antonio, TX.

 

Waxenbaum EB, Hunt DR, Falsetti AB. 2006. To measure or not to measure: An analysis of maximum length of the tibia. Annual Meeting of American Academy of Forensic Sciences; February 20-25; Seattle, WA. p. 305-6.

 

Waxenbaum EB. 2005. A methodological quandary: Aging juvenile human remains. Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists; April 6-9; Milwaukee, WI.

 

Waxenbaum EB. 2005. An analysis of a ‘royal’ cemetery: How can status be assessed? Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology; April 1; Salt Lake City, UT.