Grant funding awarded to The University of Tennessee Knoxville’s Forensic Anthropology Center

The Forensic Anthropology Center at The University of Tennessee Knoxville has been awarded two separate grants from the US Department of Justice’s National Institute of Justice for UT’s projects to search for gravesites and to evaluate relic DNA.

According to an article on The University of Tennessee Knoxville’s website, $351,078 has been awarded for the project ‘Evaluating the Reliability and Accuracy of Multiple Geophysical Methods in the Search for Clandestine Graves,’ which will be investigated by Mary Davis, Giovanna Vidoli, Joanne Devlin, and Amy Mundorff. The project aims to provide the National Institute of Justice with evidence of which method of locating hidden graves is the most useful in various circumstances, such as the type of terrain being investigated and the weather in which the investigation is occurring.

For the second project, ‘Impact of Relic DNA on Forensic Microbiome Applications in Criminal Investigations,’ $229,454 has been awarded. The project will be investigated by Zach Burcham, Alison Buchan, Carolyn W. Fite, and Giovanna Vidoli. This project will be used to inform law enforcement about microbes and relic DNA and how the two can impact investigations.

Director of the National Institute of Justice Nancy La Vigne discussed the two grants awarded to The University of Tennessee Knoxville, saying, “The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is a beacon for the field of forensic science research. Since 2007, NIJ has awarded 26 forensic science research grants to the university, totaling over $6.9 million. I am pleased to announce that NIJ has made two new research awards to the university that will develop essential knowledge that can inform the identification of decedents — information that will ultimately guide investigations, help solve cold cases, support prosecutions, and bring justice to victims and their families.”

Deborah Crawford, who is the vice chancellor for research, innovation and economic development at The University of Tennessee Knoxville, discussed how the Forensic Anthropology Center impacts research, saying, “For more than three decades, the FAC has generated critical breakthroughs and improvements in forensics research and operations, solidifying its role in helping law enforcement cases and giving families closure. Researchers at the FAC are harnessing the tools of cutting-edge science to address critical forensics challenges – showcasing the creativity and impact of UT Research and exemplifying the Volunteer spirit of service and leadership.”

For more information about The University of Tennessee Knoxville, visit the school’s website.