​Fellowship Opportunities

The Forensic Anthropology Fellowship Program is an immersive, hands-on, 12-month training program designed to expose an emerging biological anthropologist to the role of forensic anthropology in a medical examiner’s office that serves a large urban population.  During the program, the fellow will participate in casework, attend and process death scenes, assist with identifying unknown decedents, and be exposed to legal/judicial proceedings.  Additionally, the fellow will be introduced to an extensive quality management system required for forensic analysis including a formalized training program and standard operating procedures. The fellow will work alongside three staff forensic anthropologists who are involved in the instruction and supervision of the fellow.  The Forensic Anthropology Division receives approximately 400 case requests per year, nearly 70% involving skeletal or cartilaginous trauma.  Identification accounts for approximately 20% of the annual casework, while the “traditional” role of a forensic anthropologist to estimate the parameters of the biological profile only accounts for 4%.  Therefore, this fellowship offers an exceptional training environment to hone additional skills needed by a forensic anthropologist in a medicolegal setting. 

Fellows are not required to perform research, but a project can be discussed in addition to casework and report writing. 

Program Requirements: 

• Ph.D. from an accredited college or university in Anthropology, Forensic or Biological Anthropology, or related field
• Advanced writing, analytical, and problem-resolution skills
• Position starts on July 1^st 

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Advanced 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
• Ability to apply knowledge of anthropological and forensic theory, principles, procedures, and techniques to practical analysis and curation of human remains
• Experience in a Medical Examiner/Coroner’s Office and interacting with law enforcement 
• Successful completion of graduate coursework and/or training involving: human osteology, skeletal growth and development, bone biology and biomechanics, skeletal pathology, human gross anatomy, archaeological techniques, evidence handling/basic forensic science principles, processing human remains, ethics and professionalism, and statistics.  Training in histology, comparative medical imaging analysis, legal/judicial procedures, and photography are encouraged.  

Stipend:

Salary and benefits package is very competitive.

Application Process:

1. Complete the Harris County Application For Employment
2. Submit one application to Harris County using one of the methods outlined on their website
3. Submit one copy of your application along with a copy of your curriculum vitae (CV), unofficial transcript(s), and cover letter to the Institute by postal mail or email:

Attn: Jason Wiersema, Ph.D.
Director of Forensic Anthropology and
Emergency Management
Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences
1861 Old Spanish Trail
Houston, Texas 77054
E-mail:  jason.wiersema@ifs.hctx.net

For more information, contact:
Jason Wiersema, Ph.D.
Director of Forensic Anthropology and
Emergency Management
Phone: (832) 927-5000
E-mail:  jason.wiersema@ifs.hctx.net

The intensive 12-month course of study for the Forensic Pathology Fellowship Program is focused on the data acquisition and documentation processes from medical and non-medical sources with particular emphasis placed on the correlation of scene observations (forensic investigation) with autopsy and forensic toxicological findings. In addition, fellows perform rotations in the Forensic Toxicology and Drug Chemistry laboratories as well as the Forensic Investigations Department, Firearms Identification Laboratory, and the Forensic Genetics Laboratory.

Forensic Pathology Fellows actively participate in casework as they work alongside supervising pathologists who are involved in the instruction and supervision of fellows including the Deputy Chief Medical Examiner, Assistant Medical Examiners, and a board-certitified Neuropathologist. 

The Institute of Forensic Sciences also employs a team of forensic anthropologists and a forensic entomologist. The Institute has additional consultants with specialties in cardiovascular pathology, ophthalmology, forensic odontology, and pediatric pathology. Access to other specialties is available as part of the Institute’s membership in the Texas Medical Center – the largest medical center in the world with one of the highest densities of clinical facilities for patient care, basic science, and translational research.

Program Requirements:

Applicants must be board certified or eligible in AP or AP/CP and have a Texas medical license. Board-eligible applicants may apply for a training permit from the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners. Residents pursuing an AP-FP track, and already enrolled in an ACGME-approved residency program, will also be considered.

Stipend:

Salary and benefits package is very competitive.

Application Process:

1. Complete the Harris County Application For Employment.*
2. Submit one application to Harris County using one of the methods outlined on their website.
3. Submit one copy of the application along with three distinct letters of recommendation to the Institute by mail:

Attn: Pathology Administrative Coordinator
Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences
1861 Old Spanish Trail
Houston, Texas 77054

The Forensic Toxicology Fellowship Program is a rigorous two-year program for the classically-trained academic scientist. Upon completion of the program, fellows will be familiar with toxicology laboratory methods and interpretation. Methods include immunoassay screening, sample preparation, liquid and gas chromatography with mass spectrometry, and interpretation of toxicological findings in postmortem, DWI, and drug-facilitated sexual assault cases. Fellows will be trained in the development and validation of analytical procedures to current forensic quality assurance standards. In addition, fellows will be exposed to quality management systems and expert witness testimony. 

Fellows developing new technologies are encouraged to publish validated methods in peer-reviewed journals and present at conferences.  In addition, fellows are encouraged to further the research goals of the Institute by applying for competitive grants.

Program Requirements:

Stipend:

Salary and benefits package is very competitive.

Application Process:

Submit a Harris County Application For Employment* for the Forensic Toxicology Fellow position.

*Fellow candidates are encouraged to apply six months prior to the start of the intended fellowship year.

For more information, contact:
Teresa Gray, Ph.D., Chief Toxicologist
E-mail: teresa.gray@ifs.hctx.net