October 2, 2025

The Department of Anthropology in Ohio State’s College of Arts and Sciences has officially opened the doors of the new Forensic Anthropology Laboratory — a milestone that furthers the hands-on learning experience for students and deepens the college’s commitment to community service. 

The new lab builds on the success of the first-of-its-kind forensic anthropology major, which launched in 2023, and positions the college as a resource for communities throughout Ohio and beyond. Just as the forensic anthropology major sets students up for a myriad of career paths — death investigation, law enforcement, medicine, mortuary sciences, public service and more — the Forensic Anthropology Lab is a space where students can apply what they’ve learned in their classes in a real-world setting. 

The lab has been a passion project for Scott McGraw, chair of the Department of Anthropology, and Nicholas “Nick” Passalacqua, associate professor of anthropology, who also serves as its inaugural director. 

“Our department aspires to be a leader in forensic anthropology — not only in the Midwest, but nationwide. Bringing Nick on board to direct our new, state-of-the-art lab marks a significant step toward achieving that vision. We couldn’t be more excited,” McGraw said.

The lab and the expertise that comes along with it allows the department to support investigators, law enforcement, coroners and medical examiners in the processing and analysis of human remains. Passalacqua and colleagues regularly collaborate with local, national and international agencies to provide support in especially challenging and sensitive cases. Most recently, Passalacqua has been working with Teri Murphy, associate director of the Mershon Center for International Security Studies, in a collaboration with the Unidad de Búsqueda de Personas dadas por Desaparecidas (UBPD), which conducts search actions and identifies the disappeared due to Columbia’s armed conflict. Passalacqua, Murphy and other Ohio State faculty and students will assist the UBPD with forensic training and casework in Colombia.

With the dedicated lab space now up and running, the department launched a Forensic Anthropology Services and Training (FAST) program, which provides expertise, guidance and support to law enforcement, coroners and medical examiners, and other community partners. Ultimately, the lab hopes to become the ‘first phone call’ for forensic anthropology search, recovery and laboratory analysis in Ohio.

“The launch of the Forensic Anthropology Laboratory marks an exciting new chapter for our college,” said David Horn, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “This one-of-a-kind facility will create valuable opportunities for our students, drive forward research and discovery and strengthen our ability to serve the community.”