Ann Ross

Ann Ross is a Professor and University Faculty Scholar at North Carolina State University, specializing in forensic anthropology and biological sciences. Her work bridges forensic science, paleobiology, and human variation studies with a focus on skeletal analysis, disaster victim identification, and ethical collection practices.

Her research addresses critical areas such as juvenile age estimation, bone mineral density applications, and forensic protocols for mass casualty events. She actively contributes to professional organizations like FASE, advocating for standardized practices and ethical skeletal collection management.

Key achievements include the Jackson Rigney International Service Award (2023) and the University Faculty Scholar title (2013). Her interdisciplinary approach integrates 3D morphometrics, molecular biology, and taphonomy to advance forensic methodologies.

Recent work highlights advancements in identifying blunt force trauma on thermally altered remains, ethical challenges in skeletal collections post-Black Lives Matter, and global patterns in craniofacial variation. She collaborates internationally, addressing forensic challenges in Europe, South Africa, and the Caribbean.

Her research emphasizes human rights applications, including migrant death investigations and reforming ancestry studies to combat racial biases. Ross's lab develops innovative tools like the 3D-ID software for cranial classification, and her work on Lucayan burials advances Caribbean archaeological understanding.