Jay D. Aronson

Jay D. Aronson is a Professor of Science, Technology, and Society in the Department of History at Carnegie Mellon University. He is also the founder and director of the Center for Human Rights Science at CMU. His research and teaching focus on the intersections of science, technology, law, media, and human rights, with particular emphasis on forensic science, digital evidence, and post-conflict justice.

• Ph.D. in History of Science and Technology, University of Minnesota (2004)
• Pre- and post-doctoral fellow, Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government

Aronson’s work explores how technological innovations—especially digital evidence and DNA profiling—shape human rights practices, legal accountability, and public policy. He has authored or co-authored several books, including Death in Custody: How America Ignores the Truth and What We Can Do About It (2023), Who Owns the Dead? The Science and Politics of Death at Ground Zero (2016), and Genetic Witness: Science, Law, and Controversy in the Making of DNA Profiling (2007). He co-edited New Technologies for Human Rights Law and Practice (2018) and Counting Civilian Casualties (2013).

His recent research delves into the use of computer vision and machine learning for analyzing human rights media, shooter localization via social media videos, and ethical challenges in forensic DNA databases. He collaborates with computer scientists and statisticians to improve tools for civilian casualty recording and digital evidence authentication. Aronson also investigates the role of user-generated content in transitional justice and the politics of memorialization after mass disasters.