Faculty Profile for Dr. Danny Wescott
Biography Section
Research Interests
I am a biological anthropologists with a research focus on developing and testing forensic anthropological methods for reconstructing biological profiles, trauma patterns, and the post mortem interval. I also use long bone biomechanics to reconstruct activity patterns and behavior in past populations, and test hypotheses regarding changes in human skeletal morphology due to evolutionary and secular forces.Selected Scholarly/Creative Work
- Gignac, P. M., Aceves, V., Baker, S. A., Barnes, J. J., Bell, J., Boyer, D., … Zobek, C. M. (2024). The role of networks to overcome large-scale challenges in tomography: The non-clinical tomography users research network. Tomography of Materials and Structures, 5. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmater.2024.100031
- Wescott, D. J. (2019). Postmortem changes in bone mechanical properties: loss of plasticity. Forensic Science International, 300, 164–169.
- Hassan, B., Sylvester, A. D., Wescott, D. J., Cunningham, D. L., Manson, P., & Grant, M. P. (2025). An Introduction to the orbital buttress. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 155(4), 780e–783e.
- Mickleburgh, H. L., Procopio, N., Bonicelli, A., Ogbanga, N., Squazzi, G., van der Hulst, R., … Ammer, S. (2025). The Mass Grave Project: Advancing mass grave investigation through an interdisciplinary program of actualistic taphonomic research. In Forensic Archaeology and New Multidisciplinary Approaches (pp. 111–134). Springer.
- Connor, M., Belcher, W. R., Dabbs, G. R., Falsetti, A., Forbes, S., Gocha, T. P., … Zedjlik, K. (2025). From a Small Plot in Knoxville to a Worldwide Footprint. Forensic Anthropology, 7, 267–289. https://doi.org/10.5744/fa.2024.0002
Selected Awards
- Award / Honor Nominee: Excellence in Mentoring Award. 2024
- Award / Honor Recipient: Certificate of Appreciation, Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Dallas Evidence Response Team. 2022
- Award / Honor Recipient: Community Partnership Award, San Marcos Police Department. February 2, 2022
- Award / Honor Recipient: Presidential Distinction Award for Excellence in Scholarly / Creative Activities, College of Liberal Arts. August 2016
- Award / Honor Nominee: Mariel M. Muir Excellence in Mentoring Award. May 2016
Selected Grants
- Mavroudas, Sophia (Principal), Herrmann, Nicholas Paul (Co-Principal), Hamilton, Michelle D (Co-Principal), Wescott, Daniel J (Co-Principal), Falleur, David M (Co-Principal), Jacobson, Jodi Arlene (Co-Principal). Acquiring a Microscopy Suite for Forensic Anthropology, Archaeology, and Biology, NSF, Federal, $255000. (Submitted: 2019, Funded: September 1, 2019 - September 2021). Grant.
- Wescott, Daniel J (Principal). Detection of clandestine graves and surface remains in Central Texas using remote sensing, Texas State University, Institutional (Higher Ed), $7482. (Funded: 2014). Grant.
- Wescott, Daniel J (Principal). Bioarchaeological investigation of the Shiloh Methodist Cemetery: Health, Diet, and Activity of African Americans during the mid 19th Century, University of Missouri, Institutional (Higher Ed), $7191. (Funded: 2008). Grant.
- Wescott, Daniel J (Principal). Secular change in human long bone diaphyseal strength and shape in the United States, University of Missouri, Institutional (Higher Ed), $7000. (Funded: 2008). Grant.
- Wescott, Daniel J (Principal). Secular change in human long bone diaphyseal strength and shape in the United States from 1925-1980, University of Missouri, Institutional (Higher Ed), $26700. (Funded: 2008). Grant.
Selected Service Activities
Reviewer / Referee
Journal of Forensic Sciences
2023-Present
Member
Laboratory Safety Committee
October 2021-Present
Consulting Forensic Anthropologist
Equasearch
2014-Present
Consulting Forensic Anthropologist
Texas Ranger
2012-Present
Chair
FACTS Laboratory Management Hiring Committee
July 1, 2025-August 31, 2025