This Is What Science Looks Like at NC State: Ann Ross

Editor’s note: This post comes from Ann Ross, a professor of anthropology at NC State. The post is part of an ongoing series that we hope will highlight the diversity of researchers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The series is inspired by the This Is What A Scientist Looks Like site.

My name is Ann Ross and I am originally from the Republic of Panama. I have a Chilean mom and a British father, but was born and raised in Panama. I am an ABFA-certified forensic anthropologist, which means that I study human bones. I use my expertise to help law enforcement solve crimes and have worked on issues ranging from war crimes in Eastern Europe to political violence in Latin America to identifying remains in the wake of natural disasters. I also examine human remains to help us learn more about historic and prehistoric cultures; bones can tell us things that were never written down.

I did my Ph.D. at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and a post-doc at the University of Florida in Gainesville. My current research at NC State is focused on developing new tools and standards for forensic identifications of human remains. The things I enjoy the most are traveling with my husband Craig and nine year old son Alex and spending time with our creatures. I have a great fancy for tailless cats and we share our home with Lady Pyewacket (Japanese Bobtail), Vasco Nuñez de Balboa (American Bobtail) and Sir Francis Drake (Manx) – all rescues, by the way. We also have a fancy for Chinese Shar Peis and share our home with our mini brush coat Izzy.