Researchers
The FACTS strives to assist national and international scholars in conducting quality scientific research that will benefit the medico-legal and anthropological communities. We have a large outdoor decomposition facility called the Forensic Anthropology Research Facility, and a growing documented human skeletal collection housed in the well-equipped Grady Early Forensic Anthropology Research Laboratory. If you are interested in conducting research at Texas State University, please contact Dr. Daniel Wescott (dwescott@txstate.edu or 512-245-1900). Please complete the appropriate request form below and email, mail, or fax to Dr. Wescott for approval. FACTS will make reasonable efforts to help facilitate your research. Fees may be charged for some services. In addition, researchers must agree to:
- Proper safety and handling procedures,
- Providing FACTS with a copy of all photographs and data collected, and
- Providing FACTS with a copy of all or any results in manuscript or reprint form.
- Acknowledge FACTS in publications resulting from data collected at Texas State University
- Please acknowledge us as "Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX"
- Publications with work performed using the high resolution computed tomography system should acknowledge NSF:MRI award 1338044 (Wescott et al. 2013)
Pay Service Fees Here
You can make a payment of FACTS services such as CT Scanning, 3D printing, and more. Please do not purchase anything until you have received an invoice from FACTS.
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Protocol Forms
FARF Research Request
The Forensic Anthropology Research Facility (FARF) is a 26-acre outdoor human decomposition research laboratory at Texas State’s Freeman Ranch that is used to conduct studies related to forensic taphonomy. Also located on Freeman Ranch is the Osteology Research and Processing Laboratory that includes cold storage, radiography and photographic stations, and a skeletal processing suite. Anthropologists, archaeologists, odontologists, botanists, entomologists, chemists, and others in disciplines that study human decomposition can propose to conduct research at FARF. Please complete the FARF Research Request Form if you are interested in conducting research at FARF.
Texas State University Donated Skeletal Collection Research Request
The Grady Early Forensic Anthropology Research Laboratory (GEFARL) houses the Texas State University Donated Skeletal Collection (TXSTDSC). This is a rapidly growing collection that includes skeletons with documented demographic, occupation, and health information. The GEFARL includes a photography studio, white-light scanner, micro-CT and digital radiography system, histology equipment, and basic osteometric equipment. Please complete the Skeletal Collection Research Request Form if you wish to use the collection for your research. You can also contact Dr. Daniel Wescott for an updated list of the demographic structure of the Texas State Donated Collection and for information about anthropometric, photographic, and other information available.
Computed Tomography and Digital Radiography Service
FACTS has acquired a NSI X5000 micro-CT system that is available for researchers conducting nondestructive 2D and 3D internal and external imaging. The cost is $115/hour for academic use. The hourly rate applies to mounting the specimen, calibrating and optimizing the scanner, image data acquisition, and image processing. Please complete the CT Service Request Form or send inquiries for digital radiography and computed tomography to Daniel Wescott or Deborah Cunningham. In some cases we may have images of the donated skeletal collection that can be obtained for research.