Biography
Joseph T. Hefner (PhD, University of Florida) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology at Michigan State University (MSU), where he teaches and mentors students in human osteology and quantitative methods while advancing research at the intersection of skeletal biology, human variation, and forensic science.
Trained as a biological anthropologist, Hefner’s work is centered on improving forensic human identification through statistically grounded approaches to classification, with particular focus on population affinity (ancestry), age estimation, and the interpretation of cranial nonmetric and macromorphoscopic traits.
A signature theme of his scholarship is building methods that are both practically useful and scientifically transparent, developing reference datasets, evaluating sources of observer and sampling bias, and translating complex morphological information into reproducible analytical frameworks for casework and research.
He is Principal Investigator of MOSAIC, an NIJ-funded project aimed at unifying methods of sex, stature, affinity, and age estimation through computational standardization, and has also led NIJ-supported work establishing the statistical analysis of macromorphoscopic data through the Macromorphoscopic Databank.
Hefner’s broader contributions include widely used scholarly and practitioner resources such as the Atlas of Human Cranial Macromorphoscopic Traits and Biological Distance Analysis: Forensic and Bioarchaeological Perspectives, as well as applied tools including MaMD Analytical and related software for macromorphoscopic and dental trait analysis.
He has also served in key editorial leadership roles for Forensic Anthropology (Founding Co-Editor; Editor-in-Chief; Associate Editor).
Prior to MSU, Hefner served as Forensic Anthropology Laboratory Manager for the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Agency (now DPAA) at Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam and worked as a Principal Investigator at Statistical Research, Inc.
In addition to his academic work, he is an active long distance runner.
RECENT FUNDING
2025-present Principal Investigator: JT Hefner. “MOSAIC: Unifying Methods of Sex, Stature, Affinity, and Age for Identification through Computational Standardization”. National Institute of Justice. Co-PIs: KM Lesciotto, MK Spradley, AR Klales, HJH Edgar. (NIJ15PNIJ-24-GG-03840-NIJB) $2,067,530.01.
2024-present Principal Investigator. “MOSAIC: Unifying Methods of Sex, Stature, Affinity, and Age for Identification through Computational Standardization.” (NIJ Co-PIs: KM Lesciotto, MK Spradley, AR Klales, HJH Edgar). College of Social Science, MSU, Gwen Andrew Faculty Initiatives Fund $5,000
2023-2025 Principal Investigator: JT Hefner. “Sampling and Selection Bias in Research Using Documented Skeletal Collections.” (Co-PI: Rhian Dunn). National Institute of Justice, Graduate Research Fellowship (15PNIJ-23-GG-01939-RESS) $78,656 – Student Research
2021-2025 Co-Principal Investigator: JT Hefner. “Developing standardized graphic libraries for anatomy: A focus on human craniofacial anatomy and phenotypes”. (PI: Melissa Clarkson). National Institutes of Health, Dental & Craniofacial Research (R01 DE030100-01A1). $1,447,281
2021-2024 Co-Principal Investigator: JT Hefner. “Consortium for Integrated Forensic Applications, Collaborations, and Technology Systems (IFACTS): Machine-Learning Methods for Death Investigation and Human Identification”. Strategic Planning Grant. ME Benbow, TW Fenton, JT Hefner, CV Isaac, JL Pechal, A Ross, RW Smith. Strategic Planning Grant, Michigan State University Foundation. $480,000
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
In prep Evaluation of Collateral Ligament Location and Risk of Injury During Total Knee Replacement in Dogs. A. Fracka, J. Kershaw, L. Dejardin, B. Oxley, S. Holcombe, JT Hefner, M. Allen.
2026 Sex Estimation Using Computed Tomography With A Sample From Gujarat, India. P. Verma, P. Tiwari, JT Hefner, A. Das, A. Datta, V. Patel, S. Dave, S. Agarwal. Forensic Anthropology. In press
*2025 Quantifying Sexual Dimorphism in Scapular Morphology. S Holcombe, JT Hefner, MC Spiros, LL Cabo. Forensic Anthropology, 8(3):176–187. https://doi.org/10.5744/fa.2024.0015
*2025 Evaluation and Integration of Disparate Classification Schemes For Extrasutural Bones In Human Crania: Interparietal Bone. M Clarkson, R Dunn, M Spiros, H Long, JT Hefner. Anatomical Record. https://doi.org/10.1002/ar.25643.
*2025 Sony R, Isaac CV, VanBaarle A, Devota CJ, Fenton T, Hefner JT, Ross A. Automatic Comparative Chest Radiography using Deep Neural Networks. IEEE Access 13: 4398-4410. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2025.3525579
*2024 Elder Abuse in Forensic Anthropology: A Case Study. MC Spiros, JT Hefner, CV Isaac, B Hunter. Forensic Anthropology 7(1):47-57.
*2024 Exploring Mutual and Exclusive Biological Information in Cranial Metric and Morphological Variables. K Stull, BT New, L Corron, LE Auchter, K Spradley, C Wolfe, E Chu, JT Hefner. Forensic Anthropology (7)2–3: 141–163. DOI: 10.5744/fa.2023.0042
2024 The Machines are Winning: Essays in Honor of Stephen D. Ousley (1961-2022). Front matter. RL Jantz and JT Hefner. Forensic Anthropology (7)2–3: 59–61. DOI: 10.5744/fa.2024.0007
*2024 Steven D. Ousley: Selected Published Works and Professional Activities. JT Hefner, RL Jantz. Forensic Anthropology (7)2–3: 206–213. DOI: 10.5744/fa.2024.0001
Works
- MOSAIC — NIJ-funded, multi-year research program (PI; 2025–present): Unifies methods of sex, stature, population affinity, and age estimation through computational standardization to improve reproducibility and comparability across forensic anthropology workflows.
- Sampling and Selection Bias in Documented Skeletal Collections — NIJ Graduate Research Fellowship project Co-PI: Dr. Rhian Dunn (jth – PI; 2023–2025): Dr. Dunn’s dissertation research evaluating how sampling and selection practices shape inference and error in research using documented skeletal collections, with direct implications for method development and validation.
- Macromorphoscopic Databank (MaMD) — NIJ-funded infrastructure + methods project (PI; 2015–2018): Built statistical foundations and implementation resources for macromorphoscopic trait analysis in forensic anthropology, emphasizing evidence-based classification and transparent reporting.
- IFACTS — Machine-learning methods for death investigation and human identification (Co-PI; 2021–2024): Part of a collaborative MSU initiative to develop and coordinate applied, data-driven approaches that strengthen identification and investigative workflows.
- Subadult Dental Age-at-Death Estimation — NIJ-funded methods project (Co-PI; 2019–2021): Develops and tests transition analysis and machine-learning approaches for estimating age-at-death in subadults using dental data.
- Standardized Graphic Libraries for Craniofacial Anatomy & Phenotypes — NIH/NIDCR R01 project (Co-PI; 2021–2025): Creates standardized visual/graphic resources for craniofacial anatomy and phenotypes to support consistency in research communication, teaching, and translation.
- Humanitarian & Human Rights Forensic Work in Georgia — AAFS HRRRC-supported project (Co-PI; 2020–2023): Anthropological analysis supporting investigations of Soviet-era terror victims in Georgia.
- Open Tools for Morphological Analysis — software + applied resources (2015–present): Development of analytical tools supporting macromorphoscopic and dental trait workflows (e.g., MaMD Analytical, TA Dental, MMS, and related applications), alongside widely used reference resources that translate research into practice.
Gallery
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