Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology

Areas of Expertise

Human skeletal biology, variability, and identification; population histories/structures and microevolutionary processes; forensic methods and praxis; computed tomography and radiographic data; secular change; diversity, inclusion, equity, and mentorship in forensic anthropology; biocultural and queer theory; critical race theory in biological and forensic anthropology; skeletal embodiment

Website

Forensic and Bioanthropology Laboratory Group

About Professor Tallman 

Professor Sean Tallman is presently a 2023-2024 Fulbright U.S. Scholar in Public Health at the University of Cape Town and Stellenbosch University, South Africa. He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology at the Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine with secondary appointments in the Department of Anthropology and Program in Archaeology at Boston University. He heads the Forensic and Bioanthropology Laboratory (FAB Lab) Group, teaches, and advises students the M.S. Program in Forensic Anthropology at the Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine. Sean teaches courses in human osteology, method and theory in biological anthropology, bioarchaeology, forensic anthropology, and human rights. Additionally, he is a Registered Professional Archaeologist (RPA), Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS), and Associate Editor for American Anthropologist and Yearbook of Biological Anthropology. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, M.A. from the State University of New York, Binghamton, B.A. from the University of Washington, and A.A. from Shoreline Community College.
Sean has held positions of Forensic Anthropologist, Osteologist, Archaeologist, Consultant, and Anthropology Instructor in various contexts. In particular, he served as a Forensic Anthropologist with the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command’s Central Identification Laboratory (now DPAA), where he contributed to the identification of numerous U.S. service members killed during past conflicts, and led archaeological recovery missions in France, Germany, Laos, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vietnam. He has conducted skeletal biology research in Japan, Thailand, and South Africa.

Select Courses

  • FA 806 Advance Human Osteology
  • FA 790 History, Method, and Theory in Biological Anthropology
  • FA 704 Bioarchaeology
  • FA 705 Forensic Anthropology Techniques

Select Publications

  • Meloro RM, Tallman SD, Streed Jr. CG, Stowell J, Delgado TA, Haug JD, Redgrave A, Winburn AP. A framework for incorporating diverse gender identities into forensic anthropology casework and theory: Recommendations for inclusive practices. Current Anthropology (in press).
  • McCrane SM, Tallman SD. The ethical role of forensic science organizations in an era of oppressive legislative action. Human Biology 3034;94(2):111-121. DOI: 10.1353/hub.2023.a933269.
  • Alibrio MN, Tallman SD. The effect of cancer and cancer treatment on pubic symphysis age estimation using computed tomography scans. Diagnostics 2024;14(1500). DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14141500.
  • Saenz NM, Tallman SD. Fracture variation in survivable versus fatal blunt force trauma associated with intimate partner violence. Forensic Science International 2024;357:112000; DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2024.112000.
  • Adams DM, Bedard JR, Blatt SH, Fisal E, Goliath JR, Gregory-Alcock G, Gruenthal-Rankin A, Morales Lorenzo PH, Smith AC, Tallman SD, Tegtmeyer-Hawke R, Whitelaw H. Speaking truth to power: Towards a forensic anthropology of advocacy and activism. Humans 2024;4(1):66-90; DOI: 10.3390/humans4010005.
  • Carrière C, Tallman SD. Assessing the utility of 3D modeling with photogrammetry in assigned sex estimation from the greater sciatic notch. Forensic Imaging 2024;36:200576; DOI:10.1016/j.fri.2023.200576.
  • Joshi MA, Tallman SD. Three-dimensional convolutional neural network for age-at-death estimation of deceased individuals through computed tomography scans. Forensic Imaging 2023;34:200557; DOI: 10.1016/j.fri.2023.200557.
  • Shamlou AA, Tallman SD. Frontal sinus morphological and dimensional variation as seen on computed tomography scans. Biology 2022;11(8):1145; DOI: 10.3390/biology11081145.
  • Kelley SR, Tallman SD. Population-inclusive assigned-sex-at-birth estimation from skull computed tomography scans. Forensic Sciences 2022;2(2):321-348; DOI: 10.3390/forensicsci2020024.
  • Zamora AC, Tallman SD. The role of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) in positive identification. Journal of Forensic Sciences 2022;67(3):877-888; PMID: 34967006. DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.14966.
  • Tallman SD, Kincer CD, Plemons ED. Centering transgender individuals in forensic anthropology and expanding binary sex estimation in casework and research. Forensic Anthropology 2022;5(2):161-180; DOI: 10.5744/fa.2020.0030.
  • Winburn AP, Tallman SD, Scott AL, Bird CE. Changing the mentorship paradigm: Survey data and interpretations from forensic anthropology practitioners. Forensic Anthropology 2022;5(2):115-132; DOI: 10.5744/fa.2020.4028.
  • Tallman SD, Bird CE. Diversity and inclusion in forensic anthropology: Where we stand and prospects for the future. Forensic Anthropology 2022;5(2): DOI: 10.5744/fa.2020.3001.
  • Tallman SD, Parr NM, Winburn AP. Assumed differences; unquestioned typologies: The oversimplification of race and ancestry in forensic anthropology. Forensic Anthropology 2021;4(4):211-234; DOI: 10.5744/fa.2020.0046.

 

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