Biography
Dr Anna Williams is Principal Enterprise Fellow (Associate Professor/Reader) in Forensic Anthropology at the University of Huddersfield, UK. She specialises in forensic taphonomy research and is leading the campaign to open a Human Taphonomy Facility in the UK. She is Head of the Forensic Anthropology Research Group. Anna gained her undergraduate degree in Archaeology and Anthropology at Oxford University and MSc in Forensic Anthropology from Bradford University. Her PhD in Forensic Anthropology from Sheffield University used novel histological and immunohistochemical techniques to quantify bone fracture healing, which is of particular relevance to the investigation of child abuse and identification of unknown individuals.
She did post-doctoral research in ‘A Laboratory Based Analytical Technique to Determine ‘Age at Death’ For Forensic Purposes from Human Compact Bone’ at Cranfield University, and was Lecturer in Forensic Anthropology for nine years. Anna is an experienced Forensic Anthropologist, with considerable case work experience. She regularly undertakes consultancy work for national police forces, Forensic Engineering Solutions and Kenyon International Emergency Services. Anna also writes an award-winning blog called Forensic Anna:thropology.
Research Interest
Forensic Anthropology; Trauma analysis; DecompositionHuman Taphonomy; Human Taphonomy Facilities ('Body Farms'); Human Remains Detection dogs; Search and Recovery of Clandestine Graves; Aquatic Decomposition; Scavenging
Publications
Peer-reviewed Books
- Williams, A. Cassella, J.P. and Maskell, P. (Eds.) (due May 2017) Forensic Science Education and Practitioner Training. (300 page volume, 18 chapters, 12 contributing authors). Wiley-Blackwell.
Peer-reviewed Book Chapters
- Williams, A., Temple, T., Pollard, S., Jones, R. and Ritz, K. (2009) ‘Environmental Considerations for Common Burial Site Selection After Pandemic Events’. In: Criminal and Environmental Soil Forensics. London, UK: Springer. pp. 87-101. ISBN 978-1-4020-9204-6
- Williams, A. (2004) Histology of Bone. In: Guerra, G. (Ed.) (2005) Basics of Bone Biology. University of Rome Tor Vergata Press.
Peer-reviewed Publications
- Fredericks, J. Ringrose, T. Dicken, A. Williams, A. and Bennett, P. (2016) A potential new diagnostic tool to aid DNA analysis from heat compromised bone using colorimetry: A preliminary study. Science & Justice. (doi:10.1016/j.scijus.2014.10.005)
- Pringle, J. Cassella, J. Jervis, J. Williams, A. Cross, P. and Cassidy, N. (2015) Soilwater conductivity analysis to date and locate clandestine graves of homicide victims. Journal of Forensic Sciences. (JOFS- 13-638.R1)
- Frowd, C., Jones, S., Fodarella, C., Skelton, F., Fields, S., Williams, A., Marsh, J., Thorley, R., Nelson, L., Greenwood, L., Date, L., Kearley, K., McIntyre, A. and Hancock , P. (2014) Configural and featural information in facial-composite images. Science& Justice, 54(3), pp. 215-227. ISSN 1355-0306
- Zioupos, P., Williams, A., Christodoulou, G. and Giles, R. (2013) Determi ni ng ‘Age at Death’ for Forens ic Purposes using Human Bone by a Laboratory-based Analytical Method. Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials. ISSN 1751-6161
- Fredericks, J., Brown, K., Williams, A. and Bennett, P. (2013) DNA analysis of skeletal tissue recovered from the English Channel. Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine, 20(6), pp. 757-759. ISSN 1752928X
- Williams, A., York, H. and Frowd, C. (2012) Understanding Familiar Face Recognition for 3D Scanned Images: The Importance of Internal and External Facial Features. In: Third International Conference on Emerging Security Technologies. Lisbon, Portugal: IEEE. pp. 27-32. ISBN 978-1-4673-2448-9.
- Fredericks, J., Bennett, P., Williams, A. and Rogers, K. (2012) FTIR spectroscopy: A new diagnostic tool to aid DNA analysis from heated bone Forensic Science International: Genetics , 6(3), pp. 375-380. ISSN 1872-4973
- Mileson, S., Nicholls, D. and Williams, A. (2011) The ‘Los t’ Chu rc h of Bix Gibwyn: T he Hum an Bone ’ Oxoniensia, 76, pp. 15-36. ISSN 0308–5562
- Williams, A. (2010) The Search for the Missing Church of St Michael's, Bix Gibwyn, Bix: Concluded? Initial Analysis of Human Remains South Oxfordshire Archaeological Group Bulletin (64), pp. 17-21.
- Shortland, A., Masters, P., Harrison, K., Williams, A. and Boston, C. (2008) Burials of eighteenth- century Naval personnel: preliminary results from excavations at the Royal Hospital Haslar, Gosport (Hants) Antiquity, 82 (317). ISSN 0003-598X
- Payne, L. and Williams, A. (2006) Managing Potential Conflict Between Forensic Procedures and the Needs of the Bereaved. Alert: Journal of the Institute of Civil Protection and Emergency Management , pp. 16-17.
Peer-reviewed Conference Papers
- J. Handke, DJ. van der Meer, G. Williams, M. Carr, N. Procopio, M. Buckley and A. Williams (2017) Bacteria as a PMI Clock? Successive bacterial colonisation of pork and its implications for forensic investigations. American Academy of Forensic Sciences, New Orleans, 2017.
- Iddamalgoda, S. Swanborough, C. Soblinkas, K. Tibbett, M. and Williams, A. (2017) A Comparison of Skin Colour Change in Terrestrial and Aquatic Decomposition, and Its Potential Value as an Indicator of Post Mortem Interval. American Academy of Forensic Sciences, New Orleans, 2017.
- Williams, A. Baker, J. and Williams, J. (2012) Further Femmes Fatales: Do Women Dominate Forensic Anthropology Professional Practice in the USA, Canada and the UK? American Academy of Forensic Sciences, Atlanta, 2012.
- Williams, A. and Richards, M. (2011) The Effect of Cultural Cranial Deformation on Neurological Development: A Beneficial or Disadvantageous Practice? American Academy of Forensic Sciences, Chicago, 2011.
- Williams, A. (2011) Femmes Fatales: Why Women Dominate the Discipline of Forensic Anthropology.
- American Academy of Forensic Sciences, Chicago, 2011.
- Williams, A. (2009) Excavations of the Burial Ground at Royal Hospital Haslar. Nautical Archaeology Society Conference, Portsmouth, 2009.
- Magnanti, B. and Williams, A. (2008) Decomposition and Post-Mortem Interval: A Critical Analysis of British Medico-Legal Investigation and Trends in South Yorkshire, 1995-2002. American Academy of Forensic Sciences, Washington DC, 2008.
- Temple, T. and Williams, A. (2008) Forensic and Environmental Response to Pandemic through an Applied Taphonomy Approach. Soil Forensics Conference, Edinburgh, 2008.
- Temple, T. and Williams, A. (2008) Mass Graves as a Waste Disposal Solution? American Academy of Forensic Sciences, Washington DC, 2008.
- Payne, L. and Williams, A. (2007) Managing Potential Conflict between Forensic Procedures and the Needs of the Bereaved. Disaster Studies Workshop, University of Hertfordshire.
- Payne, L. and Williams, A. (2007) The Implications of a Rights-Based Approach for the Forensic Scientist After UK Mass Fatality. British Association of Human Identification, Guilford, UK.
- Payne, L. and Williams, A. (2006) The Implications of a Rights-Based Approach for the Forensic Scientist After UK Mass Fatality. INFORCE, Bournemouth, UK.
- Zioupos, P.; Christodoulou, G.; Giles, R. and Williams, A. (2005) An Analytical Method to Determine ‘Age at Death’ For Forensic Purposes From Human Compact Bone. International Association of Forensic Sciences, Hong Kong.
- Williams, A. (2005) Estimating the Trauma-Death Interval: A Histological Investigation of Fracture Healing. Forensic Science and the Investigation of Atrocity Crimes and Mass Fatalities, Bournemouth, UK.
- Williams, A. (2004) Tough Nuts to Crack: A Ten Year Review of the Pattern and Distribution of Skull Fractures from Forensic Cases from the Medico-Legal Centre, Sheffield, UK. British Association of Biological Anthropologists and Osteoarchaeologists, Southampton, UK.
- Williams, A. (2004) Tough Nuts to Crack: A Ten Year Review of the Pattern and Distribution of Skull Fractures from Forensic Cases from the Medico-Legal Centre, Sheffield, UK. International Association of Legal Medicine, Milan.
- Williams, A. (2004) Tough Nuts to Crack: A Ten Year Review of the Pattern and Distribution of Skull Fractures from Forensic Cases from the Medico-Legal Centre, Sheffield, UK. American Academy of Forensic Sciences, Dallas.
Other Publications
- Williams, A. (2010) The Search for the Missing Church of St Michael's, Bix Gibwyn, Bix: Concluded? Initial Analysis of Human Remains. South Oxfordshire Archaeological Group Bulletin, 64: 17-21.
- Williams, A. (2010) Human Remains Found While Searching for the 'Lost' Church of Bix Gibwyn. South Midlands Archaeology. 40: 58-61.
- Williams, A. (2008) in Brown, M. (2008) Body of Evidence: Archaeological Work at Royal Naval Hospital, Haslar. Sanctuary. 37: 34-37.