Cris Hughes
Cris Hughes

Contact Information

Department of Anthropology
607 S Mathews Ave.
M/C 148
Urbana, IL 61801

Office Hours

By Appointment
Edit Your Profile
Clinical Associate Professor

Research Description

My research interests include the use and limitations of ancestry estimations in skeletal variation, reliability measures of biological profile estimation methods, and disparities in investigations of missing and unidentified persons. I am a board-certified forensic anthropologist, assisting with unidentified persons investigations in Illinois since 2013 through consultation with coroner's offices. Since 2023, I have served as an appointed member of the Illinois Forensic Science Commission. As director of the Institute of Genomic Biology's Investigative Technology Exchange, I partner with the Illinois State Police to facilitate research and developments to enhance forensic science in Illinois, currently focusing on forensic investigative genetic genealogy. My current work also examines legislative workflows in Illinois human remains cases, aiming to strengthen the procedures that guide investigations of unidentified decedents.

Courses Taught

ANTH 246 Introduction to Forensic Science

ANTH 247 Forensic Genetics Lab

ANTH 346 Forensic Anthropology

ANTH 498 Senior Capstone Seminar

ANTH 499 Cold Case Practicum
 

Additional Campus Affiliations

Carl R. Woese Institute of Genomic Biology, Investigative Technology Exchange Director (2023–2028)
Carl R. Woese Institute of Genomic Biology, Genomic Security and Privacy Theme Affiliate
Director, Forensic Anthropology Laboratory, Department of Anthropology
Appointed Member, Illinois Forensic Science Commission (2023–present)
Diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Anthropology

Recent Publications

Hughes CE, Yim AD, Juarez C. 2024. Considerations for age estimation accuracy: Method-derived outcomes and practitioner interpretations. Journal of Forensic Sciences. May;69(3):755-64.
 
Hughes CE, Yim AD, Juarez C, Servello J, Thomas R, Passalacqua N, Soler A. 2023. Investigating identification disparities in forensic anthropology casework. PLOS One. Nov 1;18(11):e0290302.
 
Hughes, CE, Juarez CA, Yim A. 2021. Forensic Anthropology Casework Performance: Assessing Accuracy and Trends for Biological Profile Estimates on a Comprehensive Sample of Identified Decedent Cases. Journal of Forensic Sciences 66(5):1602-1616.
 
Juarez CA, Hughes CE, Yim A. 2021. A report the Forensic Anthropology Database for Assessing Methods Accuracy (FADAMA). American Journal of Physical Anthropology 174(1):149-150.

[View all publications on Illinois Experts]