Dr. Christopher Goden

Areas of Expertise

Forensic anthropology, skeletal trauma, quantitative methods, geometric morphometrics, virtual (3D) anthropology, human variation

Education

PhD – Health & Rehabilitation Sciences (Skeletal Biomechanics), The Ohio State University

MA – Anthropology, Louisiana State University

BS – Anthropology, Kennesaw State University

About

As an interdisciplinary forensic scientist, my research examines human skeletal variation and its implications for skeletal trauma, biological profile estimation, and human identification. Drawing upon methods in biological anthropology, skeletal anatomy, injury biomechanics, epidemiology, and biostatistics, my work seeks to advance understanding of human skeletal biology while strengthening the scientific foundations of forensic anthropological methods and interpretations.

A central focus of my research is investigating how variation in skeletal form (i.e., shape and size) influences traumatic injury outcomes. Using three-dimensional imaging, geometric morphometrics, statistical modeling, and experimental injury data, I examine relationships between bone shape and function at individual and population levels. My research also explores applications of morphological variation to biological profile estimation and forensic identification.

My research and teaching draw upon extensive experience in medicolegal death investigation and forensic casework. I serve as one of two consulting forensic anthropologists for the State of Mississippi through the Mississippi Department of Public Safety's State Medical Examiner's Office, providing expertise in forensic skeletal recovery and analysis. My professional background includes forensic anthropological consultations for local, state, and federal agencies, as well as previous service as a licensed medicolegal death investigator and autopsy technician at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

At Mississippi State University, I serve as Deputy Director of the Mississippi Repository for Missing and Unidentified Persons and Co-Director of the Forensic Anthropology Recovery Unit and its associated laboratory facilities. Within the Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures, I teach undergraduate and graduate courses in biological and forensic anthropology, connecting interdisciplinary research with applied forensic practice.

I welcome opportunities to mentor students and collaborate with researchers interested in quantitative approaches to biological variation, skeletal form, and function. Areas of particular interest include geometric morphometrics, 3D imaging, statistical modeling, and interdisciplinary investigations of skeletal biology. I encourage inquiries from prospective students (undergraduate and graduate) whose interests align with these approaches, including those pursuing research beyond traditional forensic anthropological applications.

Select Research Activity

Publications

Goden CM, Agnew AM, Harden AL. 2026. “Variation in Three-Dimensional Shape of the Tibial Diaphysis and Relationships with Biological Sex” Humans; 6(4):39. https://doi.org/10.3390/humans6040039

Goden CM, Gooding AF, Brophy JK, Listi GA. 2026. “Palate Shape Offers Limited Utility in Population Affinity Estimation among Modern U.S. Groups” Forensic Anthropology; Early view. https://doi.org/10.5744/fa.2026.0018

Harden AL, Stull KE, Kang YS, Goden CM, Agnew AM. 2026. “Human Variation and its Influence on Fracture Outcomes in Experimental Tibial Blunt Trauma” Journal of Forensic Sciences; Early view. https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70444

Goden CM, Agnew AM, Harden AL. 2026. “Relationships between Human Tibia Diaphysis Shape and Experimental Injury Outcomes” Journal of Forensic Sciences; 71(5):1979-1992. https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70381

Presentations

Goden CM, Agnew AM, Harden AL. 2026. “Exploratory Analysis of Relationships between Tibial Diaphyseal Shape and Fracture Outcomes” (A31). Proceedings of the 78^th American Academy of Forensic Sciences Meeting. Poster. New Orleans, LA.

Agnew AM, Goden CM, Stull KE, McGinley J, Harden AL. 2026. “Comparison of Fracture Characteristics between Paired Tibiae Loaded in Different Directions” (A134). Proceedings of the 78^th American Academy of Forensic Sciences Meeting. Poster. New Orleans, LA.

Goden CM, Agnew AM, Harden AL. 2025. “Preliminary Evaluation of Reliability in Long Bone Fracture Classification Methods among Observers”(A112). Proceedings of the 77^th American Academy of Forensic Sciences Scientific Meeting. Poster. Baltimore, MD.

Harden AL, Goden CM, Kang YS, Stull KE, Agnew AM. 2025. “Preliminary Comparison of Fracture Characteristics Between Fleshed and Defleshed Human Tibiae” (A111). Proceedings of the 77^th American Academy of Forensic Sciences Scientific Meeting. Poster. Baltimore, MD.

Agnew AM, Goden CM, McGinley J, Hunter RH, Kang YS, Harden AL. 2024. “Comparison of Fracture Characteristics in Paired Human Ulnae Loaded at Two Distinct Loading Rates” American Journal of Biological Anthropology. 183:2. Proceedings of the 93^rd American Association of Biological Anthropologists Annual Meeting. Poster. Los Angeles, CA.

Goden CM, Brzezinski ET, Agnew AM, Harden AL. 2023. “Accuracy and Observer Agreement in the Determination of Trauma Timing in Human Ribs” American Journal of Biological Anthropology. 180(S75):64. Proceedings of the 92^nd American Association of Biological Anthropologists. Poster. Reno, NV. *Honorable Mention Award

Goden CM, Agnew AM, Kang YS, Stull KE, Harden AL. 2023. “Preliminary Investigation of Fractographic Method Accuracy in Determining Fracture Propagation Direction in Human Tibiae” (A39). Proceedings of the 75^th American Academy of Forensic Sciences Scientific Meeting. Orlando, FL.

Goden CM, Gooding AF. 2022. “Quantifying Variation in Palate Shape among Three Modern Populations Using Elliptical Fourier Analysis” American Journal of Biological Anthropology. 177(S73):70. Proceedings of the  91^st American Association of Physical Anthropologists Meeting. Poster. Denver, CO.

Goden CM, Gooding AF. 2022. “Assessing the Validity of Palate Shape as an Indicator of Population Affinity through the use of Elliptical Fourier Analysis (EFA)” (A102). Proceedings of the 74^th American Academy of Forensic Sciences Scientific Meeting. Podium. Seattle, WA.

Goden CM, Gooding AF. 2020. “The Determination and Prevalence of Non-Forensic Specimens in an Unidentified Collection at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI)” (A162). Proceedings of the 72^nd American Academy of Forensic Sciences Scientific Meeting. Poster. Anaheim, CA.

A complete list of scholarly activity are available from https://cmgodenfa.owlstown.net/.