Sean D. Tallman, PhD

Assistant Professor, Anatomy & Neurobiology

Sean Tallman
617.638.4200
72 E. Concord St Housman (R)

Biography

Dr. Tallman (he/him) is a biological anthropologist specializing in forensic anthropology, human skeletal biology, forensic archaeology, and human variation. 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. Dr. 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 Assistant Professor in the Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology at the Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, where he teaches courses in human osteology, biological anthropology method and theory, bioarchaeology, forensic anthropology, and human rights. Dr. Tallman has secondary appointments in the Department of Anthropology and Program in Archaeology at Boston University and teaches in BU’s Kilachand Honors College. 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. Also at BU, Dr. Tallman serves on the Faculty/University Councils, Faculty Council Equity and Inclusion Committee, Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act Review Committee, BUSM’s Diversity Steering Group, LGBTQIA+ Recruitment Committee, and the Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Committee. Additionally, he is a Registered Professional Archaeologist (RPA) and Fellow in the Anthropology Section of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS). Dr. Tallman’s ongoing research examines: human skeletal biology and variation; sex and ancestry/population affiliation estimation and critique; human identification; population history and structure; forensic methods; CT scan data; secular change; diversity, inclusion, and mentorship in forensic anthropology; and queer, critical race, and embodiment theories in biological and forensic anthropology.

Dr. Tallman 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 the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency), where he contributed to the identification of numerous U.S. service members killed during past conflicts and led archaeological recovery missions in France, Germany, Hawaii, Laos, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vietnam. Additionally, he was Forensic Anthropologist with the Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team (DMORT IX).

Dr. Tallman is an Associate Editor for the journals American Anthropologist, Forensic Anthropology, and Yearbook of Biological Anthropology.

Other Positions

  • Assistant Professor, Anthropology, Boston University College of Arts and Sciences
  • Graduate Faculty (Primary Mentor of Grad Students), Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Graduate Medical Sciences

Education

  • University of Tennessee, PhD
  • State University of New York at Binghamton, MA
  • University of Washington, BA

Classes Taught

  • GMSFA704
  • GMSFA705
  • GMSFA790
  • GMSFA806
  • KHCMD101

Publications

  • Published on 7/29/2022

    Shamlou AA, Tallman SD. Frontal Sinus Morphological and Dimensional Variation as Seen on Computed Tomography Scans. Biology (Basel). 2022 Jul 29; 11(8). PMID: 36009772.

    Read at: PubMed
  • Published on 1/1/2022

    Tallman SD, Bird CE. Diversity and inclusion in forensic anthropology: Where we stand and prospects for the future. Forensic Anthropology. 2022; 5(2):84-101.

    Read at: Custom
  • Published on 1/1/2022

    Kelley SR, Tallman SD. Population-inclusive assigned-sex-at-birth estimation from skull computed tomography scans. Forensic Sciences. 2022; 2:321-348.

    Read at: Custom
  • Published on 1/1/2022

    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.

    Read at: Custom
  • Published on 1/1/2022

    Tallman SD, George RL, Baide AJ, Bouderdaben F, Craig AE, Garcia SS, Go MC, Goliath JR, Miller E, Pilloud MA. Barriers to entry and success in forensic anthropology. American Anthropologist. 2022; 124(3):580-596.

    Read at: Custom
  • Published on 1/1/2022

    McCrane SM, Hsiao CJ, Tallman SD. Implementing an antiracist framework in forensic anthropology: Our responsibility in professional organizations and as scientists. American Anthropologist. 2022; 124(3):575-579.

    Read at: Custom
  • Published on 1/1/2022

    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.

    Read at: Custom
  • Published on 1/1/2022

    Adams DM, Goldstein JZ, Isa M, Kim J, Moore MK, Pilloud MA, Tallman SD, Winburn AP. A conversation on redefining ethical considerations in forensic anthropology. American Anthropologist. 2022; 124(3):597-612.

    Read at: Custom
  • Published on 12/29/2021

    Zamora AC, Tallman SD. The role of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) in positive identification. J Forensic Sci. 2022 May; 67(3):877-888. PMID: 34967006.

    Read at: PubMed
  • Published on 9/28/2021

    Sanchez A, Tallman SD, Winburn AP, Stefanik J. The effects of orthopedic pathological conditions and systemic diseases on the prevalence of hip osteoarthritis in Modern African- and European-Americans. Homo. 2021 Sep 28; 72(3):183-203. PMID: 34160546.

    Read at: PubMed

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