Natural History Museum, London

Faculty Member, Human Remains Unit

Biological Anthropologist at the Natural History Museum

About

Currently, I work as a physical anthropologist within the Human Remains Unit at the Natural History Museum, London. I analyse remains to document: ancestry, sex, age at death, stature, pathology and trauma. This analysis utilises a wide variety of techniques including morphometric analysis (anthroposcopic), osteometric analysis, microscopy and radiology. Additionally, I participate in forensic anthropology casework working alongside a senior forensic anthropologist.

Previous to this I worked in the Department of Histopathology at Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley. There I developed a specialism in histological techniques and the pathology of soft tissues. I worked in close contact with 7 pathologists and also gained an understanding of autopsy protocols.

I hold a BSc(Hons) in forensic science, an MSc in forensic and biological anthropology and a PhD in forensic taphonomy/anthropology. My PhD research investigated the decomposition of hair, cartilage and bone in a burial environment and contributed new information for determining the postmortem interval (PMI) in such contexts.

While conducting my doctoral research I worked as a Visiting Lecturer teaching forensic anthropology, forensic pathology, crime scene investigation, human identification, postmortem decomposition and human anatomy. Furthermore, I co-supervised bachelors and masters level research projects. I also established a skeletal collection at the University consisting of approx. 100 individuals.

I have numerous interests including, but not limited to, taphonomy,  forensic and biological anthropology, forensic ecology, forensic archaeology, forensic entomology – relating to beetle succession on cadavers, ritualistic sacrifice, natural and anthropogenic mummification, pathology, histology and trauma analysis.

• Rogers CJ (2011) An introduction to forensic anthropology. Invited lecturer. Walsall Healthcare NHS, Walsall Hospital, Walsall.

• Rogers CJ (2011) Getting to the bare bones: what do forensic anthropologists really do? Invited lecturer. Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS, Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley.

• Rogers CJ, ten Broek CMA, Hodson BJ, Whitehead MP, Sutton R, Schmerer WM (2010) Cartilage decomposition in buried remains. Oral presentation (covering speaker). Forensic Science Society Conference: Solving Violent Crime, 4th December 2010. University of Wolverhampton.

• Rogers CJ, ten Broek CMA, Hodson BJ, Whitehead MP, Sutton R, Schmerer WM (2010) Cartilage decomposition, at last a crystal ball for PMI? Oral presentation. Forensic Research and Teaching (FORREST) Conference 2010, Coventry University.

• Rogers CJ, ten Broek CMA (2009). Micro – pathologists: bacteria that tell us about time since death. Internal seminar. Research centre in applied sciences. University of Wolverhampton.

• Rogers CJ, Sutton R, Whitehead MP, Schmerer WM (2009). Determining the postmortem interval – can hair, cartilage and bone be of any use? Oral presentation. British Association for Biological Anthropology and Osteoarchaeology (BABAO) 2009, University of Bradford.

• Rogers CJ, Sutton R, Whitehead MP, Schmerer WM (2009). Dating Death: forensic taphonomy and the post mortem interval. Oral presentation. Forensic Research and Teaching (FORREST) conference 2009, Liverpool John Moores University.

• Rogers CJ, Sutton R, Whitehead MP, Schmerer WM (2009). Dating Death: Forensic Taphonomy and the Post Mortem Interval. Un-refereed Abstract. British Association for Biological Anthropology and Osteoarchaeology (BABAO) Annual Review 2008.

• Rogers CJ (2008). Dating Death: Forensic taphonomy and the post mortem interval. Internal seminar. Research centre in applied sciences. University of Wolverhampton.

• Sutton R, Clarke K, Rogers CJ (2007). Post Mortem Degradation of Articular Cartilage – Ordered Degeneration May Assist in the Determination of Time Since Death. Poster Presentation. Forensic Research and Teaching (FORREST) conference 2007, University of Staffordshire.

• Rogers CJ (2006). An Investigation into the Effects of Decomposition on Wrapped and Unwrapped Bodies, an Application of Macroscopic and Microscopic Techniques in Forensic Anthropology to Develop a New Taphonomic Model. Forensic Institute Research Network (FIRN) Regional Conference 2006. Oral Presentation, University of Stafford.

Publications
• Rogers CJ, Clark K, Hodson BJ, Whitehead MP, Sutton R, Schmerer WM (2011) Postmortem degradation of porcine articular cartilage. Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine, 18(2), pp.52-56.

• Rogers CJ, ten Broek CMA, Hodson BJ, Whitehead MP, Sutton R, Schmerer WM (In prep.) Identification of crystals forming on porcine articular cartilage: A new method for the determination of the postmortem interval.

• Rogers CJ, Hodson BJ, Sutton R, Whitehead MP, Schmerer WM (In prep.) Fungal degradation of hair in a burial environment.