Christiane Baigent joined CMU faculty in Fall 2024 as an Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Director Designate of the Forensic Investigation Research Station. Her academic background is in Biological Anthropology with an emphasis in Forensic Anthropology. Her research focus is human decomposition and skeletal taphonomy in the high-altitude Rocky Mountain region and high-elevation desert regions of Colorado. Her research and teaching interests extend more broadly into skeletal trauma and pathology, patterns of secular change in the skeleton, and cultural constructions of “race” and sex/gender in anthropological perspective. She feels that teaching should be active and collaborative and enjoys working with students both in the classroom, and through research and internship. Her course offerings include ANTH 231/231 L Survey of Biological Anthropology, ANTH 270/270 L Death and Forensic Science, ANTH 331 Forensic Anthropology, ANTH 478 Professional Issues in Forensic Science, and ANTH 499 Forensic Investigation Research Station Internship.
In addition to her teaching background, she has served as a medicolegal death investigator and is certified by the Colorado Coroner’s Association. She is a fellow of the Anthropology Section of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and provides forensic anthropology consult services to Colorado coroners and local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.
When she is not teaching she can be found causing trouble with one of her many animals.