Principal Lecturer in Forensic Anthropology
Office: BS 4.38 James Parsons Building, Byrom Street, Liverpool, L3 3AF
+44 (0) 151 231 2387
M.Borrini@ljmu.ac.uk
Skills
Human identification, trauma analysis on human remains, morphological and metric skeletal analysis, skeletal material reconstruction, facial reconstruction, Public speaking and science dissemination
Research Interests
As a forensic anthropologist accredited by the Italian State Prosecutor’s Office, my principal area of interest is the biological profiling of unknown individuals from skeletal evidence. This has been transposed in the professional service for several Courts in Italy, in publications and PhD supervisions. In the same field, my attention to war crimes and human rights violations culminated in the recovery of casualties from WWII.
In the field of Forensic Sciences, I am focused on forensic medicine, trauma analysis and bloodstain pattern analysis. I am currently working with the AAFS as a member of the Consensus Body for the developments of standards in forensic sciences, as well as I am involved in the ENFSI- European Network of Forensic Science Institutes.
Also, part of my research is devoted to the application of forensic sciences to anthropological remains from historical contexts. This approach increases the volume and significance of the data for a better understanding of ancient cultures.
Finally, I am interested in the application of a scientific approach for debunking alleged paranormal phenomena. I examined exorcisms, possessions and mediumship. The research underlined the natural explanations behind those phenomena.
Research Projects
As an accredited forensic anthropologist, I offer my services to several Courts in Italy as an expert witness and similarly to organisations investigating war crimes, human rights violations, and in the recovery of casualties from WWII. This case of the identification and repatriation of an Italian sailor, Carlo Acefalo, has been particularly significant.
Archaeology and Forensic Techniques
This project involves the application of Forensic Sciences to anthropological remains from historical contexts. An example of which is the analysis of the so-called “vampire of Venice”. The case involved the grave of an individual who died during the pandemic plague of 1576 in Venice.
Research Centre for Evolutionary Anthropology and Palaeoecology 