Remote Forensic Autopsy Assistant Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $100,000.16 Annually
Location : Minnetonka, MN
Job Type: Limited Duration: Regular Sched (FT with benefits)
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 26MET49Z001
Department: Medical Examiner's Office
Opening Date: 06/24/2026
Closing Date: 7/8/2026 11:59 PM Central
Description
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner's (HCME) Office is seeking a Forensic Anthropology Postdoctoral Fellow to provide advanced anthropological services in support of medicolegal death investigations. Under the direction of the HCME's American Board of Forensic Anthropology (ABFA) certified Forensic Anthropologist, the fellow will perform anthropological casework, consult with forensic pathologists, attend autopsies, and contribute to skeletal examinations, identifications, and trauma interpretation. The fellowship provides comprehensive training within a medical examiner setting, including work on long-term unidentified cases and mass fatality responses, and is structured to support professional progression toward ABFA certification.
Current Hennepin County employees who refer a candidate hired into an open competitive position may be eligible for a $500 referral bonus. For more information visit
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Location and hours:
This position is hybrid, located primarily at the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office, 14250 County Road 62, Minnetonka, MN 55345, and allows for limited remote work options. There is no public transportation to this facility. A typical workday is an 8.5 hour shift on-site during normal business hours; however, occasional evening, weekend, and holiday hours may be required. While this position is designated as hybrid, based on current requirements hires must reside in or relocate to Minnesota or Wisconsin. New Employee Orientation (NEO) for all new benefit-earning employees is in-person in downtown Minneapolis. Details about NEO will be provided upon hire.
About this position type:
This is a limited duration (temporary) full-time, benefit earning position expected to last up to one year. This is an FLSA exempt position and is not union represented.
This position is internally classified as a Trainee Physician, Associate.
Clickto view the job classification specification.
Note: You must attach a CV or resume with your application materials to be considered for this position.
In this position, you will:

• Conduct biological profile estimation (age-at-death, assigned sex-at-birth, population affiliation, stature).
• Analyze skeletal trauma, pathological conditions, and taphonomic changes while completing comprehensive photographic documentation and medical imaging and preparing detailed anthropological reports.
• Consult with forensic pathologists and referring coroners on a case-by-case basis to determine appropriate actions and analyses.
• Participate in interdisciplinary case reviews with HCME staff.
• Perform skeletal analyses for the purpose of decedent identification and/or skeletal trauma assessment, including the collection of osseous tissues for DNA, radiocarbon, and/or stable isotope testing.
• Participate in internal and external training and community engagement activities.
• Work toward ABFA Analyst and Diplomate certification through structured mentorship.
• Contribute to special projects and/or assignments as directed by the Chief Medical Examiner or designee.

Need to have:

• Ph.D. in anthropology or a related field, with specialization or ABFA-mentored training in forensic anthropology/anatomy; a Ph.D. must be conferred prior to the start date.
• Ability to wear a respirator and other personal protective equipment for extended periods of time.

Nice to have:

• A submitted application for ABFA Analyst certification, or equivalent licensure.
• Education and/or training in skeletal analysis and applying forensic anthropology methods.
• Experience:
  • Working with human remains in varied decompositional states, including recent deaths in a medical examiner or coroner setting.
  • Working on forensic anthropology cases within a medicolegal environment.
• Strong technical writing and organizational skills.
• Skill in use of computers, related computer software, digital photography, and information access and entry.

About the department:
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office, under the leadership of Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Andrew M. Baker, provides death investigation and forensic autopsy investigative services to Hennepin, Dakota, and Scott counties. The office provides referral-based services to other counties across the Upper Midwest region.
We serve a population of over 1.85 million residents covering approximately 1,500 square miles. Our goal is to assist families, law enforcement agencies, and the legal system by determining a scientifically unbiased cause and manner of death. The Office is a National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) accredited agency with a staff of board-certified forensic pathologists, an in-house board-certified forensic anthropologist, and an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited forensic pathology fellowship program. Our medicolegal death investigators are diplomates in the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI).
The Medical Examiner's Office operates out of a new, free-standing facility on a large and picturesque plot of suburban greenspace with free employee parking. On-site technologies include digital radiography, CT scanning, a self-contained digital X-ray unit for bony specimen evaluations, 3D scanner and printer, and digital steremicroscope. The facility includes a large and fully equipped anthropology laboratory.
About Hennepin County:
Hennepin is the largest county government organization in Minnesota. Our employees work every day to improve the health, safety and quality of life for our residents and communities. All of our jobs align with our mission to serve residents through transformative services that eliminate disparities, eliminate inequities, and create opportunity for all and our vision of a community where all people are healthy, all people are valued, and all people thrive.
Our employees receive a combination of competitive benefits and positive workplace culture not found at other organizations. This includes meaningful work that impacts our community, competitive pay, work-life balance, a variety of benefits and opportunities to grow. Learn more at (login as Guest).
Hennepin County envisions an organization where our commitment to diversity and the elimination of disparities is fundamental in providing excellent service to our community.
Your future. Made here.
This posting may be used to fill current and future vacancies.
Watch this video for application best practices and tips.
Invitations to interview will be based upon an assessment of education and experience. Final candidates may be required to complete a drug test that may include testing for cannabis and/or a criminal background check.
If you have any questions, please contact:
Brooke McNamara
Why work here?
Hennepin County embraces the Total Rewards philosophy. We want our employees to succeed - not only at work but as they move through life and its milestones. We offer advantages and opportunities others can't - including:

• Meaningful work
• Public service
• Competitive pay
• Work-life balance
• Generous benefits
• Opportunities to grow
• Commitment to your success

By working in public service, we are a part of something larger than ourselves. Together, we support those in need. We help people access information and services. We empower vibrant and diverse communities. We serve residents.
Visit our benefits page to learn more: bridge.hennepin.us/eligibility.
If you are a current Hennepin County employee please be aware that any change in job classification may affect your current benefits (such as a conversion from Vacation/Sick Leave to Paid Time Off and/or enrollment in a Health Care Saving Plan.) Information about the impact of job changes on benefits can be found
01
This is a limited duration (temporary) full-time, benefit earning position expected to last up to one year.
Are you willing to accept these employment conditions?

• Yes
• No

02
This position has the following requirements:
This position is hybrid, located primarily at the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office, 14250 County Road 62, Minnetonka, MN 55345, and allows for limited remote work options. There is no public transportation to this facility.
A typical workday is an 8.5 hour shift on-site during normal business hours; however, occasional evening, weekend, and holiday hours may be required.
While this position is designated as hybrid, based on current requirements hires must reside in or relocate to Minnesota or Wisconsin.
New Employee Orientation (NEO) for all new benefit-earning employees is in-person in downtown Minneapolis. Details about NEO will be provided upon hire.
Ability to wear a respirator and other personal protective equipment for extended periods of time.
Are you willing and able to meet these requirements?

• Yes
• No

03
Do you have a Ph.D. in anthropology or a related field, with specialization or ABFA-mentored training in forensic anthropology/anatomy, or will you have the Ph.D. conferred prior to the start date?

• Yes
• No

04
Describe your relevant education including area(s) of study, school(s) attended, credits/years completed, and degree(s) earned. If you do not have any relevant education, type "None" in the space provided.
05
Which of the following best describes your certification status? Check all that apply.

• I am ABFA certified
• I have submitted an application for ABFA Analyst certification
• I have submitted an application for ABFA Diplomate certification
• I have an equivalent licensure
• None of the above

06
If you are ABFA certified, please list your certification number and expiration date. If you have submitted an application for the ABFA Analyst or ABFA Diplomate certification, please list the date you submitted it. Please list any other equivalent licensures you hold. If you are not currently certified, type "None" in the space provided.
07
How many years of education and/or training do you have in skeletal analysis and applying forensic anthropology methods?

• I do not have this experience
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year or more, but less than 2 years
• 2 years or more, but less than 3 years
• 3 years or more, but less than 4 years
• 4 years or more

08
Describe your education and/or training in skeletal analysis and applying forensic anthropology methods, referencing job(s) listed in your application/resume. If you do not have this experience, type "None" in the space provided.
09
Do you have experience working with human remains in varied decompositional states, including recent deaths in a medical examiner or coroner setting?

• Yes
• No

10
Describe your experience working with human remains in varied decompositional states, including recent deaths in a medical examiner or coroner setting, referencing job(s) listed in your application/resume. If you do not have this experience, type "None" in the space provided.
11
How many forensic anthropology cases have you worked on within a medicolegal environment?

• I do not have this experience
• 1 - 5 cases
• 5 - 10 cases
• 10 - 20 cases
• 20 - 50 cases
• 50 cases or more

12
Describe your experience working on forensic anthropology cases within a medicolegal environment, referencing job(s) listed in your application/resume. If you do not have this experience, type "None" in the space provided.
13
Please choose the one recruitment source that best describes how you first learned about this job opening. Please review all possible choices before making your selection. Your response to this question helps us evaluate the effectiveness of our recruitment methods.

• College or university (job board, career services, or instructor)
• Community or nonprofit organization (counselor, job board, etc.)
• Employee or recruiter of Hennepin County (supervisor/manager, colleague, or Human Resources)
• Friend or family member that is not a Hennepin County employee
• Hennepin County job notification emails
• Indeed.com
• Job fair or networking event
• LinkedIn
• Print advertisement (flyer, postcard, billboard, transit ad, etc.)
• Professional association (ASCE, APWA, ISACA, etc.)
• Social media (Handshake, Facebook, X, Instagram, etc.)
• hennepin.jobs or governmentjobs.com

14
For the recruitment source selected above, please provide the specific name of the person, website, or media source.
Required Question