Dr. Jeong is a biological anthropologist specializing in forensic anthropology. He earned his BA and MA in Anthropology from Seoul National University, South Korea, and his PhD in Anthropology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He served as an ORISE fellow at the Central Identification Laboratory of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (2014-2017) and as a faculty member at Middle Tennessee State University (2017-2023) before joining the Department of Anthropology at the University of Tennessee. He currently serves as an external consultant for the Korean National Police Agency and is a member of the editorial board of Anatomy & Biological Anthropology.

Dr. Jeong’s research focuses on two primary areas: the development and validation of population-specific methods for biological profile reconstruction and the investigation of interactions between human decomposition processes and the surrounding environment. His current projects include (1) developing a DPAA-specific digital pair-matching method for commingled remains using CT scan data, (2) identifying human-specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) associated with decomposition, and (3) improving stature estimation accuracy by expanding the applicability of anatomical methods. His early work on digital pair-matching was recognized by the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, earning the Ellis R. Kerley Research Award (2022).

As a researcher and faculty member, Dr. Jeong actively seeks collaborative projects with colleagues and graduate students, providing diverse research opportunities for students interested in forensic anthropology.