D. Eli Mrak became Bioarchaeologist for the Wyoming State Archaeologist in January of 2023. He holds an M.A. in Anthropology from the University of Wyoming and is currently a doctoral candidate at UW. His primary interests are in the study of human contact and conflict with interests in the history and prehistory of his home state of Wyoming, the greater rocky mountain region, and the great plains. He has previously conducted archaeological investigations for the Wyoming Military Department on the grounds of the Camp Guernsey Joint Training Center, along with participating in various research projects in Mexico, Peru, Croatia, and France.

As the State Bioarchaeologist, Eli is responsible for bioarchaeological research, consultation, repatriation, and reinterment of human remains originating from state and private lands in Wyoming pursuant to Wyoming Statute ws-7-4-106. This statute establishes a process for consultation, repatriation and reinterment of human remains and associated funerary objects located and/or inadvertently discovered on private and state lands in Wyoming. The intent of this statute is to establish procedures for notification and consultation with appropriate Native American Tribes, state agencies, private landowners, lessees of private and state lands, and other stakeholders as necessary in the event that archaeological human remains are inadvertently discovered or located on private and state lands. It also establishes a process to identify living descendants of both Native and non-Native Americans.