He works as a curator for the Smithsonian Institution, and has published numerous papers and monographs that have helped establish modern procedures in forensic anthropology.
He has also done work in Latin America, with Native Americans, and has assisted the Federal Bureau of Investigation in forensic cases.
Ubelaker became interested in anthropology after working with Dr. Bill Bass on an American Indian project in the Dakotas.
Working as a technician connected him with the National Museum of Natural History and eventually led to his employment at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
He then returned to Washington, D.C., to work in the position formerly held by T. Dale Stewart at the National Museum of Natural History.