Hello all!
We, the Steering Committee of AaRC would like to take a moment to introduce ourselves and give you all a quick idea of what we do.
The Steering Committee Members
Lachie Scarsbrook - Chair, Engagement Team
I am a Postdoctoral Researcher at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, and a Junior Research Fellow at the University of Oxford (Somerville College). I am interested in the use of ancient DNA in investigating the role that humans and the environment play in shaping global animal populations. More specifically, I am focused on unravelling the causes and consequences of millennia of interaction between humans and their closest evolutionary companion, dogs. Being a kiwi, when I’m not working, I love travelling and exploring the great outdoors.
Contact: lachlan.scarcbrook@arch.ox.ac.uk, Twitter
Federico Sánchez-Quinto - Vice-Chair
I am Principal Investigator at the International Laboratory for Human Genome Research, National Autonomous University of Mexico (Mexico). My work focuses on using paleogenomic, present-day genomic data, and information with multiple collaborative disciplines to better understand the evolutionary history of multiple organisms that inhabited Mexico, from its extinct megafauna to pre-hispanic human populations. Regarding animal ancient DNA, my group is currently undertaking research projects on the evolutionary history of different species of extinct megafauna species that previously inhabited Mexico such as Columbian mammoths, prehistoric camels, horses and giant sloths. We are also participating in a project to characterize the demographic history and genetic diversity of pre-hispanic turkeys in Mexico. When I am not working I like to play soccer and tennis, run, hike and travel.
Contact: fsanchez@liigh.unam.mx, Twitter, Bluesky
Jolijn Erven – Secretary, Seminar Team
I am a postdoctoral researcher at University College Dublin. Currently, I am exploring the demographic history of domestic animals by studying early herding societies and dispersal from domestication centres, using a wide range of bioinformatics tools to understand past population dynamics. I am particularly interested in multidisciplinary approaches that combine genetics, ecology, and behaviour to trace the origins, adaptations, and evolution of (domestic) animals. Outside of research, I enjoy sharing animal trivia, reading, and walking in nature/mantrailing with my dog Mango.
contact: jolijn_erven@hotmail.com, BlueSky
Alexandra Faeth (she/her) - Treasurer
I am a PhD student at the University of Pennsylvania, USA, interested in using a One Health approach to explore how the relationships between animals, microbes, humans, and their environments have changed in response to processes of domestication. I am exploring ovicaprid population dynamics during the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition and investigating shifts in microbiome composition in response to human stewardship. In my freetime I enjoy running and hiking along with late night jazz concerts.
Contact: faeth@upenn.edu
Katia Bougiouri - Engagement Team
I’m a postdoctoral researcher at the Globe Institute in the University of Copenhagen. My research interests revolve around dog evolution, combining present-day and ancient genomic data. My current work focuses on testing the applicability and limitations of different genomic tools to better understand the evolutionary history of dogs, and other domesticated species. Outside of work, I enjoy hiking, playing board games, and doing aerial silks.
Contact: katia.bougiouri@gmail.com, Bluesky
Emilio Mármol - Engagement Team
I am a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics within the Globe Institute in the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. My research interests include the study of ancient DNA, ancient RNA and 3D structural genomics in animals (and plants) to understand extinction dynamics and discover hidding bits of the biology of extinct and extanct living organisms. Outside of work, I enjoy walks in the nature, hiking or just laying down in the sofa watching some sci-fi or nature documentary with a cozy cover getting lost in my own thoughts.
Contact: emilio.sanchez@sund.ku.dk, emilio.marmol.sanchez@gmail.com, Twitter
Deon de Jager (he/him) - Metadata Team
I’m a postdoctoral researcher at the Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. I would describe myself as a conservation geneticist at heart with a focus on African bovids. Consequently, my palaeogenetics work is geared towards understanding changes in genetic diversity and species distributions through time and how that might inform conservation and management of species today. Outside of work, I enjoy birdwatching, which also gets me out and about in nature and green spaces, sportwatching, and learning how to play the acoustic guitar.
Contact: dejager4@gmail.com, deon.dejager@sund.ku.dk, BlueSky
Kaaviya Balakrishnan - Events and Social Media
I am a PhD candidate in the Paleogenetics and Conservation Genetics Laboratory at the University of Warsaw, where I study ancient DNA to explore the long-term population histories of small mammals. My work compares patterns across the British Isles and Eurasia, examining how past climate change has influenced species presence and demographic shifts, with the broader goal of informing modern conservation efforts. Beyond the lab, I contribute to the university’s student magazine and run a personal blog. I enjoy reading, writing, and painting, and happiest when near the sea.
Contact : kaaviyakrishnan@gmail.com, Bluesky
Emily Tees - Seminar Team
I am a recent MSc graduate in Archaeological Science from the University of Oxford and will be a PhD candidate at the University of Exeter in the fall. My research interests lie in using ancient DNA to answer archaeological questions around species instrumental to past foodwebs. My project will utilize ancient DNA, geometric morphometrics, and zooarchaeology on rabbits and pigeons to better understand the process of feralisation. My doctoral work will continue my master’s work using ancient DNA to refine our understanding of pigeon dispersals over time. When I’m not working, I love crafting, dancing, getting my hands in dirt, pssp pssping at kitties on the street, and travelling with friends.
Contact: emily.tees@arch.ox.ac.uk, Bluesky
Pedro Morell Miranda (He/His) - Webpage Team
I’m a PostDoctoral Researcher at the Ludwig-Maximillian University of Munich (LMU). While I work mostly on sheep domestication and posterior demographic history, I’m more widely interested in human-fauna interactions and how our presence and activities shape other species’ evolution. Out of work I love reading, playing the blues on one of my guitars and fencing with ancient swords.
Contact: Pedro.Morell@lmu.de, BlueSky
Roles:
Management team: formed by the chair and the secretary. Responsible for ensuring the committee functions smoothly and achieves its goals.
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Chair: leads meetings, sets agendas, moderates discussions and delegates tasks to volunteer members. It represents AaRC in any official meetings or interviews. They are also responsible for having an overview of the various initiatives by maintaining a close communication with the treasurer, social media and engagement teams. Allows for discussion around long-term topics, needs to be forward thinking on this end. In case they cannot fullfil partly or completely their duties, the Vice-Chair will take care of them.
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Secretary: Takes meeting minutes, sends them out via Slack when they are ready, makes sure that assignments are noted. Organisational responsibilities (ie keeping google docs in order, annotating the minutes with required links, possibly doing same for the agenda ahead of time).
Treasury team
The treasury team is responsible for managing the funds, for the communication related to funds and responsible for allocating funding to initiatives by serving as a line of communication between the organising committees and the Steering Committee. The treasurer team is also responsible to collect funds as well as finding grant opportunities to continue to fund AaRC initiatives.
Social media team
The social media team is responsible for the outreach of the community, by tweeting, emailing as well as updating the website. Social media officers will announce new initiatives, conferences, papers and jobs that are relevant for AaRC.
Engagement team
The engagement officers are responsible for coming up with new initiatives (projects, summer schools, outreach activities, etc.) and propose them to the community. They will also oversee ongoing initiatives and provide support for them to reach their goals. They will ensure that the initiatives are known in the community, as well as outside the community together with the media team. The engagement officers also suggests potential funding sources for the initiatives, by engaging with the treasurer team.
Seminar team
Dedicated team focused on organizing the monthly AaRCTikTalks seminars.
Former members:
Victoria E Mullin - Chair, Treasury Team
I am a postdoctoral researcher at Trinity College Dublin. I am particularly interested in applying ancient genomics to explore animal-human interactions. The main focus of my research surrounds domesticate animals, in particular cattle, from domestication to the development of breeds. Additionally, my work and interest includes the application of historical genomes for the establishment of genomic baselines for conservation.
Contact: victoriae@palaeome.org
Laura Viñas Caron - Secretary, Treasury Team
I am a postdoctoral researcher at the Centre for Textile Research and Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen. I am interested in understanding the evolutionary journey of domesticated animals using ancient DNA and proteins. In particular, I am exploring the development of domestic sheep and wool production and also working on the species identification of animal artefacts (manuscripts, skins, fur, textiles).
Contact: laura@palaeome.org
Audrey T. Lin (she/they) - Treasurer, Social Media Team, Engagement Team
I am a Gerstner Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Postdoctoral Scholar at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. I utilize ancient biomolecules from archaeological and museum specimens and objects to answer diverse questions on human-mediated evolutionary processes – in other words, how humans have interacted with other animals in ways that have resulted in genomic, social, and cultural changes.
Contact: alin@amnh.org, Twitter
Kevin G Daly - Engagement Team
I am an Ad Astra Assistant Professor at the School of Agriculture and Food Science at UCD, Dublin. I am also a member of the Young Academy of Ireland. My research interests are in the domestication history of small ruminants and its consequences to domestic livestock, wild animals, and human society. In my spare time I watch movies with my dachshund Moose.
Contact: kevin@palaeome.org, Twitter, GitHub
Stephanie Dolenz (she/her) - Engagement Team and Safety Office Liaison
I am a PhD student at the Centre for Palaeogenetics, Stockholm University. I am interested in the use of ancient DNA to study the effect of climate change and past peoples on biodiversity throughout time. For my PhD research I am analyzing ancient DNA from sediments in order to reconstruct ecological communities and examine how past climate events impacted plant and animal communities over the past 450,000 years. I am also working on a project exploring Pleistocene species found in a cave in Oaxaca, Mexico. In my free time, I like to play Dungeons and Dragons, knit, hike, cave, and cuddle with my adorable cat named Pip.
Contact: stephanie.dolenz@geo.su.se, GitHub
Anders Bergström - Metadata Working Group
I am a group leader in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK. I am interested in the evolution and diversity of wild and domesticated animals, and the multitude of ways in which human societies have influenced these throughout prehistory and in the present day. My primary research projects currently concern dogs, wolves and red foxes, and I also maintain an interest in human population history.
Contact: a.bergstrom@uea.ac.uk, Twitter
Edana Lord – Treasurer
I am a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Centre for Palaeogenetics – a joint venture between Stockholm University and the Swedish Museum of Natural History. My research interests include using ancient DNA to understand the impact of past climate on primarily Arctic fauna. My current project is focussed on investigating the evolutionary history of collared lemmings over the Pleistocene. Outside of work, I enjoy walks along the coast, fika, and craft beer.
Contact: Twitter
