Thanks for visiting my website, where I share post-prints of my papers that cover various research questions in hard tissue biology. I am a Polish-Australian researcher who hails from the UK. I mostly work on human and animal model hard tissue (bone and tooth) histology.
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I am interested in tackling bigger picture questions about human biology in a social framework, particularly how lifestyle determines bone health outcomes. My PhD was awarded in 2014, and I have a mixed background in biological anthropology and medical research united through the investigation of bone and tooth microscopy. Over the last ~10 years I've worked with anthropological and archaeological collections of human skeletal remains, and post-mortem/forensic donor samples, to investigate skeletal plasticity (Haversian bone tissue remodelling) in a variety of lifestyle contexts. My peer reviewed record is 40 publications as of June 2021, including 1 edited book. To date, I have secured ~$569,710 AUD in major and smaller grants towards research as a PI, and ~$13,203 AUD towards research travel. Including collaborative grants (e.g. as an Associate/ Co-Investigator), I have featured on ~$1,508,142 AUD worth of research grants. |
UPCOMING & RECENT TALKS:
- August 2021: Bone biology. Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, Melbourne, Australia (online, details TBC)
- June 2021: Functional adaptation of femoral midshaft in the Bronze Age Zagros highlanders, Deh Dumen, Iran (Polacy na Bliskim Wschodzie Conference, online, 10 June 2021 6.20pm AEST)
- May 2021: Using sFTIRM data from archaeological human bone to reconstruct health and disease in our recent past Virtual XFM & IRM Microscopy Workshop at the Australian Synchrotron (online, 21 May 1.30pm AEST, recording will be uploaded on ANSTO website)
- March 2021: Rodent bone histology reflects metabolic responses of small mammals to marine isotope stages in cave deposits. Climate Change: The Karst Record IX Conference (KR9) hosted from Innsbruck, Austria (online, 11 March 5am AEST, recording)
UPCOMING PUBLICATIONS:
- DeMars L, Miszkiewicz JJ. (In press November 2021) Behavior under the microscope. In: C Hirst (Ed) Behavior in our Bones: How Human Behavior Influences Skeletal Morphology. Elsevier Academic Press - book chapter collaboration with Lily DeMars from Penn State University where we discuss 3D microCT and 2D histology of bone in relation to biomechanics.
- Snoddy AME, King CL, Petchey P, Miszkiewicz JJ, Kinaston R, Buckley HR. (accepted June 2021) Disability and difference on the New Zealand frontier: Possible skeletal dysplasia in 19th century Milton, Otago. Bioarchaeology International - this study is part of our Marsden Grant, led by histology post-doc Annie, and reports a case of an adult female skeleton with a striking thoracic deformity.
- Cooke KM, Mahoney P, Miszkiewicz JJ. (In press May 2021). Secondary osteon variants and remodelling in human bone. The Anatomical Record - paper led by my PhD student, Karen Cooke. We argue human bone secondary osteon variants occur as a result of normal variation.
MY BIO IN BRIEF:
2021: Head of Discipline, Biological Anthropology, ANU, Australia
2020-2021: Senior Lecturer (Level C) in Biological Anthropology, ANU, Australia
2019-2022: Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) Australian Research Council (ARC) Fellow
2019-2023: Treasurer, Australasian Society for Human Biology, Australia
2016-2019: Lecturer (Level B) in Biological Anthropology, Australian National University (ANU), Australia
2016-ongoing: Honorary Research Associate, University of Kent, UK
2015-2016: Research Assistant, Williams & Bassett Molecular Endocrinology Group, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, UK
2014: Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, UK
2014: Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCHE), University of Kent, UK
2014: Lecturer in Biological Anthropology (fixed-term), University of Kent, UK
2014: PhD in Biological Anthropology, Mahoney Lab, University of Kent, UK
2012-2014: Osteologist, Kent Osteological Research and Analysis, UK
2010-2013: Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Kent, UK
2010: Bachelor of Science 1st Class Hons, University of Kent, UK
2009-2012: Assistant Osteologist, Kent Osteological Research and Analysis, UK
2008-2013: Laboratory Demonstrator, University of Kent, UK
2021: Head of Discipline, Biological Anthropology, ANU, Australia
2020-2021: Senior Lecturer (Level C) in Biological Anthropology, ANU, Australia
2019-2022: Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) Australian Research Council (ARC) Fellow
2019-2023: Treasurer, Australasian Society for Human Biology, Australia
2016-2019: Lecturer (Level B) in Biological Anthropology, Australian National University (ANU), Australia
2016-ongoing: Honorary Research Associate, University of Kent, UK
2015-2016: Research Assistant, Williams & Bassett Molecular Endocrinology Group, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, UK
2014: Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, UK
2014: Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCHE), University of Kent, UK
2014: Lecturer in Biological Anthropology (fixed-term), University of Kent, UK
2014: PhD in Biological Anthropology, Mahoney Lab, University of Kent, UK
2012-2014: Osteologist, Kent Osteological Research and Analysis, UK
2010-2013: Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Kent, UK
2010: Bachelor of Science 1st Class Hons, University of Kent, UK
2009-2012: Assistant Osteologist, Kent Osteological Research and Analysis, UK
2008-2013: Laboratory Demonstrator, University of Kent, UK
Over the years, I've been lucky to learn sample preparation and examination techniques from skeletal biology giants all over the world. I continuously try to improve my skills wherever/whenever possible. Despite my interest being mainly humans, I love to study other vertebrates as well - comparative micro-anatomy helps me better understand the complexity of skeletal tissue growth. Over the course of 2016-2021, I ran a small (approx. 29 sq m) hard tissue histology lab at the ANU which I had I set up from scratch by securing $271,640.46 AUD (from the ANU and ARC) to purchase histology preparation and microscopy equipment. My technical experience, from more advanced to beginner, either using human or animal models (or both) includes:
2020 wombat bone dissection at Tasmania Parks and Wildlife; with Dr Georgia Roberts
2019 human bone oxygen isotope collection using Sensitive High Resolution Ion Microprobe (SHRIMP) at ANU; with Dr Bin Fu
2018 3D laser confocal scanning of human and animal bones and teeth at ANU and Olympus Sydney
2018 mouse bone phenotyping (2D and 3D) at University of Sydney; with Prof Natalie Sims and Dr Tara Speranza
2017 advanced bone histology preparation and imaging at New York University (sheep samples); with Prof Tim Bromage
2017 field based recovery, recording, analysis of human skeletal remains Catanauan, Philippines, with Prof Marc Oxenham (ANU) and Prof Victor Paz (University of the Philippines)
2017 synchrotron-source infrared microspectroscopy (human bone phosphate and carbonate collection) at ANSTO Synchrotron Facility in Melbourne; with Prof Natalie Sims, Dr Christina Vrahnas, Dr Mark Tobin, Dr Jitraporn (Pimm) Vongsvivut
2015 quail and mouse bone micro-computed tomography, Faxitron radiography, Instron biomechanical testing, mouse bone dissection, quail bone maceration and decalcification at Department of Medicine Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London; with Prof Duncan Bassett, Prof Graham Williams, Dr John Logan, Dr Natalie Butterfield, Dr Jayashree Chakraborty
2014 human bone atomic force microscopy (Young’s modulus in bone) at University of Kent; with Dr Wei-Feng Xue
2010 human and anuran hard tissue histology (bones and teeth) at University of Kent; with Dr Patrick Mahoney
2020 wombat bone dissection at Tasmania Parks and Wildlife; with Dr Georgia Roberts
2019 human bone oxygen isotope collection using Sensitive High Resolution Ion Microprobe (SHRIMP) at ANU; with Dr Bin Fu
2018 3D laser confocal scanning of human and animal bones and teeth at ANU and Olympus Sydney
2018 mouse bone phenotyping (2D and 3D) at University of Sydney; with Prof Natalie Sims and Dr Tara Speranza
2017 advanced bone histology preparation and imaging at New York University (sheep samples); with Prof Tim Bromage
2017 field based recovery, recording, analysis of human skeletal remains Catanauan, Philippines, with Prof Marc Oxenham (ANU) and Prof Victor Paz (University of the Philippines)
2017 synchrotron-source infrared microspectroscopy (human bone phosphate and carbonate collection) at ANSTO Synchrotron Facility in Melbourne; with Prof Natalie Sims, Dr Christina Vrahnas, Dr Mark Tobin, Dr Jitraporn (Pimm) Vongsvivut
2015 quail and mouse bone micro-computed tomography, Faxitron radiography, Instron biomechanical testing, mouse bone dissection, quail bone maceration and decalcification at Department of Medicine Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London; with Prof Duncan Bassett, Prof Graham Williams, Dr John Logan, Dr Natalie Butterfield, Dr Jayashree Chakraborty
2014 human bone atomic force microscopy (Young’s modulus in bone) at University of Kent; with Dr Wei-Feng Xue
2010 human and anuran hard tissue histology (bones and teeth) at University of Kent; with Dr Patrick Mahoney
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I have also accumulated a collection, or a 'library', of bone and tooth thin sections donated for curation and ongoing research by my colleagues and collaborators from all over the world. The collection mainly includes human bone and tooth samples, but we also have some other vertebrates (including rat femora, kangaroo limb bones and ribs, wombat humeri, crocodile teeth, tortoise humeri, cow femora, pig ribs, deer ribs, hippo ribs, elephant ribs and limb bones). The specimens span thousands (and in some fossil cases millions!) of years and cover multiple different parts of the world, with a focus on Asia-Pacific. |