GRANTS > $100k:
2022-2024: Associate Investigator: Embodied Colonialism: Biohistories of 19th-century Pakeha and Chinese Migrants to New Zealand Marsden Fast-Start, $360,000 (21-UOO-030), PI: Dr AME Snoddy, University of Otago
"Embodied Colonialism" will explore how migration to Aotearoa impacted the health of 19th century Pākehā and Chinese peoples. Recent exhumations of early settlers and gold miners from Otago cemeteries have provided a unique opportunity to learn who these people were. Bioarchaeological techniques, including microscopic analysis of bone and teeth, amplification of pathogen DNA, and evidence of pathology in the skeletons will be integrated with archival research to reconstruct the biological history of each migrant, from stresses suffered during childhood in their “home” country to their death in New Zealand, revealing the biosocial effects of migration and environmental adaptation.
2019-2022: Principal investigator: Ancient bone metabolism change with lifestyle in Asia-Pacific ARC DECRA, $381,210 (DE190100068)
This project aims to address a significant gap in our current knowledge of global change in skeletal health throughout recent human history. By contributing the first bone microstructural data for archaeological humans from across Asia-Pacific, this project aims to map the ways in which these ancient humans grew and adapted to different lifestyles. The project expects to identify new ways of predicting human bone health response to environmental and cultural change, contributing models for the well-being of past, living, and future human generations.
2019-2022: Associate investigator: The Best of Times, the Worst of Times: A Biocultural investigation of 19th century Frontier mining cemeteries in Australia, New Zealand and California Marsden Project Grant $827,000 (18-UOO-028), PI: Prof HR Buckley, University of Otago
Thousands of people left the Old World in the 19th century to take part in the gold rushes in California USA, Victoria, Australia and Otago, New Zealand. While early rush participants were often of European descent, other ethnicities participated, especially the Chinese. It was both the best of times and the worst of times, with the promise of easy wealth but the risk of sickness or violent death. Although historical records document the hardships of mining life, they are often silent on roles played by women, children, and the disenfranchised. Archaeology is often the sole avenue of enquiry for these ‘voices’, but here too there are gaps. Goldfields archaeology is extensive, however, the distinct cultural identity of individuals is often masked by a common material culture and health is rarely examined. Bioarchaeology, the analysis of archaeological human skeletal remains, adds to the historical narrative through direct biological evidence. Historic cemeteries provide a wealth of biological and cultural information, illuminating the lives of people during this time. We will explore adaptations to mining life in all these Pacific Rim regions by analysing the mortuary ritual of the communities, quality of life of the people, and the landscapes in which they lived.
2018: Principal investigator: Microscopy of the primate skeleton ANU Major Equipment Grant $135,000 (18MEC26), CIs: A Behie, M Oxenham, ANU
This grant funded one major piece of microscopy equipment (Olympus LEXT OLS5000 3D Measuring Laser Microscope System) to allow ANU biological anthropologists undertake non-destructive, non-contact surface scanning of primate bones and teeth. One key line of research within biological anthropology is the study of human and non-human primate (hereafter “primate”) skeletons. Both bone and dental samples representing fossilised, archaeological, or living primates offer a wealth of information about our biology and adaptation to intrinsic (e.g. health and disease) and environmental (e.g. stress, seasonality) factors over the course of human evolution and more recent history. Microscopic techniques are fundamental in this line of research enquiry as they allow us to reconstruct primate growth from preserved cells and other micro-structures which are, ultimately, the most direct indicators of metabolic activity in a living organism. Biological anthropologists at the ANU constitute the only research group in Australia with the requisite complementary mix of expertise, which is actively engaged in tackling these research questions.
GRANTS < $100k:
2021-2022: Associate Investigator: Living on the Edge: Health in a Marginal Community During the Protohistoric (500-800AD) Social Transition in Northeast Thailand, University of Otago Research Grant $39,214 NZD, PI: S Halcrow, Otago
The study of human skeletal remains from ancient populations allows us to fully understand how the interplay of social inequality and marginality impacts modern human wellbeing. Skeletal remains preserve information on health, and when contextualized with archaeological and historical information, they shed light on how our ancestors adapted to social change. This study will investigate how the rapid rise of inequality in prehistory impacted health in the marginal community of Ban Krabeuang, northeast Thailand. It will combine isotopic indicators of diet and mobility with innovative microscopic methods for studying skeletal stress markers to explore the interacting influences on health. We will conduct this research using a biocultural intersectional approach, which allows the exploration of how different aspects of the identity interacted to shape individual experiences and health. This study will enhance both modern and archaeological understandings of inequality in marginalised groups.
2020-2021: Co-nvestigator: Polythetic Micro-analytical Toolkit (PMT) for archaeological and bioanthropological sciences, ANU Intrepid Methodologies Strategic Theme $16,420, CIs: M Leclerc, T Denham, ANU
The aim of this project is to develop a suite of complementary analytical methods based on microscopic visualisation. This analytical approach will allow bioanthropologists and archaeologists to analyse conjointly various types of archaeological materials (e.g. bones, teeth, pottery, soil/sediments, plant remains). The objective of this inter-disciplinary project is to cross the bridge between sub-disciplines and develop a holistic and integrated methodological approach able to yield valuable data from a wide range of archaeological material. The key objective of the project is to devise a decision tree-like methodological protocol that will guide the micro-analytical process through steps and relevant microscopy instruments based on the research questions asked and the material used. This methodological cascade will have at its source data from four techniques: micro-computed tomography (microCT), laser confocal topography, automated scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS), and thin section analysis.
2017-2019: Co-investigator: In utero tooth microstructure ANU CASS Small Research Grant $2,500, CI: A Behie, ANU
This project aimed to collect data on maternal conditions during pregnancy (i.e. maternal sources of stress, maternal medical history, sex of offspring, number of previous offspring, maternal age) as well as birth conditions (i.e. weeks’ gestation at delivery, mode of delivery, hours in labour) and compare these with characteristics of the neonatal line, which is deposited in all developing teeth at birth.
2016-2017: Principal investigator: Bone Palaeometabolism in Indonesia ANU CASS Research Hub Grant $8,000, CIs: P Bellwood, M Oxenham, ANU
This grant funded lab equipment and histology preparation consumables used in the analysis of bone samples from a prehistoric (c. BCE/CE junction - 1000 CE) Indonesian site in the Norther Moluccas.
Travel grants:
2018 ANU RSHA Conference Travel Grant (AAPA 2019, Texas, US) $2,491
2017 ANU RSHA Conference Travel Grant (Synchrotron & ASHB 2017, Ballarat, AU) $1,580
2017 ANU RSHA Conference Travel Grant (ISPH 2017, Trenton, US) $2,248
2016 ANU RSHA Conference Travel Grant (AAPA 2017, New Orleans, US) $2,500
2016 ANU Early Career Travel Grant (AAPA 2016, Atlanta, US) $3,000
2013 William Pollitzer Award, American Association of Physical Anthropologists US $500 USD
2012 William Pollitzer Award, American Association of Physical Anthropologists US $500 USD
2022-2024: Associate Investigator: Embodied Colonialism: Biohistories of 19th-century Pakeha and Chinese Migrants to New Zealand Marsden Fast-Start, $360,000 (21-UOO-030), PI: Dr AME Snoddy, University of Otago
"Embodied Colonialism" will explore how migration to Aotearoa impacted the health of 19th century Pākehā and Chinese peoples. Recent exhumations of early settlers and gold miners from Otago cemeteries have provided a unique opportunity to learn who these people were. Bioarchaeological techniques, including microscopic analysis of bone and teeth, amplification of pathogen DNA, and evidence of pathology in the skeletons will be integrated with archival research to reconstruct the biological history of each migrant, from stresses suffered during childhood in their “home” country to their death in New Zealand, revealing the biosocial effects of migration and environmental adaptation.
2019-2022: Principal investigator: Ancient bone metabolism change with lifestyle in Asia-Pacific ARC DECRA, $381,210 (DE190100068)
This project aims to address a significant gap in our current knowledge of global change in skeletal health throughout recent human history. By contributing the first bone microstructural data for archaeological humans from across Asia-Pacific, this project aims to map the ways in which these ancient humans grew and adapted to different lifestyles. The project expects to identify new ways of predicting human bone health response to environmental and cultural change, contributing models for the well-being of past, living, and future human generations.
2019-2022: Associate investigator: The Best of Times, the Worst of Times: A Biocultural investigation of 19th century Frontier mining cemeteries in Australia, New Zealand and California Marsden Project Grant $827,000 (18-UOO-028), PI: Prof HR Buckley, University of Otago
Thousands of people left the Old World in the 19th century to take part in the gold rushes in California USA, Victoria, Australia and Otago, New Zealand. While early rush participants were often of European descent, other ethnicities participated, especially the Chinese. It was both the best of times and the worst of times, with the promise of easy wealth but the risk of sickness or violent death. Although historical records document the hardships of mining life, they are often silent on roles played by women, children, and the disenfranchised. Archaeology is often the sole avenue of enquiry for these ‘voices’, but here too there are gaps. Goldfields archaeology is extensive, however, the distinct cultural identity of individuals is often masked by a common material culture and health is rarely examined. Bioarchaeology, the analysis of archaeological human skeletal remains, adds to the historical narrative through direct biological evidence. Historic cemeteries provide a wealth of biological and cultural information, illuminating the lives of people during this time. We will explore adaptations to mining life in all these Pacific Rim regions by analysing the mortuary ritual of the communities, quality of life of the people, and the landscapes in which they lived.
2018: Principal investigator: Microscopy of the primate skeleton ANU Major Equipment Grant $135,000 (18MEC26), CIs: A Behie, M Oxenham, ANU
This grant funded one major piece of microscopy equipment (Olympus LEXT OLS5000 3D Measuring Laser Microscope System) to allow ANU biological anthropologists undertake non-destructive, non-contact surface scanning of primate bones and teeth. One key line of research within biological anthropology is the study of human and non-human primate (hereafter “primate”) skeletons. Both bone and dental samples representing fossilised, archaeological, or living primates offer a wealth of information about our biology and adaptation to intrinsic (e.g. health and disease) and environmental (e.g. stress, seasonality) factors over the course of human evolution and more recent history. Microscopic techniques are fundamental in this line of research enquiry as they allow us to reconstruct primate growth from preserved cells and other micro-structures which are, ultimately, the most direct indicators of metabolic activity in a living organism. Biological anthropologists at the ANU constitute the only research group in Australia with the requisite complementary mix of expertise, which is actively engaged in tackling these research questions.
GRANTS < $100k:
2021-2022: Associate Investigator: Living on the Edge: Health in a Marginal Community During the Protohistoric (500-800AD) Social Transition in Northeast Thailand, University of Otago Research Grant $39,214 NZD, PI: S Halcrow, Otago
The study of human skeletal remains from ancient populations allows us to fully understand how the interplay of social inequality and marginality impacts modern human wellbeing. Skeletal remains preserve information on health, and when contextualized with archaeological and historical information, they shed light on how our ancestors adapted to social change. This study will investigate how the rapid rise of inequality in prehistory impacted health in the marginal community of Ban Krabeuang, northeast Thailand. It will combine isotopic indicators of diet and mobility with innovative microscopic methods for studying skeletal stress markers to explore the interacting influences on health. We will conduct this research using a biocultural intersectional approach, which allows the exploration of how different aspects of the identity interacted to shape individual experiences and health. This study will enhance both modern and archaeological understandings of inequality in marginalised groups.
2020-2021: Co-nvestigator: Polythetic Micro-analytical Toolkit (PMT) for archaeological and bioanthropological sciences, ANU Intrepid Methodologies Strategic Theme $16,420, CIs: M Leclerc, T Denham, ANU
The aim of this project is to develop a suite of complementary analytical methods based on microscopic visualisation. This analytical approach will allow bioanthropologists and archaeologists to analyse conjointly various types of archaeological materials (e.g. bones, teeth, pottery, soil/sediments, plant remains). The objective of this inter-disciplinary project is to cross the bridge between sub-disciplines and develop a holistic and integrated methodological approach able to yield valuable data from a wide range of archaeological material. The key objective of the project is to devise a decision tree-like methodological protocol that will guide the micro-analytical process through steps and relevant microscopy instruments based on the research questions asked and the material used. This methodological cascade will have at its source data from four techniques: micro-computed tomography (microCT), laser confocal topography, automated scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS), and thin section analysis.
2017-2019: Co-investigator: In utero tooth microstructure ANU CASS Small Research Grant $2,500, CI: A Behie, ANU
This project aimed to collect data on maternal conditions during pregnancy (i.e. maternal sources of stress, maternal medical history, sex of offspring, number of previous offspring, maternal age) as well as birth conditions (i.e. weeks’ gestation at delivery, mode of delivery, hours in labour) and compare these with characteristics of the neonatal line, which is deposited in all developing teeth at birth.
2016-2017: Principal investigator: Bone Palaeometabolism in Indonesia ANU CASS Research Hub Grant $8,000, CIs: P Bellwood, M Oxenham, ANU
This grant funded lab equipment and histology preparation consumables used in the analysis of bone samples from a prehistoric (c. BCE/CE junction - 1000 CE) Indonesian site in the Norther Moluccas.
Travel grants:
2018 ANU RSHA Conference Travel Grant (AAPA 2019, Texas, US) $2,491
2017 ANU RSHA Conference Travel Grant (Synchrotron & ASHB 2017, Ballarat, AU) $1,580
2017 ANU RSHA Conference Travel Grant (ISPH 2017, Trenton, US) $2,248
2016 ANU RSHA Conference Travel Grant (AAPA 2017, New Orleans, US) $2,500
2016 ANU Early Career Travel Grant (AAPA 2016, Atlanta, US) $3,000
2013 William Pollitzer Award, American Association of Physical Anthropologists US $500 USD
2012 William Pollitzer Award, American Association of Physical Anthropologists US $500 USD
