McMaster University

Graduate Student, Anthropology

About

I am a Ph.D. student and a member of the McMaster Ancient DNA Centre. My background is in biology and archaeology (B.A., Boston University, 2003-2007) and biological anthropology (M.A., McMaster University, 2007-2008). My current thesis research focuses on the evolutionary history of human infectious diseases as studied through the molecular remains of pathogen DNA in archaeological human remains. I am interested in the potential for ancient DNA (aDNA) to provide meaningful anthropological and evolutionary biological insights into past pathogens, beyond species identification. What can aDNA tell us about the biological characteristics of historical epidemics, and can these insights inform our interpretation of historical and archaeological narratives about these epidemics? Studying aDNA helps shape our understanding of current infectious diseases, because a greater knowledge of pathogen evolutionary relationships and trajectories can inform our environmental and pharmaceutical strategies to combat their virulence.

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