Institute of Forensic Medicine

Anthropology

CV

  • Since 4/2019 PD at Faculty of Medicine, University of Bern.
  • Since 8/2010 Head of Anthropological Department, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern.
  • 4/2009 – 6/2010 Postdoctoral research fellow, Unit for Palaeopathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich.
  • 4/2009 Dr. rer. biol. hum., Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich.
  • 9/2006 – 9/2008 Research associate, German Archaeological Institute, Department Cairo.
  • 3/2003 – 10/2006 Research Assistant, GeoBio-Center, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich.
  • 4/2003 Dipl. Biol., Faculty of Biology, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich.
  • 9/2002 – 2/2003 Research Assistant, Department Biology I/ Anthropology, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich.

Appointments

Conference Organization

  • Meeting "Forensic Anthropology in German Speaking Countries – Status quo and Perspectives" of the Working group Forensic Anthropology (AGFA), 26th July 2024, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg.
  • Annual Meeting and Workshop "Ancient DNA Research in Bioarchaeology" of the Swiss Society of Anthropology (SGA/SSA), 24th-25th November 2023, University of Zurich Campus Irchl, Zurich.
  • Annual Meeting and Workshop "Highlights of the Galler Collection" of the Swiss Society of Anthropology (SGA/SSA), 11th-12th November 2022, Natural History Museum, Basel.
  • Annual Meeting and Workshop "Diachronic Trends in Anthropology" of the Swiss Society of Anthropology (SGA/SSA), 26th November 2021, Archaeological Service Grisons, Chur.
  • Workshop "Archaeology and Anthropology of Southern Siberia", 24th-25th February 2020, University of Bern. Supported by MVUB, University of Bern; side applicant (CHF 4.860).
  • Meeting "Forensic Anthropology" of the Working group Forensic Anthropology (AGFA), 18th-19th October 2018, Medical University of Vienna.
  • Annual Meeting "Imaging in Anthropology" of the Swiss Society of Anthropology (SGA/SSA), 6th October 2018, University of Bern. Supported by MVUB, University of Bern; main applicant (CHF 2.986).
  • 12th Meeting of the Society for Anthropology (GfA), "Homo Homini Lupus? Between Conflict and Cooperation" 18th-22nd September 2017, Geislingen an der Steige.
  • Meeting "Forensic Archaeology" of the Working group Forensic Anthropology (AGFA), 21st October 2016, University of Bern. Supported by MVUB, University of Bern; main applicant (CHF 4.000).
  • Workshop "Preservation and representation of human bones and its importance for anthropological analysis", University of Bern, 2013. Supported by MVUB, University of Bern; main applicant (CHF 3.300).

Google Scholar

Researchgate

Research focus

Research Interests

  • Forensic anthropology and forensic archaeology
  • Interdisciplinary bioarchaeology and funerary practices
  • Diet, mobility and social differentiation in the European Prehistoric populations
  • Taphonomy
  • Lifestyle and paleopathology in Ancient Egypt

 

Research Projects

  • BoNe: Bioarchaeology of Neolithic Inhumations in the Western Alpine Region (5000 – 3000 BCE). How are Changes in Burial Customs linked with the Social Structure of Populations? SNF project (Postdoc level) at Bern University, 2023-2027 (principal investigator); CHF 612.873.
  • SNF Scholars-at-Risk-Grant, 2022-2023 (side applicant), submitted by Bern University; CHF 100.744.
  • To be a child in Roman Aventicum/Avenches (1st-3rd c. AD): Evidence on health, disease and feeding practices from bioarchaeology and stable isotope analysis. SNF project (Postdoc level) at Fribourg University, 2016-2019 (side applicant), cooperation with Prof. Véronique Dasen; CHF 443.076.
  • Multidisciplinary research approach to the Swiss Oberbipp dolmen in the context of the Neolithic revolution in Central Europe. SNF project (PhD level) at Bern University, 2015-2019 (principal investigator); CHF 340.795.
  • Nutrition, origin, and social stratification in the Late Iron Age. Stable isotope analysis of Swiss skeletal series. SNF project (PhD level) at Bern University, 2014-2017 (principal investigator); CHF 348.460.
  • Archaeology and Anthropology of the Middle Ages cemeteries in the southern Swiss Alps: characterization of the population and occupation. SNF project (PhD level) at Bern University, 2013-2013 (side applicant), cooperation with Prof. Christa Ebnöther; CHF 204.803.
  • Excavation of the Neolithic Dolmen in Oberbipp, Erziehungsdirektion Canton Bern, 2012 (side applicant), cooperation with Archaeological Service of Canton Bern; CHF 78.500.
  • Graduate Scholarship (PhD level) at Ludwig-Maximilian-Universtiy Munich, 2004-2006 (principal investigator); approx. EUR 24.000.

 

Publications and talks

Reviewer

Editor

  • Academic Editor for PLoS ONE

Reviewer for Journals

  • American Journal of Physical Anthropology
  • Anthropologischer Anzeiger. Journal of Biological and Clinical Anthropology
  • Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences
  • Archaeometry
  • Archäologische Informationen
  • Bulletin of the Anthropological Swiss Society
  • Forensic Science International
  • Frontiers of Medicine
  • Homo, Journal of Comparative Human Biology
  • International Journal of Legal Medicine
  • International Journal of Osteoarchaeology
  • International Journal of Paleopathology
  • Journal of Archaeological Science
  • Journal of Archaeological Science, Reports
  • Journal of Forensic Radiology and Imaging
  • Journal of Forensic Science and Research
  • Journal of Glacial Archaeology
  • Nature Scientific Reports
  • PLoS ONE
  • Science and Justice

Reviewer for Institutions

  • Democritus University of Thrace, School of Classics & Humanities, Greece
  • Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), Germany
  • European Research Council (ERC)
  • European Science Foundation (ESF)
  • L'Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR), France
  • National Research, Development and Innovation Office (NKFIH), Hungary
  • Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  • Research Foundation Flanders (FWO), Belgium
  • Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung (SNF), Switzerland
  • The Adelaide Graduate Centre, University of Adelaide, Australia
  • Universität Wien, Faculty of Life Sciences, Austria
  • Universitätsklinikum Hamburg Eppendorf, Germany

Committee Work

  • Collegium generale, University of Bern
  • European Meeting of Forensic Archaeology, Madrid, Spain
  • Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, Universiy of Bern
  • Interfakultäres Doktoratsprogramm Altertumswissenschaften (IDA), University of Bern
  • Scientific board of Bavarian State Collection for Anthropology, Munich, Germany

Teaching

  • Since 2011 Lecture series "Forensische Medizin für Mediziner", lesson "Forensische Anthropologie"
  • Since 2011 Lecture series "Forensische Medizin für Juristen", lesson "Forensische Anthropologie"
  • Since 2012 PhD colloquium in biological anthropology and bioarchaeology
  • Since 2012 Introductory course "Methoden in der Prähistorischen Archäologie", lesson "Biologische Anthropologie"

 

  • FS 2023 IDA lecture "Feste und Feiern in der Antike"
  • HS 2022 Tutorial "Tod und Bestattungssitten im römischen Westen"
  • HS 2022 IDA lecture "Kinder in der Welt der Antike"
  • HS 2021 IDA lecture "Zäsuren. Wendepunkte in der Welt der Antike"
  • FS 2020 Collegium generale lecture "Alles falsch"
  • FS 2019 Tutorial "Grundlagen und Potential der Physischen Anthropologie"
  • FS 2016 Colloquium "Mummies as bioarchive – Anthropological and Archaeological Research on preserved Human Remains"
  • FS 2014 Tutorial "Einführung in die Methoden der Anthropologie"
  • HS 2012 Tutorial "Einführung in die Methoden der Anthropologie"
  • FS 2011 Tutorial "Körper, Geist und Seele der Berner im Zeitalter der Aufklärung"
  • 2002 – 2006 Practical course "Biochemische Methoden in der Anthropologie" (LMU Munich)
  • 2002 – 2006 Practical course "Osteologie" (LMU Munich)

Memberships