Biography (Short)

I joined the Birkbeck School of Historical Studies (formerly the Department of History, Classics and Archaeology) in 2019 after holding postdoctoral positions at UiT The Arctic University of Norway and the UCL Institute of Archaeology. My research spans the fields of Contemporary Archaeology, Critical Heritage Studies and the Environmental Humanities, and has ranged across a number of different topics—including war, natural and cultural heritage, nuclear and petroleum industries, dictatorships and biobanking—but traces a common set of interests in the relationships between conflicts, resources, recycling and rights across more-than-human worlds in the Anthropocene. I am currently Principal Investigator on a UKRI FLF funded project called “Ecologies of Violence: Heritage and Conflict in More-Than-Human Worlds”, which explores the impact of conflict and violence on humans and more-than-humans in Paraguay, Laos and France.

Present Appointment

UKRI Future Leaders Fellow and Senior Lecturer in Contemporary Archaeology and Heritage, Department of History, Classics and Archaeology, Birkbeck, University of London, May 2023 – onwards

Teaching

I am currently research-only but continue to teach across the School both on MA and BA level. I am the convener of the MA module ‘The Politics of the Past: Heritage in a Changing World’.

Education / Qualifications

2015, PhD Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Bristol

 

2009, MA Historical Archaeology of the Modern World AD1500-2000, University of Bristol (Distinction)

 

2008, BA International Joint Major Archaeology and Hispanic Studies, University College Dublin (First Class Honours)

Professional History

UKRI Future Leaders Fellow and Lecturer in Contemporary Archaeology and Heritage, Department of History, Classics and Archaeology, Birkbeck, University of London May 2019 – April 2023

 

Postdoctoral Fellow in Archaeology/Critical Heritage, Unruly Heritage: An Archaeology of the Anthropocene (funded by the Research Council of Norway), Department of Archaeology, History, Religious Studies and Theology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, July 2018 – May 2019

 

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Heritage Futures (AHRC Large Grant ‘Assembling Alternative Futures for Heritage’, AH/M004376/1), Institute of Archaeology, UCL, July 2017 – June 2018 (Associate Researcher July 2018-project end September 2019)

 

Postdoctoral Research Associate, AHRC GCRF Restricted Access Project, Institute of Archaeology, UCL, November 2016 – June 2017

 

Postgraduate administrator for MSc Translational Cardiovascular Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, March 2016 – October 2016

 

Undergraduate administrator for Intercalated BSc Health Sciences, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, June 2016 – October 2016

Other Appointments and Affiliations

2021-present, Editor, Journal of Contemporary Archaeology

 

2021-present, Member of AHRC Network project ‘The Rise of Private Museums and Heritage in East and Southeast Asia’ (https://museumsasia.blogs.bristol.ac.uk)

 

2019-present, Member of the UKRI AHRC Peer Review College

 

2019-present, Member of the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship Peer Review College

Awards and Honours

2018-2020, Honorary Research Associate, UCL Institute of Archaeology

 

2017, ‘Outstanding PhD Thesis’ award for Excellence in Science and Research, awarded by the Fond National de la Recherche Luxembourg (FNR, Luxembourg National Research Fund).

 

2016, ‘Best Doctoral Research Thesis’ award for the Faculty of Arts, awarded by the University of Bristol Research Degrees Exam Board.

Grants

2023-2026, Principal Investigator, ‘Ecologies of Violence: Heritage and Conflict in More-Than-Human Worlds’, funded by the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship scheme – £574,309.23

 

2021, AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Partnership (CDP) studentship (together with Prof Jen Baird): Birkbeck, University of London and Museum of London Archaeology. CDP doctoral training grants fund full-time studentships for 45 months (3.75 years) or part-time equivalent. The studentship has the possibility of being extended for an additional 3 months to provide professional development opportunities, or up to 3 months of funding may be used to pay for the costs the student might incur in taking up professional development opportunities. The award pays tuition fees up to the value of the full-time home UKRI rate for PhD degrees. Research Councils UK Indicative Fee Level for 2021/22 is £4,500 (and a CDP maintenance payment of £550/year). If the studentship is awarded to an international student Birkbeck will waive the difference between home and overseas fees. The award pays full maintenance for all students both home and international students. The National Minimum Doctoral Stipend for 2021/22 is £15,609, plus London weighting of £2000/year.

 

2019-2023, Principal Investigator, ‘Material Memories’, funded by the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship scheme – £404,238

 

2018, Principal Investigator, Internal University College London GCRF Pump Priming Award – £12,500 (for pilot research in Laos and Cambodia)

 

2013, Santander Travel Grant Award for Research in Latin America on Business and Economic-related themes – £2000

 

2012-2015, FNR Luxembourg Aides à la Formation-Recherche PhD Grant scheme – €54,000 + €6,000 travel allowance

 

2011, Santander Travel Grant Award for Research in Latin America on Business and Economic-related themes – £2100

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Asunción, Paraguay

Reconfigured statue of Paraguay’s dictator Alfredo Stroessner in the Plaza de los Desaparecidos in Asunción. Nunca más, never again.

View image Asunción, Paraguay

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Asunción, Paraguay

Reconfigured statue of Paraguay’s dictator Alfredo Stroessner in the Plaza de los Desaparecidos in Asunción. Nunca más, never again.

View image Asunción, Paraguay

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Ban Naphia, Laos

‘Spoon Village’: heavily bombed during the Vietnam War, this small town turns unexploded munitions into utensils.

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Ban Naphia, Laos

‘Spoon Village’: heavily bombed during the Vietnam War, this small town turns unexploded munitions into utensils.

View project

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Colonia Fernheim, Paraguay

Trébol cemetery: One of many cemeteries holding the remains of Chaco War soldiers

View image Colonia Fernheim, Paraguay

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Colonia Fernheim, Paraguay

Trébol cemetery: One of many cemeteries holding the remains of Chaco War soldiers

View image Colonia Fernheim, Paraguay

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Nommern, Luxembourg

Arborglyph/tree graffiti most likely made by US soldier stationed in the forests of Luxembourg during the Second World War

View image Nommern, Luxembourg

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Nommern, Luxembourg

Arborglyph/tree graffiti most likely made by US soldier stationed in the forests of Luxembourg during the Second World War

View image Nommern, Luxembourg

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Svalbard, Norway

Global Seed Vault

View image Svalbard, Norway

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Svalbard, Norway

Global Seed Vault

View image Svalbard, Norway

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School of Biosciences, Cardiff University

Assembling and conserving biodiversity in a Frozen Ark

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School of Biosciences, Cardiff University

Assembling and conserving biodiversity in a Frozen Ark

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Fortín Nanawa, Presidente Hayes, Paraguay

Remnants of conflict from the Chaco War in the Paraguayan bush

View image Fortín Nanawa, Presidente Hayes, Paraguay

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Fortín Nanawa, Presidente Hayes, Paraguay

Remnants of conflict from the Chaco War in the Paraguayan bush

View image Fortín Nanawa, Presidente Hayes, Paraguay

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Chaco Boreal, Paraguay

Ruta 9, Transchaco Highway

View image Chaco Boreal, Paraguay

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Chaco Boreal, Paraguay

Ruta 9, Transchaco Highway

View image Chaco Boreal, Paraguay

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Xiengkhouang Plateau, Laos

Bomb crater at Plain of Jars, Jar Site 1

View image Xiengkhouang Plateau, Laos

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Xiengkhouang Plateau, Laos

Bomb crater at Plain of Jars, Jar Site 1

View image Xiengkhouang Plateau, Laos

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Long Tieng, Laos

Secret US Air Force landing strip in Xaisomboun Province

View image Long Tieng, Laos

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Long Tieng, Laos

Secret US Air Force landing strip in Xaisomboun Province

View image Long Tieng, Laos

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Pek, Laos

One of countless live ‘bombies’ littering Laos

View image Pek, Laos

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Pek, Laos

One of countless live ‘bombies’ littering Laos

View image Pek, Laos