Jen Harland

Jen Harland is a Lecturer at the Archaeology Institute of the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI Orkney). She previously served as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate (PDRA) at the University of York from 2020 to 2023. Her research focuses on archaeology, marine biology, and historical ecology, with a particular emphasis on fish bone analysis, paleoclimatology, and early modern trade networks. She leads/co-leads major projects like TRANSECTS (2024–2028) and LIFTE (2020–2023), investigating coastal communities' energy transitions and commercialization impacts.

Her work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to climate action and sustainable consumption. Notable research outputs include studies on flatfish molecular analysis, medieval shellfish collection, and Orkney-Shetland trade dynamics. She actively participates in workshops (e.g., Arctic Artisanal Whaling) and conferences, such as Northern Narratives (2025), and engages in public outreach through media like the Time Travel on Orkney project. She is currently accepting PhD students and holds grants totaling over £55,000 in citations.