Kendra Chritz

Kendra Chritz is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences at the University of British Columbia. She specializes in paleoecology and stable isotope geochemistry, focusing on reconstructing past environments and trophic interactions. Her research integrates modern and ancient ecosystems to understand hominin habitats, climate dynamics, and ecological changes in Africa.

Dr. Chritz’s work spans methodologies like oxygen/calcium isotope analyses, fossil faunal studies, and isotopic databases. She supervises graduate students in thesis-based programs such as Master of Science in Geological Sciences and Doctor of Philosophy in Geological Sciences. Notable advisees include Emma Betz, who studies trophic dynamics using novel inorganic proxies.

Her research trends emphasize interdisciplinary approaches to paleoenvironmental reconstruction, with articles analyzing seasonal dietary variability in hominins, trophic network complexity, and the impact of climatic shifts on early human populations. Key regions of study include the Turkana Basin and Lake Victoria Basin in Kenya, leveraging both modern ecological analogs and fossil records.

Dr. Chritz’s contributions include developing innovative isotopic techniques (e.g., triple oxygen isotopes) and curating datasets like the AfriArch isotopic database. Her work bridges geology, biology, and archaeology, providing critical insights into human-environment interactions across timescales.