Dr Tristen Jones is a Lecturer in the Master of Museum and Heritage Studies program at the University of Sydney, specializing in Australian Indigenous archaeology and heritage. Her work emphasizes rock art, cultural landscapes, material culture, and museum collections. Lecturer at University of Sydney PhD and MArchSci from Australian National University (ANU) Research Focus : Indigenous-led methodologies and collaborative partnerships with Australian Indigenous communities Rock art chronology, style, and social function in Arnhem Land Transformative potential of museum collections in disciplinary histories Material culture agency and cultural landscape analysis Scientific Awards : George Chaloupka Fellowship (2014) Australia Awards Endeavour Postdoctoral Fellowship (2017) National Geographic Society Research Award (2019) Key Projects : ARC Linkage Project (2020-2025) on Cape York Peninsula rock art Ubirr Rock Art Conservation (2020-2023) with Kakadu National Park International collaboration with University of Barcelona (2017)
Dr Paul Sidwell is an Honorary Associate in the Department of Linguistics at The University of Sydney. His research focuses on Austroasiatic languages, particularly their classification, historical development, and syntactic structures. He has authored and edited numerous works including A Grammar of May: An Austroasiatic Language of Vietnam (2021) and contributed to major volumes like The Languages and Linguistics of Mainland Southeast Asia: A Comprehensive Guide (2021). His work spans comparative linguistics, epigraphy, and the prehistory of Southeast Asian languages. Recent publications include studies on Nicobarese language classification (2022), Austroasiatic syntax (2020), and Tai-Kadai language history (2021). His research integrates phylogenetic analysis, historical reconstruction, and areal linguistics to explore language relationships across Mainland Southeast Asia. Notable contributions include foundational works on Palaungic languages (2015), Old Khmer (2014), and the Munda Maritime Hypothesis (2019). His scholarship combines rigorous linguistic fieldwork with theoretical insights, advancing understanding of Austroasiatic linguistic diversity.
Luke Adams is a Research Fellow in Medicinal Chemistry at Monash University's Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. His academic profile indicates active research spanning structural biology, chemical biology, and drug discovery with a focus on advanced spectroscopic techniques. His research interests center on NMR spectroscopy and protein-ligand interactions , with significant contributions to unnatural amino acid engineering and fragment-based drug design . Key methodologies include genetic encoding of silylated lysines, gadolinium-based EPR distance measurements, and photocaged probes for spatiotemporal control of protein function. His work bridges structural characterization with therapeutic development, particularly in epigenetic targets and enzyme mechanisms. Analysis of his publication record (2002-2025) reveals consistent output in high-impact journals including Nature Communications , Journal of the American Chemical Society , and Journal of Medicinal Chemistry . His research demonstrates strong interdisciplinary integration across biophysics , medicinal chemistry , and chemical biology , with recent emphasis on neuroinflammatory targets and bromodomain inhibitors. The work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health and well-being. Laboratory work appears centered on protein engineering and spectroscopic methodology development, with collaborations spanning biochemistry, pharmacology, and structural biology groups at Monash University.
Professor Paul S.C. Tacon is a leading figure in rock art research, serving as a Professor and Chair in Rock Art Research at Griffith University’s Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural Research. He directs the Place, Evolution and Rock Art Heritage Unit (PERAHU) and is affiliated with the Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution. His work focuses on global rock art, particularly in Australia, Southeast Asia, and beyond. With over 93 months of fieldwork across 20+ countries, Tacon has made groundbreaking discoveries in Arnhem Land and Wollemi National Park. He has authored/co-authored over 315 publications, including influential books like Relating to Rock Art in the Contemporary World and Histories of Australian Rock Art Research . Education: BA (Hons) from the University of Waterloo (1980), MA from Trent University (1984), and PhD from the Australian National University (1990). Research Interests: Global rock art analysis, Indigenous archaeology, rock art preservation, and cultural evolution. Key areas include First Nations rock art in Australia, Southeast Asian prehistory, and the intersection of rock art with climate change and cultural heritage. Notable Awards: Rhys Jones Medal (2016), ARC Australian Laureate Fellowship (2016–2021), and Griffith Vice-Chancellor’s Research Excellence Award (2016). Labs/Teams: Director of PERAHU and collaborator in Griffith’s Human Evolution Centre. Supervises numerous PhD students focusing on global rock art projects. Active in grant-funded initiatives like the Art at a Crossroads project and Australian Rock Art History program.
Martin Porr is an Associate Professor of Archaeology at the University of Western Australia (UWA) and a Future Fellow. He is affiliated with the School of Social Sciences and the Centre for Rock Art Research + Management. His research focuses on Palaeolithic art, decolonial approaches to archaeology, and Australian rock art. Porr has held roles including Discipline Chair for Archaeology at UWA and has received grants from the Australian Research Council and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. His work spans field research in Australia, Europe, and Asia, with a strong emphasis on Indigenous heritage and rock art preservation. Education: PhD in Archaeology (University of Southampton), MA in Archaeological Theory (University of Southampton). Research Interests: Decolonising methodologies, Palaeolithic archaeology, Australian rock art, and the intersection of theory and practice in archaeology. Key Awards: Australian Research Council Future Fellowship (2024–2028), Senior Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship (2015–2017). Grants: Includes projects on Kimberley rock art, German ethnographic expeditions, and digital repatriation initiatives. Teaching: Courses on archaeology, human origins, and rock art studies at UWA, including undergraduate and honours programs. Publications: Over 79 articles and book chapters, including works on global climate change impacts on rock art, temporality in art replication, and Neolithic occupation in Arabia. Labs/Teams: Active in the Centre for Rock Art Research + Management and collaborates internationally on interdisciplinary projects.
Robin Beaman is an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at James Cook University in Cairns, Australia. With over 30 years of experience, he specializes in marine geology and ocean mapping, focusing on submerged geological features and their ecological implications. Research Interests : Drowned reefs, mesophotic coral ecosystems, submarine canyons, turbidite sediment flows, underwater landslides, and deep-water marine life Projects : GBR Marine Park mapping, Queensland Coastline Capture, Crowdsourced bathymetry, and Antarctic marine census initiatives His work develops 3D depth models of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea, integrating geological and ecological data. Recent publications focus on Halimeda bioherms, carbonate platform drowning, and benthic community distributions across depth gradients. While no awards are listed, his research spans interdisciplinary collaborations with academic, government, and industry partners.
Michael Anenburg is a Research Fellow at The Australian National University's Research School of Earth Sciences (RSES). His work focuses on magmatic-hydrothermal processes forming rare metal ore deposits, particularly rare earth elements (REE), yttrium (Y), and platinum group elements (PGE) in carbonatite systems. He leads the ARC Industry-Funded project on REE extraction from mine waste and is a Lindgren Fellow of the Society of Economic Geologists (SEG). Education: PhD in Earth Science (ANU, 2019), M.Sc. in Geology (Ben-Gurion University, 2015) Research Groups: Experimental Petrology Lab, Geochemistry Research interests include thermodynamic modeling of mineral systems, carbonatite petrology, and PGE behavior in magmas. He teaches courses on economic geology and magmatism. His software tools (ALambdaR, BLambdaR, REEkit) aid in geochemical analysis. Supervised students include Jabir Hussain and Alana Mina. Recent projects include studies on carbonatite metasomatism in the North China Craton and experimental work on sulfide melt immiscibility. His work bridges mineral exploration, geochemical modeling, and experimental petrology. Awards: Lindgren Fellowship (2022–present) Grants: ARC Industry Linkage Projects on REE extraction and carbonatite geology Labs: Experimental Petrology Lab at ANU, specializing in high-temperature geochemistry experiments.
Joseph W. Lehner is the Tom Austen Brown Lecturer in World Prehistory at the University of Sydney, affiliated with the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and the Archaeology department. He holds the Deputy Director role at the Vere Gordon Childe Centre and is an ARC Discovery Early Career Research Award Fellow. His research focuses on the archaeology of Southwest Asia, particularly the social, environmental, and cultural impacts of strategic resource management, including mining and metallurgy. Lehner earned his PhD from UCLA's Cotsen Institute of Archaeology, followed by a Humboldt German Chancellor Fellowship at the University of Tübingen and a Senior Fellowship at Koç University's Research Center for Anatolian Civilizations. His fieldwork spans Turkey, Oman, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, and Arctic North America. Key projects include the Kerkenes Project and Archaeological Water Histories of Oman, exploring ancient resource use and urban development. His research interests emphasize metallurgical practices, long-distance trade, and the evolution of complex societies. Recent work includes analyzing copper production in Oman, Iron Age Anatolian urbanism, and applying remote sensing technologies in archaeology. Lehner has secured grants such as the FASS humanities collaboration with the University of Toronto and the Merops Foundation for Kerkenes Project fieldwork. He has been awarded the ARC Early Career Fellowship and the Bass Publication Grant. His contributions bridge archaeology with interdisciplinary approaches, advancing understanding of ancient resource economies and socio-political dynamics.
Maxime Aubert is Professor of Archaeological Science at Griffith University, Australia, specialising in geochemical dating of early rock art and hominin fossils. He is a National Geographic Explorer and ARC Future Fellow whose discoveries have twice (2014 & 2020) been selected among the top-10 scientific breakthroughs by the journal Science . His research centres on uranium-series and other micro-analytical techniques to illuminate the timing and context of human evolution, early symbolic behaviour and the colonisation of Wallacea and Sahul. Education PhD Earth Sciences (Uranium-isotope Geochemistry), Université du Québec / INRS, 2009 Research Interests Aubert develops and applies cutting-edge geochemical methods to key questions in human evolution: Dating of Palaeolithic cave art and rock engravings Geochronology of hominin fossils and archaeological deposits Early human dispersals through Island Southeast Asia and into Australia Conservation science for Pleistocene rock-art heritage His recent publications reveal 51,200-year-old narrative art in Sulawesi, 1.04-million-year-old hominin sea-crossings to the same island, and the world’s earliest known surgical amputation (31,000 BP, Borneo), collectively reshaping global timelines of art, technology and medicine. Scientific Recognition Science journal Top-10 Scientific Breakthroughs 2014 & 2020 National Geographic Explorer ARC Future Fellowship Grants & Projects Aubert has secured > AUD 6 million in competitive funding, including ARC Discovery and Linkage projects, National Geographic grants, and industry partnerships with Google Arts & Culture. Current major projects investigate early art and occupation along the northern route to Australia, Aboriginal rock-art management in Cape York Peninsula, and the archaeology of the Great Papuan Plateau. Doctoral Supervision & Team Science He currently supervises Griffith doctoral candidates working on oxalate dating of Australian rock art and Tasmanian hand-stencil heritage, and has previously led or co-supervised PhD projects on Sulawesi underwater archaeology, Indonesian prehistoric migration, Siberian rock art, and Philippine cave archaeology. His team collaborates closely with Indonesian, Australian and European institutions, conducting large-scale field programs in Sulawesi, Borneo and Papua New Guinea.
Dr. India Ella Dilkes-Hall is a Research Fellow at the Griffith Centre for Social Cultural Research within Griffith University's Arts Education and Law Group. Her research focuses on archaeological studies in Southeast Asia and Australia, emphasizing Indigenous technologies, Holocene environmental adaptations, and material culture. She is particularly known for groundbreaking work on prehistoric surgical practices and ancient human-environment interactions. Her research interests include archaeobotany, paleopathology, and the socio-economic roles of material culture, with a geographic focus on Borneo, the Kimberley region, and Western Australia. Notably, she contributed to the discovery of a 31,000-year-old surgical amputation in Borneo, published in Nature in 2022. Dr. Dilkes-Hall collaborates extensively with Indigenous communities and employs multidisciplinary methods, including X-ray computed microtomography for artifact analysis. Her work bridges archaeology, anthropology, and environmental science, addressing both prehistoric and contemporary cultural heritage challenges. Key Research Themes: Holocene studies, archaeological methodological innovation, Indigenous-led research, and cultural continuity. Collaborations: Works with institutions like the Griffith Centre for Social Cultural Research and global academic partners on projects in Borneo and Australia.
Kane Ditchfield is a Research Fellow in Archaeology within the School of Social Sciences at The University of Western Australia. His research primarily focuses on Australian archaeology, with particular expertise in Western Australia's archaeological record spanning the Pleistocene and Holocene periods. His research interests encompass stone artefact analysis, archaeological site formation processes, paleoenvironmental reconstruction, and the investigation of rock art. Dr. Ditchfield's work contributes significantly to understanding the long-term human occupation of Australia, particularly in the Pilbara region and Murujuga (Burrup Peninsula). His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on methodological approaches to understanding how soil processes affect archaeological materials, particularly stone artefacts in clay-rich environments. His work on the Juukan 2 rockshelter has provided critical insights into 47,000 years of continuous human occupation in Western Australia. Dr. Ditchfield has secured research funding from organizations including Rio Tinto and the Australian Synchrotron, with projects focusing on archaeological landscape dynamics and identifying plant resin for hafting early Australian stone tools. His research has garnered significant attention, with mentions in numerous news outlets and social media platforms.
Dr. Aleese Barron is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Australian National University (ANU) , working within the Materials Physics department and the X-ray tomography and applications group . Her research focuses on applying microCT imaging to archaeobotanical studies, particularly for identifying domesticated plant remains in pottery sherds and reconstructing early agricultural practices. Key research areas: Archaeobotany, 3D imaging of ancient plant residues, plant domestication analysis, and geoarchaeological investigations. Collaboration with Dr. Tim Denham and other experts on projects spanning Southeast Asia, Papua New Guinea, and Northern Mali. Publication Trends : Aleese's work bridges material physics and archaeology, with publications on MicroCT protocols for plant remains, domestication of rice/sorghum/millet, and analysis of shell middens. Her methodologies have been applied to sites in Guangxi (China) , Nombe rockshelter (PNG) , and Northern Mali . Collaborative Networks : Works with interdisciplinary teams including Dr. Tim Denham, Dr. Yulai Zhang, and geologists from ANU's X-ray tomography group. No explicit mention of academic awards or student supervision in available texts.
Luca Fiorenza is an Associate Professor at Monash University's Department of Anatomy & Developmental Biology, affiliated with the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute. He also holds an adjunct position as Senior Lecturer in Palaeoanthropology at the University of New England (Australia). His research focuses on functional morphology of the masticatory apparatus in humans and primates, particularly investigating how diet influenced human evolution. Fiorenza leads the Palaeodiet Research Lab (www.palaeodiet.org) and has published in high-impact journals like Nature , Journal of Human Evolution , and American Journal of Physical Anthropology . He has attracted over $3.1M in research funding, including multiple ARC-Discovery Projects. Research Interests : Functional morphology of the masticatory system, Neanderthal dietary adaptations, biomechanical analyses of dental structures, and the evolution of human dietary strategies. His work integrates digital anatomy, 3D modeling, and finite element analysis to explore evolutionary and ecological adaptations. Recent Research Trends : Fiorenza's 2024 publications emphasize Neanderthal dietary habits, biomechanical studies of dentition, and applications of machine learning in dental prosthetics. Earlier work includes investigations into Australopithecus diets and the functional implications of craniofacial morphology. Awards : Australia's Top Researcher (2020) Monash BDI Awards for Outstanding Achievement (2019) Grants & Funding : Four ARC-Discovery Projects totaling over $3.1M AUD, including studies on human dietary transitions and Neanderthal biomechanics. Labs & Teams : Director of the Palaeodiet Research Lab, collaborating internationally on projects involving European and Australian institutions. Active in training workshops on cranio-dental functional morphology and digital anatomy techniques.
Dr. Andrea Kay is a Visiting Professor at the School of Social Science, University of Queensland. Her research focuses on archaeology, particularly human subsistence patterns, land use changes, and environmental interactions in prehistoric and historical contexts. She specializes in African archaeology, with notable contributions to understanding Holocene-era land management practices and their implications for the Anthropocene framework. Her work integrates multi-disciplinary methods such as radiocarbon dating, isotopic analysis, and field archaeology to reconstruct past human-environmental relationships. She is affiliated with collaborative networks like the ArchaeoGLOBE Project and contributes to interdisciplinary initiatives like the SocioHealthLab and UQ Bioarchaeology and Osteology Network (BONE). Recent research highlights include investigations into Iron Age settlements in Zambia, pre-colonial land use in the Philippines, and the analysis of camel engraving sites in the Nefud Desert. Her publications often bridge archaeological evidence with broader environmental and historical narratives, emphasizing long-term human impacts on landscapes. Dr. Kay has collaborated with institutions globally, including projects in Jordan and the Philippines, and her work has been featured in high-impact journals like Science and Nature Ecology and Evolution . No formal advisees or teaching roles are explicitly listed in the provided information.
Tamar Hodos is a Professor of Classical Archaeology and Director of the Australian Archaeological Institute at Athens (AAIA) at the University of Sydney. She holds the John Atherton Young and Alexander Cambitoglou Chair. Her research focuses on the Mediterranean Iron Age (c. 1100–600 BCE), emphasizing colonization, social identities, and cross-cultural interactions using postcolonial and globalization theories. She has extensive fieldwork experience in the eastern Mediterranean and the UK. Educated at Bryn Mawr College (BA), University College London (MA), and the University of Oxford (DPhil), Hodos previously served as a Professor at the University of Bristol (2000–2023) and Director of the South, West and Wales Doctoral Training Partnership (2021–2023). She retains an honorary position at Bristol to supervise UK-based PhD students. Her work integrates museum collections and cutting-edge analytical methods (e.g., isotopic analysis, non-destructive imaging) to explore ancient social dynamics. She advocates for socially representative interpretations of the past and interdisciplinary approaches to archaeology. As AAIA Director, she bridges academic, public, and governmental stakeholders, split between Sydney and Athens annually. Hodos has authored/co-edited major publications like *The Archaeology of the Mediterranean Iron Age* (Cambridge, 2020) and *The Routledge Handbook of Archaeology and Globalization* (2017). Her research is supported by grants from the ERC, AHRC, and Leverhulme Trust. Awards include a Getty Scholarship (2020) and teaching accolades from the University of Bristol.
