Armin Falk is a Professor of Economics at the University of Bonn, leading the BonnEconLab since 2004 and co-founding the briq Institute on Behavior & Inequality. He holds affiliations with the IZA, DIW, CEPR, and Max-Planck-Institut. His research focuses on behavioral economics, exploring how social preferences like fairness and trust influence decision-making, and investigates early childhood development's role in inequality. Falk has received prestigious awards, including the Leibniz Prize and Yrjö Jahnsson Award. His work combines lab experiments, field studies, and representative data analysis. Education includes a PhD in Economics from the University of Zurich after studies in Economics, Philosophy, and History at the University of Cologne. Key research highlights include global climate action support studies (Nature Climate Change, 2024), socioeconomic disparities in child development (JPE, 2021), and global economic preferences surveys (QJE, 2018). He co-authored the book *Warum es so schwer ist, ein guter Mensch zu sein* to popularize behavioral economics. Awards include recognition for contributions to behavioral and development economics. Mentoring programs like *Balu und Du* aim to reduce educational inequality. His work bridges academic research with public discourse through media contributions and policy engagement.
Dr. Alexandra von Lieven is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Egyptology at the Free University of Berlin , specializing in Ancient Egyptian mythology, religious studies, and cultural history. She held a fellowship at the Lichtenberg-Kolleg (University of Göttingen) from October 2010 to July 2011. Her research focuses on divine norm transgression in Egyptian myths, analyzing hierarchies, gender roles, and legal frameworks. She explores comparative phenomena in other ancient mythologies to distinguish Egyptian-specific traits from cultural universals. Education : Egyptology and Comparative Religious Studies, with additional studies in Ancient Near Eastern Archaeology, Classical Archaeology, and Indology at the University of Tübingen. Research Highlights : Compiling a comprehensive inventory of deities involved in norm transgression; identifying mythemes related to rape, hierarchies, and gender in the Osiris myth; comparative analysis with other ancient mythologies. Key Publications : Studies on celestial mythology, Thoth's role in cross-cultural traditions, Seth cult sites, divine manifestations in nature, and rituals for goddesses.
HUANG Fei is a Professor of Chinese History and Society in the Department of Chinese Studies at the Faculty of Humanities, University of Tübingen, Germany. She has held this position since 2020, following a Junior Professorship at the same institution from 2014 to 2020. Her academic journey began with a BA in History from Sun Yat-sen University (Guangzhou, 2005) and culminated in a PhD in Chinese Studies from Leiden University (2012). University: University of Tübingen School: Faculty of Humanities Department: Department of Chinese Studies Academic Rank: Professor Email: fei.huang@uni-tuebingen.de Her research spans an interdisciplinary terrain, combining landscape studies, environmental history, history of the body, cultural geography, historical anthropology, art history, and material culture studies . Her work primarily investigates China’s historical development from the 16th to the 20th century, with a regional focus on Southwest China, especially Yunnan, and thematic attention to frontier dynamics, urban environments, and the interplay between natural resources and cultural memory. Professor Huang’s recent publications reveal a consistent and evolving scholarly trajectory centered on the transformation of natural and urban landscapes. Her research on hot springs —such as Huaqing Hot Springs—explores their roles in public health, urban planning, and ideological representation in modern China. Her earlier work on Dongchuan examines how imperial and local actors reshaped frontier landscapes through cultural representation, religious practice, and economic interests. Articles on sulfur manufacturing, bathing culture, and Tusi succession highlight her ability to connect local practices with broader global and environmental networks. Scientific Awards and Recognition: No specific awards or fellowships are mentioned in the provided texts. Advising and Grants: She supervises PhD and Master’s theses in Chinese history and culture, though specific student names are not listed. No explicit mention of grants or funded research projects is made in the texts, but her extensive publication record in top-tier journals suggests active research engagement. Labs and Research Teams: She is affiliated with the Department of Chinese Studies at the University of Tübingen and participates in interdisciplinary research within the Faculty of Humanities. Her work often involves collaboration with scholars in anthropology, geography, and environmental history, as evidenced by her co-taught courses and international academic engagement.
Rhenish Friedrich Wilhelm University of BonnGermany
Prof. Ludwig D. Morenz is a Professor of Egyptology at the University of Bonn and Director of the Egyptian Museum Bonn. He holds positions as a Principal Investigator in archaeological research and leads excavations in Egypt. His academic journey includes a Habilitation from the University of Tübingen (2001), a PhD from Leipzig (1994), and extensive postdoctoral fellowships across Europe. His research focuses on Pharaonic socio-economic systems, particularly dependency relationships between state expeditions and Canaanite populations. He examines ancient Egyptian economy, religion, and cultural interactions through material and textual evidence. Key areas include the origins of alphabetic writing, solar deity symbolism, and Roman-Egyptian cultural hybridity. Morenz has secured over €1 million in third-party funding from institutions like the German Research Foundation (DFG) and Gerda Henkel Foundation. He supervises numerous doctoral and master's students, reviewing over 30 theses and international PhDs. His editorial roles include founding journals like Studia Sinaitica and Bonner Ägyptologische Beiträge . Major excavations under his leadership include the Elite Necropolis of Qubbet el Hawa and the Serabit el-Chadim Hathor temple project. He participates in consortia such as the DFG Research Training Group 'Archeology of Pre-Modern Economies' and the International Congress of Egyptologists. Awards: Heisenberg Fellowship (DFG), Feodor Lynen Fellowship (Humboldt Foundation), Herzog-Ernst Scholarship Exhibitions: Curated annual special exhibitions at the Egyptian Museum Bonn, including a landmark show on alphabetic writing origins at Cairo's National Museum Publications: 13 monographs, 4 edited volumes, and over 100 articles
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary AnthropologyGermany
Alissa Mittnik is a Group Leader at the Department of Archaeogenetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany. She leads the 'MySocialBeIng' group, focusing on integrating archaeoscience to reconstruct social systems like kinship, gender roles, and mobility patterns in ancient societies. Her work bridges genetics, archaeology, and cultural studies to understand prehistoric populations. Education: PhD in 2016: University of Tübingen (Investigating Social Dynamics via Ancient DNA) Studies in Biology at Washington University (USA), University of Rostock, and University of Tübingen Research Interests: Genetic correlates of cultural transitions and social hierarchies Mobility in the ancient Mediterranean Archaeogenetic analysis of prehistoric populations Applications of ancient DNA to reconstruct migration and kinship networks Key Projects: Co-led the 'Times of Upheaval' project (2016-2018) on Bronze Age societal changes Published extensively on European, Mediterranean, and African prehistoric populations Lab/Team: Her group combines genomic, isotopic, and archaeological data to address questions about human migration, social organization, and cultural evolution.
Wiebke Kirleis is Professor for Environmental Archaeology and Archaeobotany at the Institute for Pre- and Protohistory, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (CAU). She has held this position since May 2014 and was previously a junior professor at the same university from 2008 to 2014. She is actively involved in major interdisciplinary research projects, including the Cluster of Excellence ROOTS and the Collaborative Research Centre 1266 'Scales of Transformation', where she serves as co-speaker and technical platform speaker. PhD in Natural Sciences, University of Göttingen (2002) Diploma in Biology, University of Göttingen (1998) Studies in Botany, Anthropology, and Environmental History, University of Göttingen (1990–1998) Wiebke Kirleis' research centers on the interaction between humans and plants during the late Pleistocene and Holocene, with a focus on plant economy, domestication, agricultural development, and landscape transformation. Her work explores how wild and cultivated plants were used for nutrition, ritual, and technical purposes, and how agricultural innovations such as ploughing and manuring impacted Central European landscapes. She has a strong geographical focus on Northern and Central Germany, Southeastern Europe, the Near and Middle East, and Southeast and East Asia, particularly Indonesia. Her methodological expertise includes archaeobotany (analysis of charred and waterlogged plant remains), palynology (pollen and spore analysis from sediment cores), and anthracology (study of charcoal remains). Her recent research includes studies on broomcorn millet diffusion, early farming in Scandinavia and Russia, and plant use in Bronze Age settlements across Europe and Turkey. She leads and collaborates on numerous interdisciplinary projects, emphasizing the integration of botanical data into broader archaeological narratives. Her publications reflect a consistent trend in environmental archaeology, focusing on plant domestication, agricultural transitions, and human-induced landscape change. Keywords across her recent work include archaeobotany, palynology, Neolithic and Bronze Age subsistence, and environmental reconstruction. Her research spans subfields such as food security, cultural transmission of plant use, early monumentality, and socio-economic aspects of prehistoric agriculture. Board member, Cluster of Excellence ROOTS Co-speaker, CRC 1266 'Scales of Transformation' Speaker, ROOTS Technical Platform Board member, Johanna-Mestorf-Akademie Chair, Scientific Advisory Board, Dithmarschen Stone Age Park (since 2023) Full member, German Archaeological Institute (DAI) Elected member, Commission for Archaeology of Non-European Cultures (KAAK) Wiebke Kirleis has supervised numerous research projects funded by the DFG and other agencies, including the Graduate School 'Human Development in Landscapes'. She has advised students and collaborated internationally with institutions in Italy, Norway, Indonesia, and Australia. Her leadership roles in academic self-administration include serving on planning, budget, and equality committees at CAU Kiel. She is committed to science communication, having launched the digital exhibition 'Alles bleibt anders' and produced educational films on archaeobotany. She is also involved in mentoring female postdocs through the via:mento program. She leads the archaeobotanical component in the 'Superfood' module of the SFB 1266 digital exhibition and is actively involved in the ROOTS Cluster’s Subcluster 'Dietary ROOTS'. Her lab and research team operate within the Institute for Pre- and Protohistory, contributing to the university’s strong focus on interdisciplinary landscape archaeology.
Research Institute for Mining History and Mining MuseumGermany
Michael Prange is Professor of Applied Materials Science at Georg Agricola University of Applied Sciences since 2015 and Head of Research Departments for Fundamental Research at the German Mining Museum Bochum since 2014, leading both the Materials Laboratory and Department of Materials and Conservation Sciences. His institutional affiliations bridge academic materials science with museum-based archaeological research. His core research spans archaeometallurgy, materials science, and conservation science, with specialized focus on ancient metal production techniques, historical mining archaeology, and cultural heritage preservation. He employs analytical methods to study metal artifacts and mining sites across Eurasia and the Americas, connecting material properties to historical technological practices. His work bridges hard science with archaeological interpretation to reconstruct prehistoric and ancient metallurgical processes. Recent publications (2010-2012) reveal concentrated investigation of ancient mining sites: Roman wet-processing technology in Germany, Inca copper mining in Chile, pre-Roman lead/silver extraction on Ibiza, and Caucasus gold metallurgy. These studies demonstrate consistent methodology—integrating materials analysis with archaeological context—to decode technological evolution across diverse civilizations and time periods, with particular emphasis on analytical archaeometallurgy. Prange directs externally funded research including German Archaeological Institute projects on the Pietrele settlement (since 2009) and Ibizan mining (2010-2013), plus Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/Fritz-Thyssen-Stiftung projects (from 2014). As head of the Materials Laboratory, he oversees archaeometallurgical analyses, conservation science initiatives, and the museum's research infrastructure development.
Christopher Miller is a Professor of Geoarchaeology at Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen (since 2016) and Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Institute for Archaeological Sciences (since 2013). He previously served as Junior Professor of Geoarchaeology (2010-2016) and Acting Head of the Archaeometry Division (2013-2015). His research focuses on site formation processes, archaeological micromorphology, and the role of fire in human evolution, with a particular emphasis on Paleolithic cave sites. Education: PhD (2010): Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Dissertation on Paleolithic cave sites' formation processes and settlement dynamics MSc (2004-2006): University of Maine, Thesis on geoarchaeological settings in the eastern US BA (2000-2004): Boston University, Dual degree in Archaeology and Earth Science Research interests include: Micromorphological analysis of archaeological sediments Geochemical tracing of Paleolithic sites Reconstruction of prehistoric human-environment interactions Development of novel microanalytical techniques for archaeological contexts His recent publications highlight interdisciplinary approaches to site formation processes, paleoenvironmental reconstruction, and the application of clumped isotope thermometry in archaeological contexts. He has conducted fieldwork in South Africa, Italy, Germany, and the Levant, focusing on cave systems and open-air sites. As an academic leader, he oversees the Geoarchaeology research group and collaborates with international teams on projects such as the Neolithic Movila lui Deciov settlement and the Swabian Jura Paleolithic sites. His work bridges geochemistry, archaeology, and environmental science to unravel the complexities of human adaptation in prehistoric environments.
Dr. Eleonore Pape serves as a Researcher at the Department of Prehistory and Early History within the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Göttingen, Germany, a position she has held since April 2017. Her academic foundation includes a binational doctorate from Heidelberg University and Université Paris Ouest Nanterre (2016), focusing on comparative analysis of Neolithic gallery graves across German and French archaeological contexts. Her educational trajectory features a Magisterstudium (2005-2011) in Prehistory and Early History, Classical Archaeology, and Ethnology at Heidelberg University, complemented by an internship at Lyon's Gallo-Roman Museum (2008-2009) and extensive fieldwork across Germany, Slovakia, Greece, and France since 2006. Pape's research pioneers interdisciplinary investigations of social practices in Neolithic and Bronze Age Central/Western Europe through archaeo-anthropological frameworks. She integrates archaeological, anthropological, and natural science methodologies to examine biologically determined social groups, with particular emphasis on collective burial systems and cross-border cultural interactions. Her work challenges traditional disciplinary boundaries through quantitative/qualitative synthesis and comparative spatial analysis. Publication trends reveal sustained focus on Late Neolithic gallery graves (4th millennium BC), demonstrating methodological innovation in architectural comparison and socio-ideological interpretation of funerary landscapes. Her output consistently bridges German and French archaeological traditions while advancing theoretical frameworks for understanding prehistoric social organization. Recognition includes competitive fellowships supporting international collaboration and field research: Wülfing Reisestipendium (German Archaeological Institute, 2018) Heidelberg University Excellence Initiative publication grant (2017) German-French University Mobility Scholarship (2013-2016) Friends of Archaeology in Europe e.V. award (2015) DAAD/KOOR BEST Internship Scholarship (2008-2009) Grant funding has enabled extensive binational fieldwork and theoretical development, while her academic service includes membership in Göttingen's Equal Opportunities Commission (2019-present) and Faculty Council representation (2019-2020), demonstrating commitment to institutional development alongside research excellence. As an active member of Göttingen's archaeological research community, Pape contributes to ongoing excavations and geophysical prospecting projects while mentoring through departmental teaching responsibilities, maintaining strong connections with international research networks developed during her doctoral work.
Prof. Dr. Eileen Eckmeier serves as Director of the Institute for Ecosystem Research at Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel and holds a W3 Professorship in Geoarchaeology and Environmental Risks. She concurrently acts as Co-spokesperson of the ROOTS Cluster of Excellence (since October 2023), Spokesperson of the ROOTS subcluster "Socio-Environmental Hazards," Vice President of DEUQUA (German Quaternary Association), and Board member of multiple academic organizations including the Soil and Archaeology Working Group of the German Soil Science Society. Her educational background includes a Dr. sc. nat. from the University of Zurich (2007) with award from the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences for her dissertation "Detecting prehistoric fire-based farming using biogeochemical markers," and a Diploma in Geography from the University of Cologne (2002) with minors in Soil Science, Prehistory and Early History, and History. Eckmeier's research centers on soil geography and geoarchaeology , particularly human-environment relationships during the Holocene where soils serve as both resources and archives of human activity. Her work investigates changes in soil properties due to land use and climate change across spatial and temporal scales, with geographical focus spanning European and Asian loess/steppe landscapes (Central Europe, Middle East, Mongolia), North Frisian Islands, the Alps, and African savannahs. She employs interdisciplinary approaches combining soil science, archaeology, and paleoenvironmental reconstruction. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals strong emphasis on paleoenvironmental reconstruction through soil archives , with significant contributions to understanding prehistoric agriculture, loess-paleosol sequences, and human impacts on landscapes. Key thematic clusters include Neolithic fertilization practices, ridge and furrow cultivation systems, wildfire impacts on soils, and tectonic-landscape-human interactions in critical regions like the Kenya Rift and European loess belts. Award from Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Zurich As Director of the Institute for Ecosystem Research and Co-spokesperson of the ROOTS Cluster of Excellence, Eckmeier leads major research initiatives examining societal, environmental, and cultural change. Her leadership extends to the Scientific Advisory Board of the Stone Age Park Dithmarschen and multiple institutional boards focused on Quaternary research and soil-archaeology integration. Current projects investigate socio-environmental hazards through the ROOTS framework while maintaining active fieldwork in diverse global landscapes from European loess regions to African savannahs. Eckmeier directs research teams within the Institute for Ecosystem Research's Geoarchaeology and Environmental Risks group, coordinating work across multiple specialized units including Geobotany, Environmental History and Archives, Applied Ecology and Paleoecology, and Technical Platform teams. Her ROOTS Cluster leadership integrates these efforts into a comprehensive framework examining human responses to environmental change over millennia.
Dr. Rebecca E. Döhl is a researcher at the Institute of Archaeology, Humboldt University of Berlin, specializing in the Department of Archaeology and Cultural History of Northeast Africa (AKNOA). Her work bridges traditional Egyptology with cutting-edge digital methodologies, focusing on prehistoric and Predynastic Egypt, rock art, and complex system theory. Doctorate from Free University of Berlin (2009-2017) on rock paintings in Egypt Part-time degree in Academic Geoinformatics from University of Salzburg (2009-2011) MA in Egyptology from Free University of Berlin (2008) Her research combines landscape archaeology with digital tools like GIS, 3D modeling, and agent-based modeling to analyze ancient Egyptian communication systems. Notable projects include: 2023: Leading field campaigns in Gebel el-Nezzi, Eastern Desert 2018-present: Project coordinator for CaeMmCom (Corpus of Ancient Egyptian Multimodal Communication) 2010-2016: Rock paintings survey in Wadi Berber She has received prestigious funding from Gerda Henkel, TOPOI, and DAAD, and her publications explore spatial approaches to rock art and multimodal communication in Ancient Egypt. Her work also contributes to theoretical discussions on social development and complex systems in archaeology.
Prof. Dr. Johannes Müller holds the Chair for Prehistoric Archaeology and directs the Institute of Pre- and Protohistory at Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel since 2004. His academic journey includes studies at Freiburg and Edinburgh, a habilitation at FU Berlin, and leadership roles in Bamberg. His research focuses on social archaeology, settlement patterns, and human-environment interactions in European prehistory, particularly the Neolithic and Bronze Age. Müller leads major projects like the DFG Collaborative Research Center 'Scales of Transformation' and the 'Human Development in Landscapes' Graduate School. His fieldwork spans Germany, Poland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Ukraine, with excavations at sites like Okoliste and Bruszczewo. He coordinates international initiatives like the Priority Program 'Early Monumentality and Social Differentiation.' Müller is a leading figure in computational archaeology, advancing predictive mapping and geophysical survey techniques. His work bridges archaeology with environmental and demographic sciences, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration. Education: PhD and habilitation in Prehistoric Archaeology (Freiburg and Berlin) DAI travel grant and academic roles at Freiburg, Cologne, and Bamberg Research Interests: Müller’s research integrates social archaeology with landscape and environmental studies to explore societal complexity and inequality. Key themes include: Neolithic monumental architecture (e.g., megalithic tombs, fortified settlements) Trypillia mega-sites and their socio-environmental dynamics Climate change impacts on prehistoric societies Computational methods for predictive mapping Collaborations: German Archaeological Institute (DAI) International teams in Poland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Ukraine Partnerships with institutions like Poznan University and the State Museum of Sarajevo Labs/Teams: He oversees the Institute’s fieldwork and laboratory facilities, including geophysical surveys and environmental analysis. His team employs cutting-edge techniques like geomagnetic imaging and isotopic dating to reconstruct ancient landscapes.
Dr. Shumon T. Hussain is a junior research group leader at the University of Cologne, Germany, affiliated with the Institute for Prehistoric Archaeology and MESH (Multidisciplinary Environmental Studies in the Humanities). His work bridges humanities and sciences to explore deep human history and non-human entanglements. He pioneers multispecies archaeology and paleoenvironmental humanities, focusing on animal prehistory, human-nonhuman systems, and ecological coevolution. Research interests include the intersection of 'animal' and 'technology' concepts in Western traditions, with a focus on Pleistocene and Holocene ecosystems. Key publications address scavenger guild dynamics, human-beaver cohabitation, and lithic technology variability. His work emphasizes interdisciplinary methods and contemporary relevance of deep-time studies.
Prof. Dr. Tanja Pommerening is a leading scholar at the Institute for the History of Pharmacy and Medicine, Philipps University of Marburg. With a unique interdisciplinary background bridging Egyptology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Cultural History, she holds a W3 Professorship since 2020 and has made significant contributions across multiple academic domains. Universitätsprofessorin für Geschichte der Pharmazie und Medizin (2020–Present) Initiatorin des DFG-GRK 1876 (2013–2020) Sprecherin des Marburger Gespräche zur Alten Heilkunde (2020–Present) Her research focuses on the intersection of ancient scientific texts , medical practices , and cultural knowledge systems in Egypt and the ancient Near East. She has pioneered work on: Archaeometry of funerary substances Transdisciplinary analysis of medical metrology Decolonization of academic collections Comparative pharmacology across Egyptian and Chinese traditions Recent publications reveal her expertise in mummification practices , ancient metrology , and knowledge transmission through edited volumes on bodily concepts (2025), cosmos-body connections (2024), and knowledge systems (2019). Her work appears in journals like PLoS ONE and Zeitschrift für Phytotherapie . Scientific recognition includes: Dalberg Prize (2005) Jerry Stannard Memorial Award (2005) Académie internationale d’histoire de la pharmacie (2022) Active in editorial roles as Area Editor for the UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology and co-editor of multiple academic series, she continues to shape the field through her leadership in projects like AESOH (2023–2027) and ArchaeoScent (2023–2025).
Research Institute for Mining History and Mining MuseumGermany
Chiara Levato is a Research Fellow at the Department of Mining Archaeology, Deutsches Bergbau-Museum Bochum, affiliated with Ruhr-Universität Bochum where she pursues doctoral studies. Her academic foundation includes an MA in Humanities from Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro (2012), specializing in prehistoric iron oxide mining. She maintains active fieldwork involvement, notably with the Grotta della Monaca Research Mission in Italy. Her research examines Paleolithic mining practices through archaeometric approaches. Primary interests include: Ochre extraction methodologies in prehistoric Europe Functional analysis of macrolithic mining tools via use-wear traces Iron oxide/hydroxide exploitation in Mediterranean contexts Paleolithic technological systems in mining contexts Publications consistently address prehistoric mining archaeology, focusing on Italian and Greek sites. Her work integrates microscopic analysis, archaeological survey data, and comparative studies of mining techniques across Mediterranean cultures, establishing patterns of resource exploitation from the Copper Age to the Upper Paleolithic. Current projects include the functional analysis of tools from Tzines (Thasos, Greece), employing experimental archaeology to reconstruct Paleolithic hematite mining processes. She collaborates with international teams, including UMR 8215 – Trajectoires at Nanterre, France.
