Emily Zavodny

Dr. Emily Zavodny is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the University of Central Florida, specializing in environmental archaeology. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Wake Forest University and both Master of Arts and Doctorate from The Pennsylvania State University. Research integrates zooarchaeology, stable isotope geochemistry, and paleoecology to examine prehistoric human adaptations in marginal environments.

Current projects focus on the spread of agriculture in southeast Europe, particularly livestock domestication in the Balkans and its environmental impacts. The Zavodny Isotope Geochemistry and ZooArchaeology Group (ZIGZAG) Lab at UCF supports analytical work on faunal remains. Fieldwork includes ongoing excavations in Croatia examining Neolithic to Iron Age subsistence strategies.

Publications demonstrate methodological innovation in isotope applications, including multi-isotope investigations of diet and mobility, and analyses of agricultural intensification. Recent work also addresses professional challenges in archaeology during the COVID-19 pandemic. No specific awards or student advisees are detailed in the source materials.