Jennifer L. Meanwell

Jennifer L. Meanwell is a Lecturer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), affiliated with the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (DMSE) and the MIT Center for Materials Research in Archaeology and Ethnology consortium. Her research focuses on ancient ceramic materials from Mesoamerica, including pottery, pigments, plasters, and metallurgical ceramics, employing advanced analytical techniques such as ceramic petrography, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS), and Raman spectroscopy.

Education: She earned both her undergraduate degree (Course 3-C archaeology and materials program) and PhD in archaeological materials from MIT’s DMSE. Professional Experience: She has taught as a visiting professor at Brown University and has been active at MIT since 2008. Research Projects: She has conducted fieldwork in Mexico, including the Middle Balsas region of Guerrero, Mayapan in Yucatan, the Jovel Valley in Chiapas, and Calixtlahuaca. Her work bridges archaeology and materials science to understand ancient technologies and cultural practices.