Biography
I conduct research on the persistence of proteins in ancient samples, using modelling to explore the racemization of amino acids and thermal history to predict the survival of DNA and other molecules. Using a combination of approaches (including immunology and protein mass spectrometry) my research detects and interprets protein remnants in archaeological and fossil remains.
With former PhD student Dr Mike Buckley I developed ZooMS (Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry) a way to rapidly identify bone and other collagen based materials using peptide mass fingerprinting.
https://sites.google.com/palaeome.org/2018-ancient-proteins/home
Research
The application of ancient proteins to archaeology
Analysis of protein evolution and decay
I am presently involved in the following research projects in:
2016 - 2021 Niels Bohr Professor of Palaeoproteomics: University of Copenhagen: To establish new research capacity in plaeoprotemics in Denmark
2018 - 2023 Beasts to Craft: Parchment as a biological archive
2019 - 2023 ArcHives: Beeswax as a biological archive
Also visit: https://evogenomics.snm.ku.dk/palaeoproteomics/
Information for Prospective Postgraduate Students
Students that work with me have to be self motivated as my post in Cambridge is only 40%, 60% of the time I am in Copenhagen. At present I have sufficient students, and do not think that I can realistically supervise more than I am planning to take on in 2021 from the ChemArch and PlaCE ITNs
I do not take self funded students, but will try to work with you to help find funding.
I like to collaborate so if you do contact me, I may try to find a way for you to work with my colleagues and I.
Key Publications
Demarchi, B., Hall, S., Roncal-Herrero, T., Freeman, C. L., Woolley, J., Crisp, M. K., Wilson, J., Fotakis, A., Fischer, R., Kessler, B. M., Rakownikow Jersie-Christensen, R., Olsen, J. V., Haile, J., Thomas, J., Marean, C. W., Parkington, J., Presslee, S., Lee-Thorp, J., Ditchfield, P., … Collins, M. J. (2016). Protein sequences bound to mineral surfaces persist into deep time. eLife, 5, e17092.
Hendy, J., Colonese, A. C., Franz, I., Fernandes, R., Fischer, R., Orton, D., Lucquin, A., Spindler, L., Anvari, J., Stroud, E., Biehl, P. F., Speller, C., Boivin, N., Mackie, M., Jersie-Christensen, R. R., Olsen, J. V., Collins, M. J., Craig, O. E., & Rosenstock, E. (2018). Ancient proteins from ceramic vessels at Çatalhöyük West reveal the hidden cuisine of early farmers. Nature Communications, 9(1), 4064.
Jensen, T. Z. T., Niemann, J., Iversen, K. H., Fotakis, A. K., Gopalakrishnan, S., Vågene, Å. J., Pedersen, M. W., Sinding, M.-H. S., Ellegaard, M. R., Allentoft, M. E., Lanigan, L. T., Taurozzi, A. J., Nielsen, S. H., Dee, M. W., Mortensen, M. N., Christensen, M. C., Sørensen, S. A., Collins, M. J., Gilbert, M. T. P., … Schroeder, H. (2019). A 5700 year-old human genome and oral microbiome from chewed birch pitch. Nature Communications, 10(1), 5520.
Teasdale, M. D., Fiddyment, S., Vnouček, J., Mattiangeli, V., Speller, C., Binois, A., Carver, M., Dand, C., Newfield, T. P., Webb, C. C., Bradley, D. G., & Collins, M. J. (2017). The York Gospels: a 1000-year biological palimpsest. Royal Society Open Science, 4(10), 170988.
Verdugo, M. P., Mullin, V. E., Scheu, A., Mattiangeli, V., Daly, K. G., Maisano Delser, P., Hare, A. J., Burger, J., Collins, M. J., Kehati, R., Hesse, P., Fulton, D., Sauer, E. W., Mohaseb, F. A., Davoudi, H., Khazaeli, R., Lhuillier, J., Rapin, C., Ebrahimi, S., … Bradley, D. G. (2019). Ancient cattle genomics, origins, and rapid turnover in the Fertile Crescent. Science, 365(6449), 173–176.
List on Google Scholar
Publication
2023 (Published online)
Doi: 10.24072/pcjournal.230
2023
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-26013-4
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-36405-3
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2023.106786
2022
Doi: 10.1073/pnas.2109326119
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1002/rcm.9286
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1515/res-2021-0019
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1101/2022.03.13.483627
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00703
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemphys.2022.111602
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0270040
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1002/oa.3145
Doi: 10.5334/joad.89
Doi: http://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2021.170
Doi: http://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.82849
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.211587
2021
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jprot.2020.104041
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1080/20548923.2020.1868132
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.202055
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.210210
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jprot.2020.103986
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbapap.2021.140718
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2020.105296
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-87125-x
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-021-00503-6
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-85756-8
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2021.0020
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-03082-x
2020
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2019.0819
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1101/2020.10.21.348698
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.191172
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2020.105116
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1093/bioinformatics/btaa181
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1111/arcm.12553
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2020.105080
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-020-00421-z
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jprot.2020.103889
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0235146
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-74258-8
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1080/20548923.2020.1815398
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2020.102573
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0240512
2019
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-019-0278-6
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-019-1728-8
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-019-0909-z
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-019-00911-7
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-019-00853-0
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-13549-9
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aau7126
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2019.01.005
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-42938-9
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1002/rcm.8441
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1126/science.aav1002
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-47299-x
2018
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-06335-6
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-018-0590-7
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-018-0510-x
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhevol.2017.05.006
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1126/science.aas9411
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2018.0977
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.vibspec.2018.09.004
Doi: 10.1002/rcm.8064
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2017.11.041
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1139/facets-2017-0126
Doi: 10.1080/21662282.2018.1468154
2017
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkx361
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-06390-x
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1007/s11306-017-1270-3
Doi: 10.3406/galim.2017.2123
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.170988
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1101/146324
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1080/20548923.2017.1361629
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1111/arcm.12249
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1080/20548923.2018.1424300
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1080/20548923.2016.1258825
2016
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2015.05.054
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms10326
Doi: 10.1016/j.jas.2016.07.014
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0162330
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2016.01.003
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0152136
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0163606
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2015.0332
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1605834113
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2016.02.002
Doi: http://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.17092
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1038/srep27163
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2015.10.025
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1080/20548923.2015.1133117
2015
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1512264112
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1080/02724634.2015.1113803
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2014.10.006
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhevol.2014.10.016
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2013.0379
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2013.0376
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1038/srep16498
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1179/2047058414Y.0000000134
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1503579112
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1002/bies.201400160
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1038/nature14249
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2014.12.010
2014
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1021/ac4026362
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2013.07.026
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1038/srep07104
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2014.07.002
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2013.2167
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0107034
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1002/oa.2362
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1002/rcm.6999
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1038/nature13025
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1038/ng.2906
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2014.02.044
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2013.10.023
Doi: http://doi.org/10.7183/0002-7316.79.4.782
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2014.06.009
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0093854
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1126/science.1249274
2013
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1002/rcm.6730
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.quageo.2012.09.002
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2012.11.013
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2012.11.007
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1021/ac4005869
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.quageo.2012.11.001
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2012.10.046
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2013.06.007
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1002/rcm.6725
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.quageo.2012.07.001
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.quageo.2012.08.001
2012
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1021/ac301333t
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-012-0942-0
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1002/rcm.6351
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2012.02.020
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2011.11.018
Doi: 10.1017/s0079497x00027158
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Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.orggeochem.2012.06.012
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2012.1745
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2012.05.021
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2012.02.167
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1002/oa.1273
2011 (Published online)
Doi: 10.4081/antiqua.2011.e1
2011
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-4754.2010.00577.x
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Doi: http://doi.org/10.1017/S0003598X00062141
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1103241108
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2011.02.014
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1038/nature10305
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2011.01.022
2010
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2010.04.005
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2009.08.015
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2009.10.024
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2010.06.020
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1038/nchem.899
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2009.08.020
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1002/rcm.4745
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-009-0629-3
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2010.05.006
2009
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-008-0478-5
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2008.09.015
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.21058
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-009-0002-7
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2008.12.053
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2009.0563
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Doi: http://doi.org/10.1002/rcm.4316
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2009.05.016
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2009.01.006
2008
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1126/science.1155006
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.quageo.2007.07.001
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2008.03.015
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2007
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Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2006.11.006
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2007.06.034
2006
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2005
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Doi: http://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0500450102
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2004
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2003
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Teaching and Supervisions
Current students:
- Carla de Soto Parchment decay and conservation (with Devro)
- Erin M Keenan Early ZooMS of N. American Fauna (Texas)
- Tuuli Kasso (Copenhagen)
- Laura Vinas (Copenhaggen)
- Bharath Nair (Copenhagen)
- Bia Fonseca (Copenhagen, with Karina Sand)
- Liam Llanigan (Copenhagen, with Hannes Schroeder and Tom Gilbert
- Ruairidh Macleod (Cambridge, MPhil)
- Yuan Yue (Cambridge)
- Miranda Evan (Cambridge, with Tamsin O'Connell, and Jessie Hendy, York)
- Tianyi Wang (Cambridge with Piers Mitchell)
- Sophie Rabinow (Cambridge with Piers Mitchell)
Past students:
- Andrew Spooner 1992 Industry Environment
- Ben Stern 1993 Senior Lecturer Bradford
- Emman Waite 1997 Industry Bioscience
- Dave Robertson 1998 Industry Petroleum
- Oliver Craig 1998 Professor, York
- Colin Smith 2000 Senior Lecturer, LaTrobe, University
- Jen Hiller 2001 Industry
- Miranda Jans 2001 Forensics (US Military)
- Kirsty Penkman 2001 Professor York
- Rebecca Griffin 2002 Administration Canberra
- Hannah Koon 2003 Senior Lecturer Bradford
- Simon McGrory 2006 Project Officer (Heritage)
- Rose Drew 2004 Osteoarchaeology
- Mike Buckley 2010 Royal Society Research Professor, Manchester
- Nienke Van Doorn 2012 Industry York Archaeological Trust
- Isabella von Holstein 2012 PDRA, Amsterdam
- Jo Powell 2013 Industry
- Marc Wadsley 2013 Bioinformatics NHS
- Yang Yue 2013 Industry Environment
- Frido Welker 2017 Assistant Professor, Copenhagen
- Jessica Hendy 2017 Lecturer, York
- Sean Doherty, 2016, Postdoc Exeter
- Jiri Vnoucek, Postdoc B2C, Conservator Royal Library
- Keri Rowsell,Research Administration (UCL)
- Ioannis Kontopoulos, Postdoc (Copenhagen)
- Theis Jensen, Postdoc (Copenhagen)
- Abigail Lowe, Postdoc (Copenhagen)
- Talari Gopai, PhD (UCD)
I currently supervise students investigating in a range of topics related to the use of proteins to address archaeological research questions from evolution, to diet, disease, demography and chronology. I am interested in supervising students with a passion to work across disciplines who wish to study for an MPhil or a PhD in the following topics:
- Modelling the survival and decay of ancient proteins
- Mathematical approaches to the analysis of complex datasets
- Developing low cost tools for demography
- Developing novel methods to extract and analyse ancient proteins
- Applying ancient protein analysis to their archaeological repertoire
Other Professional Activities
Fellow of the British Academy
Niels Bohr Professor in Palaeoproteomics, University of Copenhagen
Member of the Royal Danish Society of Science and Letters