My fascination with archaeology and historic buildings began as a young child, intrigued by the history and experiences of people, animals and places in the past. Studying for a BSc in Archaeology at the University of York was something of a logical progression, combining learning about archaeology in a city with a rich and varied history. It was during my time at York that I first became involved in the study of Egyptian mummies; a research area which went on to form the focus of my academic career. 

The study of the ancient Egyptian civilisation and its material culture has long captivated the imagination of people of all ages. I work extensively with broadcast and print media to share my research with the general public. Recently, this includes live and pre-recorded features for the BBC, Channel 4, the Discovery Channel, Discovery Science, local and national television and radio stations, and international print media outlets. In my role as Honorary Curator of Archaeozoology at Manchester Museum, I passionately work towards improving accessibility to cultural collections, to enhance learning and to promote interaction with the people of the past, particularly for the underrepresented groups within the visitor demographic. As Project Curator of a touring exhibition developed around my research, I continue to gain valuable expertise in exhibition design, content, contractual arrangements, artefact selection and care, logistics, cross-institution communication, project management and public engagement. The interdisciplinary nature of my research relies on my ability to manage projects across academic and cultural institutions, to forge and maintain exemplary collaborative relationships with partners in the public, private and heritage sectors, and to communicate science to broad audiences in a comprehensive way.  Ultimately, with advancements in science and technology continuing at lightening pace, the ability to work across disciplinary and institutional boundaries to investigate material culture, and to present results in interactive and captivating ways, leads to an increased understanding of the past.

I am an experienced grant writer, having successfully attracted funding for my own research from the Leverhulme Trust, the Wellcome Trust, the Arts and Humanities Research Council, the University of Manchester and charitable trusts. I regularly support colleagues with reviewing their own grant applications and publications. I mentor post-doctoral researchers and assess portfolios submitted for accreditation to the Higher Education Academy, and I support candidates on the Institute of Leadership and Management ‘Researchers into Management’ course.

Egyptology lends itself nicely to public engagement and always proves very popular with the media, creating many opportunities to disseminate my research to a wide audience. I worked with the BBC to develop and film a documentary for Horizon based on animal mummies in 2015, and I have been interviewed on Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch and the BBC’s Newsround. I curated an award-winning touring exhibition entitled 'Gifts for the Gods: Animal Mummies Revealed' which opened in Manchester in October 2015. The exhibition then toured to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow, World Museum Liverpool, Museum of Wigan Life, the National Trust’s Lyme Park, and is due to be displayed at the National History Museum in Tring during 2020. Alongside the project team, I won the University of Manchester’s Making a Difference Award for Outstanding Public Engagement Initiative in 2016 for the exhibition and the associated outreach events.

I run a programme of experimental mummification using donated animal cadavers all belonging to taxa commonly found mummified and using ingredients identified through analysis of small samples recovered from damaged mummies. The results of the radiographic analysis of ancient mummies are used to inform the experimental design, with radiography used to document changes to the cadaver during mummification and desiccation. To date, 23 animals have been mummified in our lab and all continue to remain in a stable state.

I am privileged to have been involved in the scientific investigation of a number of mummified human bodies throughout my time at Manchester, including 18 mummies from the University collection. I am director of two research projects to investigate mummies from museums in Perth and Paisley, Scotland. Working on both human and animal remains enables the comparison of both mummy types highlighting potential similarities and differences, and identifying trends in the chronology and geographic distribution of mummification techniques and decorative styles.

Engaging the public with academic research and improving our knowledge of museum collections remain key factors behind my research. In turn, this improves accessibility and interpretation of museum objects and creates enthusiasm for the study of ancient civilisations. I enjoy supporting fellow researchers through mentoring, reviewing and assessing applications and publications, and through sharing my knowledge and experience of academia.