People

Lab Group Members

Avery Matthews

Headshot of Avery Matthews

Avery Matthews is a senior majoring in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences with minors in Folklore & Ethnomusicology and Archaeology. As a child, they had a fascination with dinosaurs and being a paleontologist. As an adult, this has morphed into a desire to pursue a career in museum collections management. They became interested in Zooarchaeology because of their love for sharks and the shark vertebra cane project that WRAZL is working on. Their favorite animal is the common thresher shark (aside from their two cats, BabyGreg and Frito, of course).

 

 

Proxima Lee

Headshot of Proxima

Proxima is a research assistant for the lab. Their interest in bones can be traced back to their humble obsession with Neanderthals from their youth, which has blossomed into an expertise in historical archeology. Their research focuses on Chinese diaspora populations in California from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Proxima's interest is zooarchaeological identification, but they have also contributed to several isotope studies. In their free time, Proxima enjoys crocheting and making coffee. Their favorite animal is a cat!

 

Amelia Fahl

Amelia Fahl headshot

Amelia Fahl is a senior studying Anthropology with a focus in archaeology, Folklore and Ethnomusicology, and Earth and Atmospheric Science at IU. She's been a part-time research assistant with WRAZL since her first semester at IU, when she initially worked on the analysis of turtle remains from 18th and 19th century urban contexts in New Orleans. This past summer, Amelia completed her archaeological field school and subsequent internship at Jamestown Rediscovery in Virginia, where she mainly assisted in excavations to find the extent of an early 17th century English burial ground. Today, she works as a part-time collections assistant at the IU Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology and is the president of the IU Anthropology Club. In her spare time, she enjoys scuba diving, watching movies, and spending time with her four cats.

Rachael Dubois

Rachael Dubois headshot

Rachael Dubois is a junior studying Anthropology with a minor in American Art History. She’s always had an interest in history, especially archaeology and paleontology and grew up reading dinosaur encyclopedias and watching Expedition Unknown on the Discovery Channel. She also loves art and draws for fun. She aspires to work as a museum creator and be able to travel. Rachael’s favorite animal is a tarsier and she has a dog named Pixie. 

 

Affiliated Faculty

  • Charles Beeker (School of Public Health), underwater science, living museums in the sea
  • Della Collins Cook (Anthropology), human osteology, paleopathology, infectious diseases
  • Frederika Kaestle (Anthropology), molecular anthropology, population genetics, ancient DNA
  • Kevin Hunt (Anthropology), functional morphology and ecology of hominids and apes
  • Claudia C. Johnson (Geological Sciences), evolution in paleotropics, tropical reefs
  • P. David Polly (Geological Sciences), vertebrate paleontology, mammal evolution

 

Affliated Graduate Students

  • Kat Sestrick - PhD candidate in David Polly's lab
  • Thomas LaBarge - PhD student working with Jackson Njau