Qualifications

• BSc Archaeological Science (First-Class), University of Reading
• MSc Human Evolution and Behaviour (Merit), University College London

What I Learned from my Degrees

Undergrad

My undergraduate degree gave me a strong interdisciplinary skillset and knowledge base. Archaeological Science draws upon the natural sciences, including physics (such as geophysics and carbon dating), chemistry (chemical analysis of material cultural) and biology (osteology, ancient biomolecules, and environmental reconstruction through biological remains). I learned how past climates are reconstructed and gained an understanding of historical climatic change and its impact on human development and cultural (i.e. the end of the last ice age allowing for the development of agriculture). The degree also incorporated the social sciences and humanities, including cultural histories, ethnographic studies of modern cultures, and ethical considerations concerning topics such as repatriation.

I always endeavoured throughout to undertake modules in external departments, including classics (Roman and Greek history), geography and environmental science (Tropical Rainforests, Climate and Lost Civilisations), biological science (Reptiles and Dinosaurs) and meteorology (The Science of Climate Change). Though my degree was already highly expansive and interdisciplinary, this broadened my horizons further still.

Masters

My MSc was also highly interdisciplinary, sitting at a cross-section between biology, anthropology, psychology, behavioural ecology, and archaeology. This degree had a strong grounding in the behavioural sciences. I learned about behavioural issues (i.e. altruism, conflict, mate selection, status-seeking) and their impacts on society (such as interpersonal violence, resource competition, and charitable giving).

Additionally, there was also a strong focus on human physiology. I studied the history of hominin species (palaeoanthropology) and primate species, and I explored human health from an evolutionary perspective. I learned how physiological and behavioural traits which are adequate or beneficial for evolutionary fitness can be detrimental for human health and wellbeing (such as age-related diseases past the age of reproduction, spinal pain from upright walking, and heightened anxiety as a result of threat perception).

This degree had a stronger emphasis on statistics, and I successfully completed a module on statistics in R with a distinction mark.

Summary

I strongly believe that my degrees gave me the best possible intellectual grounding, touching upon virtually every conceivable subject area to some extent. I studied subjects covering the natural sciences, social sciences, behavioural sciences, and humanities.

What Skills I Gained

Fundamentally, I gained advanced critical thinking, creative thinking and analytical skills. I was required to analyse data concerning a wide range of different subject matters. I became especially adept at quickly learning about new topics, familiarising myself at speed with relevant literature. I never had a late assignment, and achieved a First-Class (70%+) mark on two thirds of my modules (18/28) during my studies. I feel this is a testament to the strength of my organisational skills, balancing competing deadlines with the use of tools such as calendars and spreadsheets.

I became very strong regarding both written and verbal communication. Not only did I complete an extensive number of written assignments, but I also delivered a very high number of presentations and became comfortable with public speaking.

What are my Core Interests?

My interests are extremely varied and extensive. I am fascinated by the world around me, and this is why I have taken an interdisciplinary approach to understanding how it works. I am also motivated by the potential to make a difference in the world, and to focus on areas with a clear real-world importance. I believe that my experience conducting research into the pertinent issues of climate and health attests to this.

More About Me

I have many interests outside of work and study. I am a big fan of tennis (playing and watching), as well as other sports such as swimming, kayaking, and cycling. I am an avid reader, particularly non-fiction works in the realms of history, cosmology, politics, ecology, and philosophy.