Accessibility statement

Jessica Hendy
Lecturer in Palaeoproteomics

Profile

Biography

Jessica received a BA in Anthropology and Ancient History and a BSc in Chemistry from the University of Auckland, New Zealand in 2010. In 2015 she was awarded her PhD from the University of York, where she explored the application of ancient protein analysis to understanding ancient diets and disease. Following her PhD, she then took up a postdoctoral research associate position at York, applying genomics and proteomics to understand pathogen exposure and food consumption practices in 19th century Britain. In 2016 Jessica became a postdoctoral researcher and then group leader at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History. Jessica became a Lecturer in Palaeoproteomics in the Department of Archaeology in July 2019.

You can follow her personal Twitter feed here: @Jessie_Hendy

Departmental roles

Jessica is the subject facilitator for Archaeology in the School of Natural Sciences. 

Research

Overview

Jessica Hendy’s research focuses on developing and applying ancient protein analysis as a tool for understanding past dietary consumption practices and disease. In particular, she is focused on exploring the potential of ancient proteins as dietary biomarkers. In 2016 she received a Max Planck Society Donors Award to study traditionally-made dairy products and characterize their unique microbial fingerprints as part of the Heirloom Microbes project, and she also works as part of the DairyCultures project, which explores the link between dairy products and the gut microbiome. Based now at BioArCh, her research aims to integrate proteomic methodologies alongside other techniques in archaeological science and archaeology. In 2019 she received a Philip Leverhulme Prize in recognition of this research. 

Teaching

Undergraduate

Year 1

Module leader: Introduction to Archaeological Science

Year 2

Module leader: Designing Research

Year 3

Module leader: Assessed Seminar: Debates in Archaeological Science

Postgraduate

Course director: MSc in Bioarchaeology

Module leader: Ancient Biomolecules

A profile picture of Dr Jessica Hendy

Contact details

Dr Jessica Hendy
University of York
BioArCh, Environment Building 2nd Floor
Wentworth Way
Heslington
York
YO10 5DD

Tel: (44) 1904 328650

@Jessie_Hendy

External activities

Memberships

Editorial duties

Associate Editor: Journal of Archaeological Science

Media coverage