Dr. Suzanne Freilich
Postdoctoral researcher in archaeogenetics
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
About me
I am interested in combining archaeology, anthropology and biomarkers to understand biological and cultural human evolution.
I sequence and analyse whole genomes from ancient individuals, together with carbon, nitrogen and strontium stable isotope signatures to better understand prehistoric communities' genetic and social structures, and patterns of diet and mobility. I am also interested in the spread and evolution of ancient pathogens, as well as the analysis of dental calculus which provides insights into the ancient oral microbiome.
Experience
Education
2022 Ph.D. with distinction, Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Vienna, Austria.
Thesis: Shedding light on past human histories with ancient DNA and stable isotopes.
2004 M.Sc. with distinction in Evolutionary Anthropology, Durham University, U.K.
Dissertation: Genetic diversity and population genetic structure in the South American sea lion (Otaria flavescens).
2002 B.A. Cum Laude in Sociology & Anthropology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Haifa, Israel.
Trainings and research visits
2020
Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation Fellowship, Genscape Lab, Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, U.S.A.
2019
Popgen Summer course in analyses of genotyping and NGS data in medical and population genetics. University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Erasmus+ Traineeship, Department of Archaeogenetics, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Jena, Germany.
Lab training in carbon, nitrogen and strontium stable isotope analysis, Department of Human Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany.
2018
Workshop, Capturing the Essence: Presenting your research in 3 minutes, University of Vienna.
Lab technician, ancient DNA lab for bone sampling, University of Vienna.
Workshop, Ancient DNA techniques for zoonosis research, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin
Hands-on workshop: Exome Library Preparation, Vienna Biocenter Core Facilities, Vienna
Hands-on workshop: ATLAS software workshop, part of Ancient DNA: A Time-machine to Study Evolution. CUSO Doctoral Program in Ecology and Evolution, Bern, Switzerland.
Three-day workshop, Ancient DNA: A Time-machine to Study Evolution, CUSO Doctoral Program in Ecology and Evolution, Leukerbad, Switzerland.
Lab training in nitrogen and carbon soil stable isotope analysis, ter:labs, University of Vienna
2016
Bioinformatics Internship, Sheffield Bioinformatics Hub, University of Sheffield, U.K.
Project: Identification of time-informative markers in modern human ancient DNA samples using admixture components.
Talks and Presentations
2021:
Oral presentation, Archaeology and genetics elucidate diverse demographic processes and social organisation in Neolithic and Bronze Age Croatia, ISBA9, Toulouse, France.
2020:
Oral presentation, Archaeology and genetics elucidate social stratification, kinship and diverse demographic processes in Neolithic and Bronze Age Croatia, 26th EAA Annual Meeting, Budapest, Hungary.
Oral presentation, New AMS, stable isotope and genomic data illuminate prehistoric population dynamics in Osijek-Baranja County, Croatia, 26th EAA Annual Meeting, Budapest, Hungary.
2019
Poster, “Reconstructing Croatian population history with novel ancient genomes reveals diverse ancestry.” Workshop: Interactions in Pre-Columbian Cuba, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Jena, Germany.
Poster, “Reconstructing Croatian population history with novel ancient genomes reveals diverse ancestry.” 11th ISABS conference on Forensic and Anthropologic Genetics and Mayo Clinic Lectures in Individualised Medicine, Split, Croatia.
2018
Oral presentation, “Genetic diversity and social stratification in prehistoric Balkans - genomes, culture and the rise of complex societies”, given at workshop: Ancient DNA: A Time-machine to Study Evolution, CUSO Doctoral Program in Ecology and Evolution, Leukerbad, Switzerland.
Poster, “Genetic diversity and social stratification in prehistoric Balkans - genomes, culture and the rise of complex societies.” ISBA 2018 - 8th International Symposium on Biomolecular Archaeology, Jena, Germany.
Poster, “Who do you think you are? First results of Neolithic and Bronze Age Balkan genomes shed light on the dynamics of European ancestry.” 8th Annual ESHE Meeting (European Society for the Study of Human Evolution), Faro, Portugal.
2016
Oral presentation, Genetic diversity and social stratification in Prehistoric and Medieval Balkans: Genes, culture and the rise of complex societies. PhD Seminar Day, School of Archaeology, University College Dublin.
2004
Poster, “Genetic diversity and population genetic structure in the South American sea lion (Otaria flavescens).” Department of Anthropology Postgraduate Student Conference, Durham University. View poster
Publications
The genetic history of the Southern Arc: A bridge between West Asia and Europe
Lazaridis, I., …, Freilich, S., …., Reich, D.
Science 377(6609), 26 Aug 2022: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abm4247
Ancient DNA from Mesopotamia suggests distinct Pre-Pottery and Pottery Neolithic migrations into Anatolia
Lazaridis, I., …, Freilich, S., …, Reich, D.
Science 377(6609), 26 Aug 2022: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abq0762
A genetic probe into the ancient and medieval history of Southern Europe and West Asia
Lazaridis, I., …, Freilich, S., …, Reich, D.
Science, 377(6609), 26 Aug 2022: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abq0755
Integrating genetic and oral histories of Southwest Indian populations
Biddanda, A., …, Freilich, S., …, Raghavan, M.
bioRxiv, 2022: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.07.06.498959v1.full
Reconstructing genetic histories and social organisation in Neolithic and Bronze Age Croatia
Freilich, S., Ringbauer, H., Los, D. et al.
Scientific Reports 11, 16729, 18 Aug 2021: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-94932-9
Large-scale migration into Britain during the Middle to Late Bronze Age
Patterson, N., …., Freilich, S., …, Reich, D.
Nature 22 Dec 2021 (Advanced Article Preview): https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-04287-4
Genomic insights into the formation of human populations in East Asia
Wang, C.C., …, Freilich, S., …, Reich, D.
Nature 22 Feb 2021: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03336-2
A genetic history of the pre-contact Caribbean
Fernandes, D.M., …, Freilich, S., …, Reich, D.
Nature 23 Dec 2020: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-03053-2
The formation of human populations in South and Central Asia
Narasimhan, V.M., …, Freilich, S., …, Reich, D.
Science 06 Sep 2019: Vol. 365, Issue 6457, eaat7487, DOI: 10.1126/science.aat7487
Genetic diversity and population genetic structure in the South American sea lion (Otaria flavescens).
Freilich, S., A. R. Hoelzel, and S. R. Choudhury.
Durham Anthropology Journal 2005:13(1) View poster
Excavations
Cambodia: Sor Sei Angkorian kiln site, APSARA Authority and NARA; Krek Iron Age burial site, Memot Centre for Archaeology; Field survey of pre-Angkorian mounds, Royal University of Fine Arts
England: Plumpton Roman Villa, Sussex School of Archaeology
Israel: Tabun Cave, Neve David, Misliya Cave, El-Wad Cave and Terrace, Raqefet Cave and Bitzat Ruhama, Zinman Institute of Archaeology, Ma’agan Mikael B shipwreck, Department of Maritime Civilisations, University of Haifa
Malaysia: Gua Teluk Kelawar cave, Lenggong, Universiti Sans Malaysia
Romania: Toboliu Tell, Transarchaeology
Sicily: Case Bastione settlement, Arkeos
Projects
Current and prospective projects include reconstructing population histories from the Neolithic to the present-day in different regions of the world including
Croatia
Central Europe
Anatolia
South Asia