Zandra Fagernäs

Biography

Zandra Fagernäs is a Swedish-speaking archaeogeneticist and palaeoproteomics specialist from Nedervetil, Finland. She is the Lab Manager for the CODICUM project at the Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, and serves as the 

Zandra's academic journey began at Umeå University, Sweden, where she earned her BSc in Biology and Earth Science and an MSc in Ecology, focusing on evolutionary biology and the biogeography of Norway spruce. Following an exchange semester at Aberystwyth University, she pursued her doctoral studies at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Germany. Her work bridges the gap between natural sciences and history, utilising advanced laboratory techniques to reconstruct the past through the study of ancient biological molecules.

Research

Zandra’s research is dedicated to exploiting organic information preserved in archaeological samples, such as dental calculus, palaeofaeces, and skeletal remains. Her primary focus lies in developing and optimizing methods for Pleistocene skeletal proteomes, with a specific emphasis on refining laboratory protocols to improve protein recovery from highly degraded samples.

Her work explores the intersections of:

Palaeoproteomics: Identifying and removing contamination in dental enamel analysis and taxonomic identification of bones in resin-embedded sediments.

Archaeogenetics: Using ancient DNA and proteins to gain insights into ancestral diet, health, and lifestyle.

Open Science: Promoting communication and collaborative frameworks for the future of the palaeoproteomics field.

In the CODICUM project, she is the Lab Manager, and her role involves developing, optimising, and managing the analysis of up to 50,000 proteomic and genomic samples from parchment, as well as coordinating the rest of the team - as well as managing her PI.

Contact

University of Copenhagen 

Globe Institute, Section for Molecular Ecology and Evolution 

Øster Farimagsgade 5, Building 7, 

1353 København K, Denmark 

p: +45 35 33 71 16 

e: zandra.fagernas@sund.ku.dk