Prof. Hannah James

I am an archaeological scientist and isotope geochemist working at the interface of archaeology, chemistry and environmental science. My research focuses on using isotopic and elemental techniques to investigate past human and animal mobility, diet, food production and interactions with changing environments. I am particularly interested in research that bridges archaeological questions with broader geochemical, ecological and environmental applications.

I moved to VUB in 2021 to join ERC LUMIERE as a postdoctoral researcher working on developing bioavailable strontium baselines and investigating human and animal mobility across Europe. In 2024, I started as an FWO Senior Postdoctoral Fellow working on developing a dietary proxy using stable strontium isotopes. As of October 2026, I also hold a 10% Research Professor at AMGC.

I completed my education at the Australian National University, completing a Masters in Archaeological Science and PhD in isotope geochemistry, focusing on the application of in situ oxygen analyses of tooth enamel and the creation of bioavailable strontium baselines.

Alongside my research, I contribute to teaching and student supervision in archaeological science and isotope geochemistry, and support the development and communication of research within AMGC and the Brussels Bioarchaeology Lab.

I am a strong believer in open access data and since 2021 I have been a Board Member of the IsoArcH Association, an open access database for archaeological isotope data.