Rate My Professor Anna-Claire Barker

Anna-Claire Barker is an Assistant Research Fellow in the Department of Anatomy at the University of Otago, where she completed a Bachelor of Arts in Archaeology, BA (Honours), and MSc in biological anthropology. While pursuing her BA in Archaeology, she discovered the potential of the human skeleton to reveal histories of past peoples, prompting her transition to biological anthropology. Her research centers on the mother-infant nexus, examining mother-child interconnectedness and how maternal and early-life health affect lifelong outcomes. In her Honours research, she investigated dental enamel defects in early-forming teeth, indicators of physiological stress during tooth development, providing insights into maternal, in-utero, and early-life health in past populations, including quantification of defects in a prehistoric Tongan sample. For her Master's research, she tested micro-CT imaging to study microbial bioerosion in bone, where microbes from the gut microbiome break down bone minerals after birth. She explored whether microbial bioerosion analysis could distinguish stillbirths from live births in skeletal populations, improving age-at-death estimations as infant mortality reflects maternal and population health.

Currently, Barker works with Professor Siân Halcrow, researching health impacts of rising social inequality in protohistoric northeast Thailand and increasing gender inequality in Bronze Age China. She is a member of the Department of Anatomy's Emerging Researchers Group for early-career researchers, including students and post-PhD staff, and contributed to the Asia-Pacific Biocultural Health research theme. She enjoyed her time with the Biological Anthropology Research Group as a student and now as staff. Key publications include co-first authorship with Stacey M. Ward on the 2023 article 'Investigating the Effectiveness of Online Bioarchaeology Education through Participant Survey of a Cohort of International Adult Learners' in Advances in Archaeological Practice. The study surveyed masterclass participants, concluding that interactive online learning effectively teaches practical skills and builds community in bioarchaeology. She also co-authored the 2024 book chapter 'The Bioarchaeology of Childhood'. Barker participated in excavations at St. John's Cemetery, Milton, Otago. Additionally, she serves as Administrator Client Services and Physician Education Course Coordinator in the Department of Medicine, Dunedin.