Alexandra Schuh

Doctoral Student
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
Department of Human Evolution
Deutscher Platz 6
04103 Leipzig
Germany
phone: 0049 (0) 341 3550 364
e-mail: alexandra_schuh@[>>> Please remove the text! <<<]eva.mpg.de
Research Interests
I am a PhD student in the IMPRS program at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in the Department of Human Evolution.
I am broadly interested in the evolution and origins of modern humans. For my master’s thesis project at the University of Bordeaux, I worked on the virtual reconstruction of a new specimen from the Qafzeh site (Israel, 90-100 ka; mandible Qafzeh 25), which provided new data on the morphological variability from the Middle Palaeolithic in the Levant.
For my PhD project, I focus on facial ontogeny to try to understand how large-scale changes in facial growth and development are linked with specific patterns at the microstructural levels. For this purpose, I am using methods in 3D imaging (CT scans and semilandmarks techniques) to analyse differences in shape, and surface histology (confocal microscopy) to observe the cellular activity at the surface of the bone, a process called bone modelling. The first step in this project is to work on a large ontogenetic sample to have a better understanding of the variability within the species Homo sapiens in terms of bone modelling patterns, in order to apply these findings to the fossil record. A second step is the quantification of these processes, to help us understand how they are changing through time.
As it is already known that bone modelling patterns are species specific, the study of cellular activity through ontogeny is of particular interest in terms of phylogeny. Indeed, by combining these two approaches we can better differentiate morphological features that develop homologously between taxa from those that may look similar, but result from different ontogenetic processes.
I also have experience in field work, mostly excavating in cave environments.
Curriculum Vitae
Current Position
May 2016 | Ph.D. candidate, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig School of Human Origins, Leipzig, Germany Thesis title: Quantification of maxillary growth processes using surface histology and geometrics morphometrics Supervisors: Freidline S.E, Kupczik K., Hublin J.-J. (Submission: November 2020; defense date to define) |
University Education
2012-2014 | Master degree in biological Anthropology and Prehistory speciality: biological Anthropology University of Bordeaux, France Master thesis: The use of three dimensional imaging methods for the virtual reconstruction of the Qafzeh's 25 mandible (unpublished fossil, Middle Palaeolithic, Israel). Supervisors: Tillier A.-M., Coqueugniot H., Dutailly B. |
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2009-2012 | B.A. Biology (specialty: Cellular Biology and Physiology) 2009-2011: University of Strasbourg, France 2011-2012: International exchange with the University of Montreal, Canada |
Complementary Trainings
Mai/June 2020 | Bone histology – virtual sessions Supervisor: Miszkiewicz J. |
May 2017 | Advanced R programming Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Supervisor: Stephens C. |
May 2016 | Advanced data visualisation with R University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany Supervisor: Neumann C. |
March 2016 | 1. Non-human primate behaviour and anatomy, human evolution 2. Non-human primates and humans from today: interactions and conservation National Museum of Natural history, Paris, France Supervisor: Krief S., Maille A. |
April 2015 | Morphometry and forms analysis National Museum of Natural history, Paris, France Supervisor: Baylac M. |
March-April 2013 | Analyses and methods in Palaeoanthropology National Museum of Natural history, Paris, France Supervisor: Balzeau A., Détroit F., Friess M. |
Sept./Dec. 2011 | Histological analysis of nerves in foetal opossums University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada Supervisor: Pflieger J.F. |
Skills
- Human osteology (anatomy, determination of sex and age methods)
- 3D imaging
- geometric morphometric techniques
- virtual reconstruction
- bone histology
Software
- Avizo (VSG)
- TIVMI
- 3DS Max
- Morphologica
- Landmark Ed.
- MorphoJ
- Statistica
- RStudio
- Geomagic Studio
- Viewbox
Tools
- MicroScribe
- NextEngine
- SmartZomm 5 digital microscope
- Arctec Space Spider
- Diondo d3 high resolution micro-CT
- Nanofocus confocal microscope
Languages
- French (native language)
- English
- German (basic notions)
Internships
May 2015 | Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany Title: Bone modeling of the facial skeleton in mice Supervisors: Freidline S., Kupczik K. |
July 2013 | Leverhulme Center for Human Evolutionary Studies, Cambridge, UK Title: The use of geometric morphometrics in human evolution Supervisors: Mounier A., Mirazón-Lahr M. |
2012-15 | National Museum of Natural history, Paris, France Title: Study of the inner ear of the la Chapelle-aux-Saints Neanderthal Supervisor: Balzeau A. |
December 2013 | PACEA, Bordeaux, France Title: Sorting the crematory areas of Urville-Nacqueville Supervisors: Rottier S., Loyer J. |
Awards
2016 | Poster prize, Annual meetings of the Anthropological Society of Paris, Lyon, France |
Field Work Experience
June 2015 | Grotte de Sirogne, Rocamadour, France. Middle Palaeolithic. Director: P. Bayle |
July 2014 | La Colline du Château, Nice, France. Middle Age. Director: A. Civetta |
June 2013 |
La Caune de l'Arago, Tautavel, France. Amelestoy, Pyrénées Atlantiques, France. |
Other employments
July-August 2015 | Niaux cave, Niaux, France |
Publications
2021
Schuh, A., Kupczik, K., Gunz, P., Hublin, J.-J., & Freidline, S. E. (2021). Quantifying maxillary development in chimpanzees and humans: an analysis of prognathism and orthognathism at the morphological and microscopic scales. Journal of Human Evolution, 157: 103031. |
2020
Schuh, A., Gunz, P., Villa, C., Kupczik, K., Hublin, J.-J., & Freidline, S. E. (2020). Intraspecific variability in human maxillary bone modeling patterns during ontogeny. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 137, 655-670. |
2019
Schuh, A., Kupczik, K., Gunz, P., Hublin, J.-J., & Freidline, S. E. (2019). Ontogeny of the human maxilla: A study of intra-population variability combining surface bone histology and geometric morphometrics. Journal of Anatomy, 235(2), 233-245. |
2017
Schuh, A., Dutailly, B., Coutinho Nogueira, D., Santos, F., Arensburg, B., Vandermeersch, B., Coqueugniot, H., & Tillier, A.-M. (2017). La mandibule de l’adulte Qafzeh 25 (Paléolithique moyen, Basse Galilée). Reconstruction virtuelle 3D et analyse morphométrique. Paleorient, 43(1), 49-59. |
Conference abstracts
Aug. 2020 | Schuh A., & Freidline S.E. High-resolution imaging of bone formation and resorption on the surface of fossilized bones. European Association of Archaeologists (abstract accepted, session cancelled due to COVID outbreak) |
Sept. 2019 | Schuh A., Maureille B., Toussaint M., Abrams G., Bonjean D., Gunz P., Hublin J.-J., & Freidline S.E. Neanderthal maxillary ontogeny at the micro- and macroscopic scales: an integrative approach to study facial growth. 9th European Society for the study of Human Evolution, Liège, Belgium |
Jan. 2019 | Schuh A., Kupczik K., Hublin J.-J., & Freidline S.E. Variabilité intra-spécifique des processus de modelage osseux durant la croissance de l’os maxillaire chez H. sapiens. 1844th Annual meetings of the Anthropological Society of Paris, Paris, France |
Sept. 2018 | Freidline S.E., Schuh A., Martinez-Maza C., Gunz P., & Hublin J.-J. Modern human facial and mandibular growth at the micro and macroscopic levels: marrying bone modeling and geometric morphometric techniques. 8th European Society for the study of Human Evolution, Faro, Portugal |
Sept. 2018 | Schuh A., Villa C., Kupczik K. & Freidline S.E. Ontogeny of the human maxilla: a study of intra specific variation using surface histology and geometric morphometrics. 8th European Society for the study of Human Evolution, Faro, Portugal |
Apr. 2018 | Schuh A., & Freidline S.E. Bone modeling patterns in the midface of modern humans during ontogeny: a study of intraspecific variability. American Association of Physical Anthropologists, Austin, USA |
Oct. 2017 | Schuh A., Kupczik K. & Freidline S.E. The relationship between maxillary bone growth and dental eruption in humans. International Symposium on Dental Morphology, Bordeaux, France |
Sept. 2017 | Schuh A., Kupczik K., & Freidline S.E. Ontogeny of the midface in H. sapiens: building an integrative growth model for paleoanthropological studies using bone modelling and geometric morphometrics. 7th European Society for the study of Human Evolution, Leiden, Netherlands |
Jan. 2016 | Schuh A., Dutailly B., Coqueugniot H., Santos F., Coutinho Nogueira D., Arensburg B., Vandermeersch B., Tillier A.-M. La mandibule de l’adulte Qafzeh 25 (Paléolithique moyen, Basse Galilée) et sa reconstruction virtuelle 3D. Implications anthropologiques. 1841st Annual meetings of the Anthropological Society of Paris, Lyon, France |
Invited talks/Public lectures
2017 | Evolution and ontogeny of the face: what can we learn from the microstructures at the surface of the bones? University of Cape Town (26th of July), Iziko Museums of South Africa (27th of July), Cape Town, South Africa |
2015 | L’évolution humaine: de Lucy à Homo sapiens, dernières découvertes et innovations technologiques. Science festival of Colmar, France |
Teaching experience
2019 - present | Molecular Anthropology Course, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Germany Lectures on human evolution for undergraduate students in Biology (University of Leipzig) |
2018 - present | International Max Planck Research School, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Lectures in the Palaeoanthropology module on craniofacial development for graduate students |